The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-12-05

into being and not depend upon the
words OF persons whose sole aim is
to make converts to their particular
IDEAS. In other words, to know what
Socialism is, one must turn to the
works OF the real Socialists-the books
which all recommend as the classical
works on Socialism'-and not to the
penny and five-cent publications which
are printed by the hundreds and thou
sands because it is believed that they
will help to make votes for the party.
The Importance of pursuing this
course will be understood as soon as it
IS seen that all of the philosophical,
economic and political theories of So
c1alism are just so many links in a
chain. If one is broken, the chain is
severed.
For example, the idea so commonly
presented that labor is robbed of the
greater part of the wealth which II
produces, has it's basis in the theory of
value" and surplus value" advanced
by Karl Marx. If Marx had wrong
ideas and was false prophet when
ne predicted that while a few persons
were to grow richer and richer the
great masses of the people would be.
come poorer and poorer until thew
could stand it no longer and start a
revolution, there is no excuse for the
Socialist movement, no reason for the
class struggle" and no hope that any
OF the splendid promises of the Social.
lists will ever be realized.
l doubt if there are MANY genuine
Socialists who will assert that this
contention is unfair. Genuine" So.
c1alists know that the Socialist party
without the Socialist philosophy and
the Socialist theories of economics
would be as short-lived as the now
thoroughly defunct Populist party.
Ihey know that the strength of their
movement lies in their appeal to hui
man sympathies-that without the on.
portunity to paint horrible pictures of
distressing conditions and the ability
to make the people believe their case
to be hopeless they could make no
showing on election day.
Moreover, Socialism processes to be
as thoroughly scientific" in it's princf-
pies as any of the exact sciences, but
unless we can keep the chain com.
plete-with no link broken-there can
be no justification for these preten-
sions. Once the theories advanced nv
Marx are thrown overheard we have a
movement without reason for it's ex-
istence, party with principles no diff
ferent than those which other political
parties have advocated.
While it may be admitted, therefore.
That a man might stand for most of
the political demands of the Socialist
party without danger to religious faith,
patriotism, or moral and ethical stand
ards, one who goes no further than
this has merely crossed the threshold
OF Socialism. Before he can be So
ciailst' ne must accept the principles
upon which the movement is founded.
And 1T Is when we pass these bounds
that we begin to realize why so many
persons regard Socialism as the great
est menace in the world today, for it
is then that the several questions that
nave little if anything to do with the
political appeal of the party loom
large and demand serious attention.
10 examine the philosophy of Social
ism is to discover that the movement
Is one that affects every phase of hui
man thought and threatens every ex-
lstlng institution. To examine the eco
nomic theories Of Socialism is to raise
the question Of probability and this
Is question that cannot be dismissed
with smile and promise. And it is
10 these aspects of Socialism that the
subsequent articles in this series will
be devoted.