The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-04-13
WE, SERVE GOD BY SERVING
HUMANITY


brought Tom with you. Yes, BIZ
and Jake and Rube was telling me-
about the ralk YOU fellows had. and
lis all right so far as I know, az far
as you' got; but there IS a few things
n would like to haze you eNplai.l-
First: i have heard that the So
cialists were all InfiGels. and G2r't
believe in religion. Is that SO?
Now am grad You asked that
question Tom. and ] am going 10 tel!
yon that you have been wrongly in
formed The Socialist party does not
concern itself with any ones reli-
eious belief, but is willing that all
men worship God according 10 the
dictates of their own conscience. ana
under their own wire and fig tree, DO
You know. Tom, thar there Is anWtde
difference between Religion ana
Christianity? There are many KINDS
of religion, but only one kind OF Chris
tianity While Socialists do not pre-
tend to dictate to any man, as to just
how he shall worship God. Yet we Ee-
liayc that we serve God best by servT
ing Humanity, and by doing the most
good we can TO all men. and in all
conditions OF life. And tell you
right here, Tom. that we don't give
continental dam for religion that IS
used only on Sunday, in the church.
and then goes ont and serves the
devil and Mammon all the rest OF
the week We stand for "a religion,
a Christianity, that goes ont with
man in his every day life that SLOWS
IN his business transactions, and
causes him to give his follow man an
honest. square deal.
We'll. If YOU stand for that. am
right with yon, but I have also heard
that you claim that the wage worker
Of today 10 worse Oft than the Negro
slave was in 1860 Now / know bet-
ter than that | am q wage worker
myself, but l am nobody's slave.
have all the liberty of any other
American citizen" Now. Tom. you
are n man OF truth and honesty and
blessed with lots Of good hard com
mon sense, ..Ad I like TO talk with
such men. Therefore let MS lay aside
all prejudice, call things by their
right names. and talk this matter
over from n standpoint of reason and
common sense.
You know that in the days of Negro
slavery, in this country, Negroes
were bought and sold, same as cat
tie and horses. The Negro man rep
resented a cash value to the master
who bought him. 1t was then only
good business policy on the part OF
the master that he feed him we'll.
house him and look after his health
nj least as well as he would look after
Il horse. in order that he be in good
working and selling condition. We
will admit that he received cruel and
inhumnn treatment IN numberless in
stances, by british masters, but all
that was required of him was that he
do his days work, under the super
intendencS of boss. He and his
family were clothed. fed and shell
tered. sometimes very badly. we adj
nit; but he had no taxes, rents nor
bills of any sort to pay. II he or any
of his family were sick if they got
any medical aid, 1t was paid for by
the Master. Now Il majority of the
American people decided that this
sOrt OF slavery was wrLlg. and could
not consistently be practiced in II
Christian Country, and as the South
crn slave owners would not peaceably
consent 10 give up their slaves. which
they considered where their own per-
f0Ral property. the President of the
United States issued what was called
al emancipation IfOcIalnatlOn,
which precipitated one of the cruel
list wars of history. and at an enor-
nous waste of blood and treasure
The Negro slave was given his free
dom. nnd placed on an equal footing
win the white citizens of the coun-
fry. and ali enlightened Nations said
Amen,
Now, Tom. You say that you are Il
wage worker. bur that you are n free
American citizen that you are no.
hody's slave. We'll. let's see You
have always voted the Republican
ticket. and the icGherS of that party
Dave always taught you 10 believe
fSaL the prosperity OF our American
INSTITUTIONS depended upon high
protective Tariff. the higher the bet
ter. and that Free Trade would bring
restitution and wanf TO the people,
and ruin all you had FOR sale that
is. your TABOR in II frce.trade market
and in cOmpetitiCI on the same foot
ing as the Negro, only neither you
nor the Negro represent any cash
value 10 the master. You say YOU a re
free TO do as YOU please. No.
much Tom. You Iave to ask, and
sometimes beg the master for a Job
IS that the sort or liberty our father r.
died 70 win: where an honest tailor
must beg the master class for the
privilege OF earning living in i;
wand of plUlty? After the master has
CtOpored You. and you represanl
NJ, .,4Si, yolta hin, .,I,, ,,,,,