The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-09-08
What Socialism Really IS
WHO is A SOCIALISTS 1T is A MAN

who tries to formulate or aid plan
To better earth's condition? II is he
Who having ears to hear and eyes to
see
In neither dead nor blind when might
rough-shod
Treads down the privileges and rights
which God
Means for all men, the privilege TO toll.
To breathe pure air. TO till the fertile
The right to live. to love. to woo, to
wed.
and earn for hungry mouths their
The Socialist is he who claims no more
Than his own share from generous ma
lures store.
But THAI he asks and asks too that that
Shall claim, the share OF any weaker
brother,
And brand him beggar in his own
domain
To glut q mad inordinate lust for gain.
The Socialist Is one who holds the best
or all Gods gifts is toil--the second
rest
He asks that all men learn the sweets
of labor
And that no idler fatten on his neigh
Dor
That all men be allowed their share
of leisure,
Nor thousand slave that one may seek
Who on the Golden Rule shall dare
insist,
Socialism Any theory or system of
social organization. which would
abolish entirely or In great part In
dividual effort or competition on which
1t cooperative action: and INTRODUCES
a more perfect and equal Distribution
OF the products OF labor, and would
&AI L. AASs 80
and means of production the joint pos
session of members of the community.
Century Dictionary,
lieve in Socialism" Just as similar
queries are received, Are you Chris
tian9'' "Are you Christian scieutist.s %
Are you = Theosophist7" etc.
Because all these great theories ana
philosophers are cheApened and misrep-
resented by bands and bodies OF peo-
pie who adulterate their truths with
personal ideas and seifisms, the writer
Of this article has been, and Is still. un-
willing to wear the label OF any or
ganization.
The Christian churches are all need
ed by the world. but to be an orthodox
some church where ritual and a SER
vice and ceremonies and articles of
faith. wholly unknown TO Christ. form
the greater part Of the obligations
heaven II within. .As . man thinketh
10 he is." Love one another; do good
to those who despitefully use you.
And TO the sinner He said: 90 and
sin no more"
Pomp and ceremony. costly churches
and cathedrals high and low church.
cardinals and bishops. were foreign to
his simple. direct and beautiful iaeals
Of religion.
One may worship the Christ. and still
be hereto In modern Christianity.
Just al one may accept and believe In
the old. old principles taught hy Chris
tian Science fprincfp1es taught way
back 5000 years before Christ. by the
vedas). and still refuse TO accept Mrs
Eddy as q leader or an originator. or
anything but bright, powerful sse-
man. with wonderful business capacity.
- Just an one nay follow theosphy and
Its ideas Of reincarnation (which were
taught by Christ Himself. according TO
his own word, Mark 1914: Matthew
,IAl., hut may be unwilling to accept AL
OF fts leaders or 10 become identined
with them.
And precisely IN the same why. ono
may be q Socialist at heart. vet refuse
Of many Of the men and women who
are working for Socialism. Men and
women who uncousciously retard the
great ideals OF true Socialism from
-hy- the -infrnduct ton md
exploiting OF their own persnnal IDEAS
on religion and marriage, The writer
OF this article believes absolutely in
cooperative ,nesheas % .lano -.
continues In opcrattor q few years.
succeeds, financially. But the moment
the sex relations are introduced ~ =
feature such socistiss !, re re- first 800 =
Many people who are Anxions 70 see
our present corrunt Industrial system
to eornethfng better are ops |
~ s. ~ ~ 1. sv,.crvrnns,a -fth |