The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1913-04-12
Rev. P. E. Dietz Shows the Weak
Points in Propaganda of Modern
Economic Fad.
Arguments, Logic" and Prophecies
of Socialist Leaders Found
Fallacious and False.
Clinging to Old Exploded Theories
to Keep Alive the Idea of
a Revolution.

Tho following is an installment OF
tho able article OF Rev. Father Dietx
on tho bankruptcy OF Socialistic So
called Science" 1t is enlightening
ana instructive, particularly for Cath
olic worlingmen.
Frederic Enges has prophcsied an
industrial crisis for every tenth year,
ending in the bankruptcy OF capital
islie society and the revolution. The
Erfurt Program says: ''rlle crises
will be even more extensive and de-
beyond the control of the present or
der oC society,"" What are tho actual
facts? There has been a. 90, 30 and 40
years development OF tremendous in
dustrial power, but the prophesieu
catastrophe has not arrived. Social
ist Conrad Schmidt admits, in the
"Vorwaerts," production has grown
wonderfully. and in spite OF il, the
crises have weakened in energy and
extension. and 'Eapitulism has evinced
an unforeseen adaptabiity TO the
changed economic conditions"
The Iron Law Of tho Ages.
The Communist Manifesto says.
forty years ago: "'Thc' average price
OF wage labor is the smallest wage
absolutely requisite to keep the labor
or in bare existence" The, Erfurt Pro-
gram states that the growth of cap
| misery, oppression, slavery. degrade
ton and exploitation. Is it true: Has
he modern worker been reduced more
and more below the level of his class"
There is poverty a-plenty today as
formerly, but where arc the impovcr-
ished masses. for whom employment
cannot be provided? When was en-
ploymcnt more certain than today?
When was education more. universal?
Emigration has practically ceased, and
| more than 100000 foreign laborers
have sought and found employment in
the German empire. Tax-bcaring re-
sources have grown, mortality has de-
creased, social legislation has i'm
proved the conditions Of the people,
5000 million marks ($1,000, ,000) have
been legally collected from employers
| for workers compensation and insur-
s,,N, al
cordng to Socialist confession, they
have increased relatively more than
| the higher cost of living.
The Social Revolution.
| Socialists nndcavor to cling to old,
| exploded theories. because they need
| them to keep alive tho idea Of revo-
| luton. To admit that there has been
| progress upon the basis of the exist
| ing order of society and capitalistic
production would be paramount to
betrayal Of the Socialist demand for
the overthrow Of all existing condi-
tions. With Socialism, the revolution
is the principles; but who among
the more intelligent Socialists today
believes in the efficacy OF the prole-
tartan revolution? Quessel. the So
ciaIst. ironically remarks ("rhe Mir
age OF the Social Revolution" Social
list Monthly, 1911, p. 1204): III only
we had the old orthodox revolutionary
faith, we would well be rid Of all re-
! fornatory and revisionist doubts. and
we would still be able to hope that on
the day after the revolution, our in
come would be raised $4,000 or more!
| But since our knowledge of facts and
acquaintance with political economy,
statistics and the social sciences gen.
orally has occasioned all kinds of
heretical misgivings, we candidly ad-
nit that we have lost the revolution
ary faith. An investigation. fairly
conducted and free from fantastic
i suggestion, as to how the possibilities
of popular wealth will lead to the con-
clusion that poverty and misery can
i not be overcome by way Of a social
revolution"
What Is the New Order Of Things
If all these theories, therefore, and