Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-10-02
ONLY AN EPOCH
(By Geo. B. Kline, M. d.

Socialism, like the preceding sys-
TENS of production and distribution,
Feudahsm, Slavery and Capitalism, is
only the name of an epoch in evolu-
ton.
Feudalfsm had fta philosophy;
slavery had its philosophy; capitalism
has its philosophy; likewise Social
ism has its philosophy. All social,
political, intellectual and religious in
situations under each system depended
on the masters of that system for
their bread and butter-their very ex-
istence and naturally defended the
then existing system or mode of pro-
ducing wealth. To illustrate: prior to
the war OF 1865 the slave owners
were the masters of the land. They
ruled state, church and all instftu-
lions of learning, and all defended
slavery. In looking back we find some
of their arguments as amusing as they
are ridiculous. For instance: the
church said. that slavery was-a pecu-
liar Divine institution with which we
had no right to interfere" Capital
ism is defended now on equally shall
low grounds. For instance, that the
masters of bread be privileged to ac-
cumulate all they can according to
law, while we all know that the same
capitalists made the laws. But we are
advancing, and now recognize all pre-
ceding above systems as means of
exploitation, In other WOrds-robbery.
During the existence of all previous
systems, no one understood the pro-
cess Of evolution, hence all drifted.
There were non to explain past exist
ing and advancing vents. 1t is differ
ent now, as all who wish may get
acquainted with the philosophy gov
erning mems actions in accordance to
the inevitable trend~of evolution. We
do not need to do as our forebears,
wait silently in ignorance. wondering
what is in store for US, but we can
work with evolution. It Is like going
with the tide. The masters of feudal-
ism fought against the tide of eyolu-
ton and lost out The masters of
slavery fought against it and lost out.
The captains of industry are fighting
against the same fate and are losing
losing out. The Journals are full of
the evils OF capitalism with no one to
defend it. The poor capitalist, we are
fast finding out that he is the innocent
being in the hands of relentless sys-
tenn and he can no more let go than
the late lamented slave owners.
The needs Of the people will over
come the desire for profits, and from
sheer compulsion to preserve them
selves they will be compelled, as his
tory tells us, to take the things neces-
sary to preserve society, as the peo-
pie freed the chattle slaves so will
the wage slaves be freed. Numerous
instances are now on record where it
was necessary to do this. The PEG
pie have reserved to themselves the
right Of eminent domain. On July
a. 1913, the mayor of Cincinnati, o.,
took charge of number Of ice plants
in order to protect suffering human
ity. Eventually the people VIII see
the foolishness Of giving anything to
another who does not produce any
thing. s
It used to be an honor to be point
ed as the owner Of great number OF
slaves and later to be pointed out as
a millionaire. but times ara changing,
and we now know to become million
aire Is TO rob ten thousand people.
The whole history Of mankind
aince ~ 1iUnolN,l Is tEitet noctsfy.