The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-04-08
UTOPIAN VERSUS REVOLT
TIONARY SOCIALISM.
BY FRANs BoSTRoM.

Man, and every other animal, and
perhaps also every vegetable organ
ISM is to himself pivot around
which the whole rest Of the universe
moves To each there Is first and
foremost but one thing to consider
namely "I' (the EGO. Everything
surrounding him has value exactly
In proportion to its usefulness to HIM.
In natural condition his first instinct
Is elfpreservation at any price. To
the best of his understanding he will
steer clear of situations that may en-
danger his existence or make his life
uncomfortable and miserable. In all
the world he can expect no other con-
sideration from any other organism
than what Is conceded to him for the
usefulness he renders to each respect
lively. No one can afford to give
more. All sentiments and ideals are
but manifestations of material needs
or their qualifications. In satisfying
his needs he economies with his en-
ergy, follows the lines of least re-
sistance, just as a drop OF water
spilled on a dusty table finds its way
along the lowest depression and rolls
along until 1t falls to the floor. In
his dealings with other beings he
finds the law of the strongest. thu
survival of the fittest, operating alb
solutely and mercilessly. He found
1t to his advantage to cooperate with
men of his own race and standard
of advancement against other races
and other degrees of civilization. He
found it advantageous to unite with
his neighbors to resist invasions Of
strangers and so founded tribes and
nations. And finally he combines
within the nation with men Of similar
interests for the protection of mutual
interests. At no time will he 0f he
understands his interests) enter into
any combination, unless it promises a
greater return than individual effort
|
ism is his natural, animal, condition,
collectivism is his advancement, his
experience, civilization.
WHY PROGRESS is SLOW
Why does civilization advance so
slowly?
Because, acting under the impulse
of the instinct of self-preservation
men, when superior weapons were in
vented, used them, not for the benefit
of all mankind, but for their own well
fare
Because, when natures forces be-
came more or less clear to some men,
they, instead of enlightening their fell
lows, utilized their knowledge for the
mystefication and mental enslave-
ment of mankind, and thus became
the priesthood and parasites of the
world, following the lines of least re-
sistance
Because, when tools and machinery
were invented, the great mass per-
mitted the possessors to use these in
ventions as a means for it's own en-
slavement. The law of the strongest
alone can settle the problem. Will
the giant, labor, strike the mosquito,
capital, that is sucking it's life blood?
Comrade BARGE appeals to the
mosquito to refrain from making it's
living in it's natural way. l appeal
to the working class to strike the pest
before all strength has oozed out of
the arm. That is the difference be-
tween Utopian and Revolutionary So
cialism Comrade BARGE believes In
the community of interests between
the insect and the man, homogeniety
of the exploiter and the exploited.
do not Government is the rule of
the club. We must swing the club
Our forefathers, captured in battle by
their tribal enemies were made slaves.
Given a chance, they would without
hesitation have killed their masters
to gain freedom. Our freedom can no
longer be gained in so simple man.
ner. But that fact and that alone
should be our only reason for not
using the means. 1t doesn't pay But
any one who hesitates to use the
means that will work, whose super
stitious scruples are stronger than his
love of emancipation, is traitor to
the cause. Opportunism is the idea
that the elevation of some of us to
the office of trustee" to watch the
other slaves, is gain to all, step
in the right direction. Is it?