The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1914-10-23
HAS SOCIALISM FAILED?


is the cry we hear on every side.
Editorials demanding to know why
the Socialists have failed to stop the
war, are blazened forth by the cap
italist press with unconcealed delight.
From these various editorials one
might easily draw the conclusion that
all other organizations standing for
the higher things of life were free
from responsibility and consequently
free from blame; that the Socialist
organization of the various nations
should have stopped the terrible war
now ravaging Europe, and that their
failure to do SO brings them into a
position of deserving contempt.
This aggravating accusation on the
part of our capitalist friends would
be amusing if it were not so pathetic.
We admit that the Socialist did
not stop the war;
We also admit that organized
Christianity did not stop the war.
We also admit that organized cap
italist government did not stop the
war.
We also admit that the great In
ternational Peace society did not stop
the war.
7, For over twenty centuries Chris
ianity has been teaching the gospel
of "resist not evil, turn the other
cheek, beat swords into pillow shares,
forgive your enemies, and love your
prosecutors"
During these twenty centuries
Christianity has been organized into
powerful associations of various types
of believers.
In some of the nations involved in
this war, Christian believers consti-
tute the mass of the population,
while with some of the governments
the Christian church is part and par
eel of the state government.
Yet with this powerful organiza-
tion the church did not stop the war.
With millions of professed adher-
ents, Christianity did not stop the
war, Notwithstanding their acceptance
of the teaching of Jesus regarding,
peace on earth, good will toward
men,
Capitalism has not had centuries
for exerting it's influence for the rea-
son that capitalism has been in the
saddle of apairs for slightly over one
century.
Yet during that hundred years cap
italism has succeeded in developing
the best nature in man to such an
extent that millions of them are now
struggling toward each others
Threats.
Capitalism has had complete con-
troll of all the nations now engaged
in the bitter conflict. i
Yet capitalism did not stop the
war.
We would not forget the great In
ternational Peace organization, back
ed by millions of dollars, having
magnificent peace palace" for head
quarters and luxuriating in the pat
ronage of rulers and high officials of
all nations.
Yet these peace societies did not
stop war.
The only evidence of life manifest
ed by this worldwide organization
since the outbl eak of war, came from
the efforts Of Hendi LaFontaine, a
Socialist senator of Belgium, who
happens to be active in the peace So
ciety. i
Christianity with it's millions of fol-
lowers and billions of wealth did not
stop the war.
Capitalism, with its absolute con-
troll of governments, did not stop war.
The great international Peace So
ciety with the untold resources and
patronage Of the rich, did not stop
war.
Socialism has been at work little
more than half century and dur
ing that time, 1t has Greeted a vast
host Of human beings who vigorously
protest against war, not with phrases
Of purile peace, but with the philoso-
ply which shows the basic causes of
war, presenting program founded