The Irish standard., 1912-11-02


lists and reformers. They are not
properly or to any considerable ex-
tent evidences of real actual socialistic
experiences, but to the extent that So
cialism did enter into them, it was a
retardins influence. Most of them
failed or dwindled and to the extent
that the corporate organization led to
some success. it did not establish any
precedent that the surrounding mill
lions should find anything desirable in
creating other such colonies, societies
or corporations or extending and en-
larging those already made.
The development under modern in
dividualism and The protection Of
property and persons through organ
lied capital has made for the pres
ent age and particularly IN this re-
public, the greatest development and
distribution of wealth amongst the
people than was ever known in any
age or among any people. While this
is admitted by the opponents Of mod
ern civilization and progress, they mis-
represent and mislead the people by
ceeds Of the industry of all is dis
tributed to the extent Of nearly the
whole production amongst very
small percentage of the people and
only the smallest fraction goes TO the
great mass of people composing the
commonwealth.
The fundamental error of socialism
is in taking imprac*icable, incorrect
theories and Misrepresentation of
facts as basis for drawing false con-
illusions. The theory that all man.
kind was created free and equal. and
that all should have equal natural ad-
vantages in securing their share or
proportion, is construed into false
conclusion that the wealth produced
by each one, belongs to ALL without
reference to his part in it's creation
transformation or accumulation. The
contribution of each one towards the
wealth produced in whatever form it
is contributed, whether by manual or
mental labor, or foresight, industry
and economy, must necessarily deter
mine the interests of each individual
in his own production, or his share in
the joint production; and the sys-
TENS and measures on which this is
determined in competitive life, while
not absolutely perfect, or exactly
equitable, is the only system on
which civilization could be built
or maintained. And just as Ger
tainly as the motive 60 earn and pos
sess is taken by means of aggregate
irresponsible, unprofitable> system of
socialistic ownership, the productive
forces of mankind will be paralyzed
to whatever extent the basis and mo-
tive on which advancement and prog
ress can be made, is taken from the
individual.
rect conclusions of the socialistic pre-
sentation of the modern system or
methods employed in the distribution
of wealth, are the most erroneous and
misleading of all the errors and falla-
cies of the socialistic creed.
The primary error is that manual
labor is the only element of wealth
production or distribution. That while
capital and modern Industrial and eco
nomical development are the propel-
ling forces that multiply the efficiency
of labor more than tenfold, yet all
the product should go to labor; and
this extraordinary presumption is
maintained upon the theory that all
capital Is the product CT labor taken
from him by the capitalist, then used
to control the workingman and to Sc
cure large portion of his earnings.
Under this erroneous and unreason-
ing presumption, that although labor
is but fractional contributor to
modern Industrial methods, the own
ership of the wealth is claimed and
demanded by the modern socialist as
the, property of the workingmen, who
have received as a class, more than
the fractional part which labor has
contributed to the joint product and
through their own economy none of
the capital has been saved or accu-
mulated, other than the amount in
the savings banks that may be in part
used for their account, credit and
profit.
Such statements are made not only
by this agitator class, but similar Il
less radical by college men whose
theories are seriously at variance with
the facts and conditions showing that
advanced college training does not
within itself properly qualify for
StateSmanshin or for understanding