Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-09-03
A Socialist Week And
A Socialist Year
BY Joseph E. Cohen

D0CduS0 Europe Is a1lam0 Win war
and because capitalist civilization is
being reduced to the barbaric elements
il. consists of, it falls to the lot of the
Socialists of America to take up the
work of enlightenment with special
Vigor land double enthusiasm
Such an opportunity never before
presented itself; such duty never
before waited to be discharged.
All that capitalism could boast of
is turning to ashes. In the fire that
makes or mars empires and world
powers are not only the wealth of
cities and the harvest of country, but,
more than that, an avalanche of hui
man flesh and an humiliation of
human souls.
1t may not be the death rattle of
capitalist exploitation and oppression;
but it certainly is a moral wound.
And as it happens with capitalism
in peace, still more so does it happen
in wars, that the masses of the people.
the workers, pay the price with their
blood and their lives. And not only
does the dance of death blister the
hopes of those who snatch at the in
situations of capitalism as weapons
with which to fight Socialism; it like
wise scOrches the purposes of the val
liant army of the coming common
wealth. of labor.
America is yet free of the fire, and
to the Socialist party of this country.
comes the responsibility Of holding.
oloft the red flag that Is the remain
ing hope of Humanity.
AL the toll, the travail and the sac
rifice of the Socialists on this side Of
the water heretofore will be but child.s,
play, indeed, if it has not made us the
men and women to accept the present.
responsibility and aequit ourselves
And happy are we met with the
week in September we have set aside
for special propaganda. We could not
have hit upon better time had We,,
and not capitalist fates; plunged the
world into darkness that our light
might shine all the brighter.
We have worked patiently in the
trades unions to turn the rank and
file away from the parties which be-
trayed them. Year by year more I'M
ion cards have found company with
the red cards of the Socialist party /.
One by one, outworn officers, smeared
with the site of fossilized policies, have
passed UP and their places taken by
vigorous minded men facing the front
Of progress. We must enlarge our ef-
forts until the whole trades union
movement swings in, line to the rising
revolution.
We have brought method and purA
pose to the student andsthe teacher
in the University of learning. More
than enough of this good work remains
to be done before the old supersti-
lions are covered by the new know
ledge. II
We have put in many a stroke for
womanis votes and woman's advance.
More whole-heartedly still must we
shoulder the effort to carry that move
ment to the limits of full freedom.
On street corners and cross roads,
IN shop and school, we must spread the
spoken word. The points of agitation
must multiply until the web of Social
ism tints the whole land
Where we have bundled off our liter
allure by the thousands, we must make
i millions. In every home and howell
he printed word of Socialism must,
CdCu uutH Tic 0dLlOu mas LnTOWn on
The slavery of today for the freedom
1f tomorrow. 4.s4
Socialists must appear in the next
Congress to sound the demands Of
abor,' to cry down the preparation for
war that is war and restitution, and
10 call for the measures that will ease
he lot of the masses who do the
nations work and bring them the vic
.oTdes of peace and plenty.
Against the war funds of the capital |
st nations, we are to pledge Social
st peace fund.
We are to build up the. circulation
# our press, particularly our own or |
gan. The American Socialist, until 1t |
S the most powerful paper in the land |
All this we, can do and will do if |
We are true to the Cause to which
We have dedicated ourselves.
Europe is deep in darkness; America
must light the way for humanity.
This is the task and test for Social |
SIN, for the men and women of the
Socialist partyi
J Let us respond!
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