The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-04-15
PERFECTION OF SOCIETY
THROUGH EVOLUTION
Socialism Is q Stage Yet TO
Be Reached.
SCIENCE PREDICTS CHANGE.

Evolution Is the continuous and
ubiquitous manifestation Of an occult
and inherent tendency toward perfec-
tion.-Lamarck
Socialism Is a conscious endeavor to
substitute organized cooperation for
existence In place OF the present anar-
chical competition for existence, or the
system OF social organization calculat-
ed to bring this about This definition.
though 1t gives, perhaps, adequate ex-
preston to the active and practical
side of Socialism, leaves out of account
altogether It's theoretical basis From
this point Of view, Socialism is an at
tempt to lay the foundation of a real
science of sociology, which shall ena-
Bile mankind. by thoroughly under
standing their past and present to
comprehend, and thus, within limits.
to control the movement and deyelop-
ment of their own society in the near
future. Consequently Socialism In it's
wide sense Is not, as Is still commonly
thought, mere aspiration for better
state Of society. still less only a series
or proposals to mitigate the evils aris-
ing from the present social arrange
ments.
Modern scientific Socialism essays to
give an Ineligible explanation of the
growth of human society, and to show
that as each step In the long course of
private property, through chattel slav-
cry, serfdom and wagedom was inev-
table. so the next step from capital
Ism to Socialism is also inevitable.
The object which Socialists have in
view Is that this. the final transforma-
ton, should be made consciously by
an organized, educated and intelligent
people instead Of unconsciously, and
therefore tempestuouay, by groups of
d1scontented, embittered and Ignorant
workers. Agitation against the inius-
tce Of the present system of produc-
ton therefore is only valuable SO far
as 1t educates men and women to ap-
prec1ate the tendency of the time and
leads them to organize for the attain
ment Of the definite end which the evo-
luton Of economic forms has made
ready. Whether the great change will
be brought peaceably or forcibly has
no bearing upon Socialism in itself.
but depends upon the stage Of develop
ment which has been reached in each
civilized country and the attitude
which the dominant class may adopt
In relation to the demands which the
economic situation impels the produc-
Ing class to make
With the establishment Of national
and eventually international Socialism.
mankind resumes the definite control
production and masters them hence
forward for all time instead Of being
mastered by them. BY such co-opera-
tive industry. whose power over ma
ture is increased by each fresh inven-
uon and discovery, carapace of re-
preston is lifted from the faculties of
each individual and wealth being
made as plentiful as water by light,
wholesome labor, all freely contribute
to increase their own happiness us well
as that of their fellows.
Human nature assumes q new and
higher character In society in which
the surroundings are such that life is
not, as today. constant struggle
against the pressure Of want and the
temptations Of misery. Instead of the
personal. limited, interpretive, indi-
vidual ethic is the social, altruistic.
broad ethic In which the duty toward
society necessarily involves the highest
duty toward mans self. Woman, re-
lieved Of economic and social subjuga-
ton. will assume her place as the So
cial equal of man.
So far, therefore, from Individual ini-
dative and personal freedom in the
highest sense being limited and stunt
ed. human beings will have the oppor-
tunity for attaining to level Of phys
ical. moral and mental development
such as the world has never seen. The
golden age Of society Is, indeed, not In
the past. but in the future.-H. M.
Hyndman In Johnson's Encyclopedia
Article Socialism"