The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-01-03
An ANALYSIS OF SOCIALISM
THE FOLLOWING PlTHY SUM-
MARY or soclALlsTIc DELU-
sloNs is TAKEN FORM "THE
LIVE ISSUE"

Socialism makes its strongest ap-
peal to the oyerstressed in our indus
trial field.
They feel most the hardship of in
dustry. They crave the luxuries they
see, but are denied.
They dread the distress for their
kindred against which their small
earnings provide but little protection.
Socialism says to them that it will
soften the yoke of labor
Socialism says to them that it will
put the stress on shoulders now free
and thus relieve them.
Socialism says to them that it will
guard the widow and the orphan
against the distress of privation.
1t is hard for humanity to turn a
deaf ear to promises so fair. 1t is
hard for man whose toll is unremit-
ting and whose earning power is mea-
ger to examine with a fresh, keen
mind the proposals and promises.
Consequently in the mills and in
mines and in the huge factories the
number Of adherents of the Socialist
cause grows constantly and rapidly;
and with it's growth wakes the po-
litical power of the Socialist party.
These converts to the cause are
adherents only, because they know
nothing of the philosophy and nothing
of the economics involved.
Far easier is it for them and far
more natural to. accept such promises
at their face value. They wear the
garb of justice to unframed eyes.
They have al the bearings and aspect
of benignity.
What they want is better living
conditions; what they believe Social
ism to be is better living conditions.
Like the deluded hosts of the ancient
East they follow blindly and ardently
the banner of the yelled prophet with
it's aspiring but deceptive legend of
Freedom for the World"
1t is difficult for, these so cruelty
deceived to look beneath the surface
of the thing. Their whole attention
is engrossed with the specious prom
Use of material comforts, and they
pay very little attention to the asso-
ciated social phenomena of Socialism.
They do not see the fatal effects
of it's denial of moral authority.
They do not see the bitter conse-
quence of it's attack upon the family
relations and the family significance.
They cannot recognize in the new
paganism the old paganism that ante
dated Christianity.
Yet if they would only read, they
would realize that before Christianity
came into the world the labor of the
world was slave labor The industry
of the world was bathed in the blood
and sweat Of paganism and civiliza-
ton and luxury were for only 10 per
cent of all the people.
That old civilization had no sym.
pathy for the down-trodden; no care
for the weak. In it's modern form il
has no sympathy for those who bear
the heavy burdens of life. It's tend
ency is towards the enslavement OF
the masses. Well might Herbert
Spencer call the coming Socialism
"The Coming Slavery"
At the bottom of the modern ap
peal for eugenics and matrimonial
regulation is the old Pagan thought
of destroying the weak.
The Christian civilization would
take the criminal and make a decent
citizen out of him.
The modern eugenist would take
the same criminal and by the use Of
the surgeons knife makes him less
than a man.
In several states of this country
the influence of this Socialistic anG
Materialistic school of thought has
had enacted into law provisions which
will restore to the modern world the
eunuchs SO numerous in the ancient
world
4 We need a resurgence of civiliza
ton in order to save our working PEG
pie from slavery.
We need re-exaltation of the dig
nifty of manhood and realization Of
the indispensability of truth in oul
social system.