Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1910-12-08

gains, are we sure that all the cost is
counted, all the cries and tears, all t. e
wrecked hopes and damned souls
Granted the splendor of the palaces of
our millionaires and the cathedrals in
which they worship, can we be lndif-
tferent to the number of human lives
lpaid for them? Is it OF no moment to
US that forthe splendor of the palace
we must endure the squalof of a thou
! ;and noisome, body and soul-destroy-
ing novels; that for the grandeur of
THE cathedral We must endure the
shame of the brothel and the Feproach
of the harlot?
Well for America is it that this chal
enge is being voiced in unmistakable
zones by the ever growing Socialist
j movement. Even though the New
Jerusalem of the Socialist faith be
never reached it's vision of Cooper
alive Commonwealth prove to be an
illusion, a deceptive mirage in the
Ielouds, the value of it's challenge must
renal intellectually great. With mar
velous enthusiasm and conservation IL
keps burning into the social consciou-
ness the fact that religion is matter
of human relations; that statesman
ship and civic patriotism are not less
religious than priesthood. A religion
which does not express itself in frater-
nal social relations is not religion at
all but a hooking masquerade. 4
church which does not stand our
against social economy which com
,pels the many to toll YEARLY and live
sadly in orde rthat the few may live
Fain and empty lives is not religious
Institution. Such a church is irre1igl-
Gus, anti-religious, in the true meaning
IF those terms. The Christian who does
not feel the poverty Of our cities to
De reproach to societyNthe hunger Of
mothers and babes to be a sinful and
hameful thing, the toll of little child
en- to the end that palaces may be
ouilt for human drones to be as unholy
as the crucifixion of Jesus itself, is far
more in need of the service of some
rue Christian missionary than any
cor heather" in Africa or elsewhere.
20 be a good Christian and a. bad citi-
len at the same time is impossible.
o be a good citizen without seeking
% remove bad social conditions is i'm
ossible. Modern Socialism is tracing
n letters of fire against the sky the
worlds protest against religion
which means less than justice and
: righteousness.
The challenge of Socialism to society
is not based upon theories born of
beautiful but vain dreams Back of it
m indictment resting upon the har
facts of every day life. Facts with
which we are all more than familiar
enough, So that they have ceased to
rr.xro n1rs.o
significance when vitalized by the pas
sion and faith of the Socialist. The
genius of this great movement points
TO scenes whic hhave never impressed
us before and they become at one J
intolerable and unforgettable, haunting
us and haunting us like so many in
fernal specters. Dull, heavy columns of
figures out of government reports and
statistical charts become inspired
symbols, vibrant with the same human
protest. The Socialist propaganda j.,
one Of intense realism, depending for
its power and success upon the CON-
mon facts of life.
With this equipment Of stern facts
the Spirit of Socialism stands challeng
ing the preacher in the pulpit and the
worshiper in the pew; the statesman in
t1O oOAoNC OAoAAUCA anu IAIO FOCCA at
the ballot box; the breadmaster in his
pride and the bread-slave in his humil-
lily. With remorseless logic and tors
rental eloquence its challenge comes:
See you not the thousands of babies
VINO perish needlessly each year
babies whose mothers bore them in
lperil and agony? See you not that they
are slain by dank, murderous tene-
linz 1fc hxy fn11l r1i11r hat
! are nothing less than the implements
E of the monster Profit? See you not the
vast wastes of intellectual and moral
genius, the stunning of child bodies ana
minds; or the agony of children
4 bound to wheels or crushed by burdens
too heavy for their young shoulders:
DO you not see how mothers are torn
, from the cradle-sides and denied the
; right to be true mothers to their off
springs in order that they may become
proft-makers? Do you not see how by
a cruel perversity poverty exists side
be side with plenty, and because of it.
, SO that men, women and children pine
, for lack. of the very things which ma.
fture and human toll have produced
superabundantly And, seeing these
things, and the words, unutterable
? Things, what are you going to do?"
The preacher cannot escape that
challenge nor stop his ears to it. Soon
, er or later, the answer must be given
and every pulpit take sides in the great
struggle which our unjust and miser-
able conditions produce. The pew must
answer the challenge, for the day Is
already dawning when church and
synagogue must decide openly and be-
fore all mon tn stand with Him a NJ fv
against Mammon or with Mammon
against Humanity. The statesman and
the voter must answer the challenge,
for around it must center the whole
political life of our country until the
challenge has been disposed of. Final
ly, the. bread-master and the bread
slave must answer. The self-interests
of these classes will doubtless decide