Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-08-14
An Epoch In Evolution
(Hy George B. Kline. M. pA

| Wy 0eOT9e 3. Kline, M. Do
Socialism, ike the preceding systems
OF production and distribution, Feudai-
ism, Slavery and capitalization is only
the name of an epoch in evolution.
Feudalism habits philosophy; slavery
had its philosophy; capitalism has its
philosophy and likewise Socialism has
its philosophy. All social, political, in. !.
under each system depended on the
tellectual and religious institutions
masters of that system for their bread
and butter-their very existence, and
naturally defended the the. nexisting
mode of producing wealth To illus
trate: Prior to the war of 1855 the
slave owners were the masters ofthe
institutions of learning, hence all de-
land. They ruled stats. church and all
fendedslavery. Thus they were all
economic questions In looking back
we lind some of their arguments as
amusing as they were ridiculous. For
instance the church said Slavery was
a peculiar Divine institution with
which we had no right to interfere
Capitalism is now defended on equally
shallow grounds. For instance, that
o. p9SeuAiId eq pg9Iq 10 sIelsme sqq
law, lie we all know that these
a. 4Iate all they can according to
sane amsters have made the laws. But
We are advancing.
During the existence of all proceed
ing systems, no one understood the
process of evolution, hence all drifted.
There were none to explain past, ex-
istint or future systems or events. 1t
is different now, as all who wish can
acquaint himself not only with past
systems but with the advancing one.
We do not need to do as our forbears,
wait silently in ignorance, wondering
what is in store for us, but We can
work with evolution. 1t is like going
with the tide. The masters Of feudal-
ism fought against the tide and lost
out. The masters of slavery fought
against evolution and lost out. The
mastersof capitalism are fighting
against the same fate and are losing
out. The journals are full of the evils
of capitalist n with no one to defend
it. The popr capitalist, we are fast
finding out that he is the innocent
being n--the hands of relentless
system and he can no more let go than
could the late lamented slave owner.
1t is the system rather than the indi-
vidual that is responsible for graft,
for political corruption. for the saloon
for involuntary poverty and practic-
ally all the ills of the present times.
1t used to be an honor to be pointed
out as a large slave owner, and later
to be pointed out as a millionaire,
but these times are changing, and we
now know to be millionaire is to rob
ten thousand people. The people are
again rising in their might and will de-
stroy the institutions of exploitation
as they destroyed previous systems Of
robbery. Evolution cannot be stopped.
All preceding systems (since the
of primitive tribal society.
holding land in common ownership
has been history of class struggles.
contests between exploiting and ex-.
plotted ruling and oppressed classes,
until point has been reached where
the workers cannot free themselves
without at the same time. and once
for all, emancipating society at large
from all exploitation, oppression, class :
distinctions and class struggles. Then
for the first time in the worlds his
tory will all have an equal opportunity
and receive full product of their toll.
The ancient Philosophers dreamed
OF the time when machinery would do
the worlds work. and give mankind
wealth and leisure for sef-culture.
That time is here and waiting for the
organization to include all in the CO.
operative commonwealth. or Social
ism:
Fifteen millions of Socialists are
having day dreams of this vision. A
million voters in the United States
are working to this end. Prof Wently
of the University of Michigan says:
Socialism is inevitable; all the OPP
position will amount to no more than
a gust of wind against locomotive"