The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-12-05
What Is Socialism
BY John r. Meader.

What is Socialism?
This question is often asked and it
is answered in many different ways.
If we turn to the books written by
men who make a business of trying to
convert people to Socialism we might
imagine that every aspiration towards
the betterment Of society is an ex-
ample of Socialist principles.
If we listen to the soap-box orator
on the street corner, we might gain
the impression that Socialism is moth
ing more than TRADE against exist
ing society-a wholesale condemnation
of wealth and of those who possess it.
If we read the platforms of the So.
cialist party it is not unlikely that we
might come to the conclusion that So
cialism is movement that has for it's
purpose the adoption of measures to
bring about higher wages, a reduction
in the hours of labor, the abolition of
child labor, and other reform legisla-
ton.
But if we consult the most authori-
tative spokesman for Socialism-the
men who write the books that are gen.
orally regarded as the "best" books
on Socialism-we find a definition
which gives us basis from which to
begin the study of this question more
efficiently, for practically all agree
that Socialism purposes to abolish the
Capitalist" system in which we are
now living, that it may substitute
form of society in which all of the
means, production and distribution
will be owned by all the people collec-
lively and operated by the people DEM
ocratically.
But am asked-and the question
is a perfectly reasonable one-why
does a belief in collective ownership
necessarily imply opposition to other
existing institutions? Why should be-
lief in collective ownership interfere
with my religious faith, my moral
principles, my love of the country, and
my respect for the established order
of society any more than a belief in
civil service or the color of my hair?
II it were true that Socialism was
nothing more than the exponent of
common ownership principles it would
occupy a similar position to the single
tax movements man would accept it
or reject it without his other princi.
pies being affected one way or the
other. It is because Socialism, in ad-
dition to it's advocacy Of the principle
of collective ownership, is a philoso.
ply which penetrates every nook and
corner of life and affects every phase
of human activity that it demands our
most serious attention.
The political platforms of the So
cialist party are naturally designed to
make the best possible appeal for
votes. The principles embodied in
them are those which it is believed
will strike responsive chord in the
hearts of the greatest number of per.
sons. Naturally, therefore, all mat.
tiers which might properly prove of.
fensive to any class of individuals
does not find place in the party's
platform.
While the platforms represent some
of the phases Of Socialist activities,
therefore, those who go no further in
their search for a definition of Social
ism will fall far short of attaining the
results they desire. Back of the So.
cialist platform are the philosophical
and economic theories upon which it
rests and without which the Socialist
party would not exist for day, save
possibly as pure and simple reform"
party.
II it is true, it is obvious that If
we are to know what Socialism really
is and what it proposes to accomplish
we must go back to the underlying
principles which brought the party