The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-05-07
ANALYSIS
OF International Socialism By
Rev. KreSS
At ST. VinCeDtdePaul'S Church
Thursday Night

large auuienCe was Present
Thursday evening at st. Vincent de
Paurs Catholic caurch to hear Rev.
W. S. Kress who sounded a warning
against the principles embodied in
International Socialism.
The Socialists, he said. is our
one political party that has lost faith
in the republic and would replace
the stars and stripes with the red
rag OF revolution. It's leaders tell
US that it is not a reform party. but
that its aim is frankly Revolutionary.
They would bring about a complete
reconstruction OF our social and in
dustrial. as well as political insti-
tutious, by ballot, if possible; By
force, If necessary. Unlike the Re
publican and Democratic parties. that
depend upon the issues Of the move
ment for their campaign cries. So
cialism has a well thought out and
carefully planned program: bold, am.
bilious and far-reaching in its effects.
Socialists love to sneak of their
plan for the administration of So
ciety as the only one that is con-
structed upon scientific principles.
They designate their brand OF social
degeneration as scientific Socialism.
You cannot gainsay their claim to
possess a social philosophy of their
own. knowing that philosophy We
do not wonder that the depths of the
system grow impatient with what one
/ of them called the half-Daked men,
bers of the party, who are willing to
sacrifice some cherished principle 70
encompass temporary victory. The
fathers of international Socialism,
Marx. Engle, Lasalle. etc, We're men
of brains, were social students of no
mean ability and, withaI, We're logi-
cal. fearlessly carrying their prin-
ciples to their ultimate conclusions.
They were unfortunate in adopt
ing the mOnistic view of existent be-
ing Materiaiistic monism forms the
foundation course of the entire So
sial system they seek 70 construct.
The meaning OF this is 1nat they re-
ject all but matter: they reject the
soul, God the future life and all that
goes with such belief, as conscience,
religion. a divine moral code. etc.
To them man is mere animal. differ
ing from the brute in degree and not
in kind. There is no hell, but such
as men make for thems elves or one
another; man must find his heaven
here. ii at all; for there is no other.
All the higher ideals disappear; the,
bread aud butter question, the Ques-
ton of ones physical well-being. be-
COMES the paramount question, the
allimportant, alLabsorbing problem.
1t is necessary to remark that this
view Of life brings its defenders in
direct conflict with Christianity. So
cialism and christianity, declares one
OF the highest authority in the ranks
of the Red International. can no more
mix than oil and water. When We de-
clare that Socialism is atheistic, We
do NOT mean TO charge that il is made
so by the fact that nearly all of its
chief spokesmen are atheists but by
the fact that The system itself is a.he-
istto,
Socialists generally deny that
their party is opposed TO religion, to
the loosenins of the marriage bond,
TO parental control of the children
and everything else that happens to
be unpopular with the people they
are trying 10 coax into their ranks.
Some may be honest in their denial;
if they are, ii is because they pos
sess only a superficial knowledge of
MARKHAM Socialism. The leaders OF
the movement, like the founders of
Socialism before them- are usually
honest and courageous enough to ad-
mit the inevitable consequence of
their fundamental principle, Since
| tuSN ma tntdtH Nnal OOus TSuSlOn,
charity. etc. are superstitions; they
believe that religion, churches. the
restraints OF marriage. etc, should
be abolished. II there are Socialists
who differ from them. let them be
logical enough TO repudiate equally
the New State OF society that they
would build up on their system and
cease 10 ally themselves with the
party that has adopted as its own
the MARKHAM, or International Social
ism.
Socialists the wOrlu over are
agreed, chat the new state, the CO.
operative commonwealth cannot
come into existence until all the
means of production and distribution
are Withdrawn from private owner
ship aud assumed by the community