Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-02-29
MODERN SOCIALISM
The Movement In Europe Affected nv
New tionsIism--CAartism in
Great Britain.

was continued at the College Street
Church Sunday, Prof. s. +. Emerson
opening the discussion with presenta-
ton OF the movement as affected by the
lates. economic and political devotion.
'nents. lie said the world was now face
TO race with propaganda. and so far as
he could discover the present movement
was largely revolutionary.
In Lawrence, for example. the aim IL
not alone to secure better wages. but
to bring about a general Improvement in
conditions. as Indicted by tie sending of
children to New York and Philadelphia as
well az 10 Barre and Wnooski
Professor Emerson showed how the So
cialistic movement in Europe was being
affected by the growth Of the spirit Of
nationalism. One OF the fundamental
principles Of the orthodox socialist is un-
compromising opposition to war. and yet
when the italian Parliament came to the
consideration of war measures in connec-
lion with Tripoli. considerable body OF
the socialist members voted with the gov
eminent party in support of the war poll
cies In other words what Professor En-.
erson has named revolutionary socialism
has given place to political socialism. that
! work with existing political parties in
governmental bodies O. now existing in
stead Of holding to the original theory
that the existing order OF society and
government must be overthrown.
In Germany on the other hand social
ism Is affected the spirit Of medieval
ism rather than by the new nationalism.
For example when tho members Of the
Z ts,,,t toI htr .p1n IL
liam to vIsi, the imperial palace at tho
opening OF the session. the socialists re-
fused to accept this chance to recognize
this modern war lord who clings to the
spirit of fendalism.
On the other hand when the heads Of
the government chosen through the In
fuence of the socialists set about maxi
ing their official call upon Emperor Will
! liam, he refused to receive them.
| Professor Emerson said that according
to all accounts March would see a great
general strike in England involving no
less than 100000 men principally in the
mining region. and this strike would rep
resent what he had termed revolutionary
socialism. revolutionary not necessarily
In results but in aims as regards existing
conditions.
! Professor Evan Thomas spoke Of that
| distinctive socialistc movement in Great
Britain which has come to he known as
| "Chartism." BY way of introduction he
| said he had been questioned by different
| individuals as to whether his subject
| involved mathematics or some considera-
| ton of charts. Chartism becomes more
| Ineligible for the ordinary individual
when it is stated to be merely an alb
breviation of "charterism. struggle
for a charter Of rights.
| The movement started in 1895. about the
beginning of the Victorian period in Eng
land. 1t was caused by the prevailing
revolutionary spirit. by the influence of
the writings of Thomas Paine BY wide
spread lack of employment combined
with high prices of living and consequent
discomfort. deprivation and suffering. as
well as by the feeling that the working
class was cut off from the rights and
! privileges of the suffrage.
The right of suffrage had been greatly
extended in 1882. but the workingmen were
not included in the classes benefited by
this extension Of the right to vote.
The demands of this involved in the
Chartism movement embraced six specific
features:
|. Universal suffrage
2. Voting by ballot.
g. Removal of property qualification for
voting
a. Annual pariaments.
3. Equal distribution of parliamentary
districts.
g. Payment of members of parliament.
The Chartists speedily divided into two
classes those favoring physical force and
those in favor OF combining their efforts to
moral influence. The latter class included
a considerable number of men OF high
intelligence just az the societies OF to-
day in the United States embrace not a
few men OF great wealth as we'll many
scholars and men of great intelligence.
The Chartist movement continued only
about ten years. Its collapse was due to
two principal causes. the granting OF the
more reasonable demands, and the fact
that no direct improvement resulted in
the directions in which Improvement was
expected
The collapse OF Chartism was greatly
facilitated by the ridiculous developments
| In connection with monster petition
sent to Parliament This petition was
| popularity stated to contain no less than
| ''Wo,"O names but when II was reduced
! to its lowest terms II had only 100000
legitimate signatures.
Many people had affixed the most out
landish and ridiculous names to the petit
ton, and had thus made u a laughing
| stock.
The movement ultimately resulted in
| the granting OF three reforms demanded:
| Practical general suffrage. voting by
| ballot and the remova; OF .he property
| qualification.
| Professor Thomas told III an interesting
way how he as boy Witnessed the first
| general election In which workingmen
voted in 1865, the man IN the city and
the man in the mine voting together for
the first time. He said We have exciting
elections in the United States but nothing
like that first general election in Great
Britain.