Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-02-19
Where Socialism Isl
Democracy.

(From the outlook Magazinc)
The American who reads the news
regarding the great gain made 10Y So
clnllsts In Germany should keep IN
mind that there arc Socialists and So
cialists. lie Is perhaps likely 60 think
Of these Socialists in terms Of Meyer
and Haywood. the violent agltators
OF the Western Federation % Miners |
or OF Eugene v. Debs. whose popu-
lar reputation h supported insecuroly
upon wild and whirling words or
perhaps Of the more sober minded
but boolish visionary OF the type rep
resented by Bellamy, the author OF
Looking Backward II this Amer
ican reader imagines that these -
million German voters have been put
ting Meyers and HaywoOds. Dcbscs
and Bellamys into the German par
lamont he needs to re@isc his IDEAS
Although Socialists throughout the
world agree ia the main in certain
broad. fundamental economic beliefs
they differ widely even In matters OF
principle and stlll more widely Ia
matters Of method.
In the United states. for example.
the character OF the Socialist move
mcns has been greatly affected by the
fact that this Is n new country, with
free Institutions. with several varic-
ties OF fundamental law. and with
large immigrant population, Here
| the Socialists have no remnants Of
| foudalism TO light and have had to
contend vita the competition Of free
lands In the west Consequently they
have had to emphasize their distinct
ly socialistic economic theories.
| Socialism In France and England.
In Great Britnia the relics Of foud-
alism. particularly In land tenure, and
the characteristic British devotion To
! the practical rather than the theorct-
/ ical. have driven the Socialists away
/ from the position OF doctrinalre and
toward the position OF the social re-
| former: so that the outcome has been
! a natural alliance between the British
Radical and the British Socialist
! IN France Socialism has taken on
the color OF Calls temperament
There IS a revolutionary, factional
! spectacular. rather inefficient. Tito
| plan. and at times explosive. II is Ia
France that that type of Socialism
| known as syndicalism, with It's dis
dain for parliamentary methods and
It's love for the theatrical display and
attempts at intimidation through
force. may be said to be most at
home.
In contrast with these and other
national types of Socialism, that which
nourisheC In Germany Is distinctlvelS
one on behalf OF popular. as distinct
from oligarchial government The
German has no special love for revo'
= luton as n game. and he has no sucs
faith In voluntary organizations. like
trades unions, as have the Englisl
and Americans.
\ Triumph for Democracy.
) lie has, on the other hand, a deep
Isl rooted devotion 10 the state. no
! only as an efficient organization OF so
ciety. but In a sense. as the end 10
which every individual exists.
Was inevitable, therefore, that Ger
c man Socialists. in attempting 10 hrln
Q about the Socialist ideal should in
/, lstipcuyaly turn 10 the state as IN
ore thing that should be converted {
Socialism They found. however, IN
n German state formed upon oligarchl
cal and feudalistic lines; and the
found that the parties which existe
in Germany were, with the exceptio
Of a small group ~ radicals, deyoi
:, of the elements OF democracy.
IS The German Socialists, therefore
n had not only 90 create Socialistic sen
tlment. thcy had 10 create demo
cratic public opinion. Thus Il han
J. pens that the Socigl-Democratic part
has grown to be virtually the onl
n party In Germany which represent
10 those Ideas In government which "
Americans take for granted. Tn
Socialist victory In Germany, there
re fore. Is not the triumph Of a band
n rcvolutiOnarics or doctrlnaries