The Northwest worker. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1915-1917, 1915-07-22
THE STATE AN INCIDENT,
BUT NOT THE END OF
SOCIALIST ACTIVITY
ny GEO. ID. HEBRON

IVY NiNCs ~ i''NiNiNoh
nffairm that participation i'm the
function of the state Is an incident
and not tho end of Socialist activity.
II have tried to distinguish between
the values that do and the values that
do not inhere in the political forma-
ton and procedure OF the proletary.
The worth Of political organization, on
the part OF the Socialist, Iies deeper
than the foundations Of governmental
institutions. However and whenever
1T comes, behind the revolution that
releases our human life from Its capt
talist captivity, behind the Socialism
that restores the world which capt
talism Is fast destroying. there Will
be more than the casting and counting
OF votes. Not so--not by the mere
processes of voting and the occupa-
tion of political office-shall we enter
upon the society that gives to each
man the choice and the worth OF his
work, and the ownership and freedom
of his soul, The commonwealth 10
likely to arrive, on storms industrial
and on spiritual winds, long before
the Socialist shall have even approach
cd his proposed political conquest.
Hence we must not be led into desert
places by the ancient mirage Of the
state. We must not be deluded Into
treating the workers as 80 many herds
Of voters, to be shepherded by Social
list political organizations. The prole-
tary does not exist for the Socialist
party, but the Socialist party for the
proletary: for labor's economic deliv.
erance, and the consequent transfigur-
alton OF humanity.
But we shall not be deceived: the
Socialist movement will not go far
,astray: the opportunity of mankind
will this time be matched by man
kinds preparedness. Out Of the heat
and the hurt of internal difference and
discussion, and before the opportuni-
tvs opening doors, the Socialist move
ment will effect working union be-
tween temporary political action and
an industrial action whose end Is en-
during cooperation and liberty. And
this profound inner experience, this
discovery and control of it's essential
and comprehensive forces, will prove
to be the very preparation of the So
cialist movement for taking over the
proper administration of society. 1t is
this preparation, at once political and
spiritual, which the Socialist should
keep constantly before him. There is
no past historic experience that will
stand Socialists in hand when comes
the day that shall put both himself
and his doctrines to the proof. For,
keep in mind, Socialism means, and
freedom means, Infinitely more and not
less Of organization than is meant by
the capitalist state. Indeed, Socialism
is the true beginning of society.
The State Kills Values
YET WHILE THERE is BEING
AFFECTED THIS UNION OF INDUS
TRIAL AND POLITICAL ACTION,
THE SOCIALIST WILL NOT CON-
FUSE THE INSTITUTION OF THE
STATE WITH THE LIFE OF THE
NATION. THE TWO ARE NOT ONE,
AND THERE CAN BE NO FINAL
cOMMIINION RETWEEN THEM
THEY ARE RATHER THE ANTI
THESIS OF EACH OTHER. THE
EXISTING STATE is THE DES-
TRoYER OF THE NATION; AND
THE NATION, AS IT COMES TO UN-
DERsTAND AND AFFIRM ITSELF,
is THE NEGATIoN OF THE EXIST
ING OR CAPITALIST STATE.
THE STATE THE NATIONS
ENEMY
The state was always the nations