The Irish standard., 1912-12-07
WHAT 10 socialism,?


After reading considerable literature
| on the subject OF Socialism, by foreign
and American writer's, we frankly con-
fess our ignorance regarding some
principles set forth by its various
propagandists. Socialism means DIFF
ferent things to different individuals
| and sometimes 1t is difficult to deter
mine whether q man is real Social
ist or not. Some men think they are
Socialists because they desire better
wages and shorter hours. Labor un-
ions are organized to secure such re-
! suits and the members thereof are not
necessarily Socialists on that account
Other men think they are Socialists
because they believe in public owner
ship of public utilities brought about
! in q legal and constitutional manner
after paying to the private owner OF
such utilities what they are reason
ably worth In dollars and cents. Such
men are not Socialists except in a mild
form from which no danger Is appre-
l,ended to American institutions.
The Socialism that is menace to
this country is that imported from Bu-
rope which closely resembles anarch-
ism and can hardly be distinguished
from it. Socialism can be judged by
Its fruits. If the dastardly deeds Of
the McManisals and the McNamaras
are the fruits Of Socialism, then the
sooner 1t is grappled with and wiped
out Of existence the better for the re-
public. e.
The peripatetic street corner ora
tors. spouting sedition as hired lee
turers, creating discomfort in the
| minds Of working men by their falla-
cious arguments, and ridiculing and
denouncing clericalism as well ~ cap
! italtsn should be muzzled by the
municipal authorities. Every organ of
Socialism that teaches disrespect for
law and order Or advocates violence
in any form should be held responsible
for its utterances by the Federal au-
thorities ana nipped in the bud.
Take 'The Appeal to Reason" pub
lished at Girard. Kan, whose editor
and proprietor recently shot himself,
though worth 100000 made in 15
years by ventilatinz false economic
views through its columns, and we
ask: Do you suppose wayland cared
a continental" for the welfare Of the
working men? Ills paper had a CIR
culation OF over 100000 copies week
among the laboring men of the coun-
try, many of whom belong to tho Cath
Ollie Church which he slandered SO OUT
rageously in the Menace and occa-
sionally in the Appeal. Read what
Debs one of Wayland's conferes and
assistant editors. says in q paragraph
on this page Does any sensible per-
son believe that Debs has any higher
motives than Wayland in his advocacy
of the workingmen's cause by his de-
nunciation of capitalists and employ.
crs of LAHORE Listen to the following
rhapsody from Debs:
"The march of Socialism is the most
inspiring spectacle now to be Wit
messed in the civilized world. The in
vincible hosts Of the revolution are
sweeping aside all the barriers in the
path Of evolution and with giant
strides marching. toward their goal.
We are coming from the east and COM
ing from the west, We are coming
from the north and We are coming
from the south, and we are shouting
with joy as We behold our unvan-,
quishable hosts OF working people,
honest producers, marshalled in bat
tie array, with ballots in their hands,
to vote out the rotten system that now
! curses humanity and to vote in the
great commonwealth of the people,"
The ordinary workingnen think that
the foregoing clap-trap is sublime
wisdom and that the demagogue is
worthy OF sitting in the chair Of
Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln!
Hundreds Of thousands Of them voted
for Debs last month and contributed
generously to his campaign expenses,
though he had not the ghost OF a show
to be elected. o..
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
1t is q great many years since Susan
B. Anthony, Victoria woodruff. Tennie
Claflin Dr. Marx Walker and a fe,x