The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-12-26
DULUTH SOCIALIST !.
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A great deal of puerile criticism
has been heaped upon the heads of
the German Social-Democracy Because
of the attitude assumed In voting the
military budget in the July session Of
the Reichstag.
Unfortunately q great deal of this
criticism came from the ranks Of the
Socialist party, mostly on the spur of
the moment without waiting for de-
velopments.
There are also many idealists or
utopians on the war question espe-
cially among the so-called intel
lectuals.
It was with a great deaf of inter-
est that we read the following letter
from a Finnish member of the Dus
luth local in answer to a letter which
appeared in the columns Of The
American Socialist:
The Letter.
Having read Comrade Simons'
comment in the last issue Of The
American Socialist feel it my duty to
make some suggestion to 'Comrade
Simons.
Let US suppose that we would have
across our northern boundary line
Russia instead Of Dominion sot Can
ada" Perhaps Comrade Simons knows
something about Russia. Perhaps he
has heard that the working class of
Russia constitutes only II per cent of
the total population of that country.
Perhaps he knows that the bulk Of the
population is constituted Of reaction
airy small peasants, lead by the land
ed artstocracy. Perhaps he has heard
something about czarism. Perhaps he
has heard that the labor unions and
Socialist party are forbidden in Rus
s1a. Perhaps he has heard something
about the gallows. Perhaps he has
heard something about the suhjugated
nations signing under the Rucsian
yoke. Perhaps he has some idea what
Russia Is and what she is not Now,
let US supp $50 that we would have this
Russia across our northern boundary
line. Let US suppose that We would
have +rance in the place Of Mexico
and England IN the place Of West In
dian lslands- Let us suppose that
England w~'uid be jealous of our in
dustrial growth and France jealous,
because we have conquered New Mex
leo. Let US suppose that war would
break out. There would be Russia,
England and France against the
United States of America. What
should the working elias of the United
States do, what course should it take.
A general strike. Would it avert the
war? Not at all. Why not? Because
there would not be general strike in
Russia. You have to remember that
the working class of Russia consti-
tutes only II percent of the popula-
ton. The general strike in England
would not affect the war; either. The
reason: England is a seapower. The
Russian hordes wouldjs invade our
country. without resistance because
our working class would be in a gen
eral strike. Russia would conquer
and annex some part Of our country.
Let us suppose Maine, Michigan and
Minnesota would be her prey. All
this would Appropriateness the work.
ing class of United States would have
struck. Should it be desirable? Per-
haps Comrade Sinlons would be very
eager to help Russia annex several
millions Of our working class under
the government of .gallows.
Would Fight.
for my part would take a course
radically different from that suggest
ed by Comr. de Si1nons: would re-
sort to, arms and fight and contest
every inch of our. soil. I am not
patriot. am not a naturalized citizen
I am not German. T am a Finn by
nationality I would not be inspired
to fight by patriotism. I would
fight to- prevent the lower mode OF
production of gaining ground at the
expense Of a higher one. Every mode
of production Is cDrresponded by its
own superstructure. The social and
political superstructure Of industrial
capitalism is higher than that Of land
lordisn. I would fight to defend the
higher stage Of INDUSTRIAL, social and
political development against the in
vasion of the lower one. All that be-
| cause I know thatsSocialism is pro-
! duct Of highly developed industrial
capitalism and nota product of Rus
sian landlordism and czarism. To let
| Russia win and enlarge her possess
sions would be to. retard the indus
trial developments of the world and
therefore to retard the coming Of So
| cialism.
! This is just the case with the Ger
man Social-Democracy.
Don't be an idealist and utopist.
Be materialist. Try to understand,
not to blame. l, hope that the Ger
man spell, treason, should I say
should continue II the next interna-
| tional congresses
AKU RISSANEN,
T.. Smithville, Mimi.
Greysolon Cigars are good: