The Detroit times., 1916-03-15

10 STIR up the spirit OF mteiifSent
discomfort
Dividing his address into = denni.
ton of socialism as science and
In its idealistic aspects. an analysis
OF the facts and tendencies OF the
present organization of society and
his constructive plan for action. Mr..
Eastman warned his audience in ad-
vance that the nobility OF socialism,
In its definition, would win them un-
reservedly TO IL, but that his stand
for making IL prevail would be the
revolutionary part OF his address.
He continued:
Plato. Jesus, Epictstus. Tom
Pains. William Morris, such men in
all ages have gathered together TO
talk OF the state In which men would
not have a social or financial ad-
vantage over each other. where all
should have equal advantages for
the realization of life. These men
hated caste. They wanted differences
to be real, and that men should be
marked by genuine superiorities OF
merit That . narrow-minded little
pup should look down upon a large
souled man because he had little
money was intolerable TO them.
because Plato wanted a genuine
aristocracy. he created one In his
own mind. He was Utopian. but
a Utopian Is one who enjoys the
visions of q happy world but who
makes no analysis xeftsinig facts
and conceives no plan for achieve
ment on the basis OF those facts.
The trouble is that the universal
love OF which we hear 80 much has
little place on this world. And its
general assumption results partly In
the white hypocrisy which IL one OF
the worst features of our present
system.
Universal liberty and equality OF
opportunity are the things take to
define a happy world. These are
the aims OF socialism, and because
OF their nobility they are a fitting
substitute for declining religion
and may be made a subject OF wor-
ship"
A universal self-interest was In
sisted on by Mr.. Eastman as q vital
fact ignored by religion. In his ex-
position Of the doctrine OF class
struggle. which with an economic
Interpretation OF history. made up
the middle part OF his address. This
was the second division of his argu-
ment. setting forth his Interpretation
OF facts and tendencies OF present
day society.
There are some social service
workers like Jane Adams, who are
so acutely conscious Of the miseria
OF others. that after they have a
reasonable standard OF living as
sured them. can't help giving their
surplus energies TO their relief
Eastman went on. But these peo-
pie are out OF the common run. The
majority OF the world breeds true
TO type. IT is mistake to suppose
that it is possible to persuade the
bulk OF humanity to become as
these few are constituted.
>"There is group OF men. who
by privilege. live on the labor of
others. and they will not relinQuish
this privilege unles they bloody
well have TO. Men line up In classes
on. the basis OF economic interest.
The employing class will do moth
ing 10 decrease the gulf between
the classes. We are coming more
and more TO have caste and class
rule here as In Europe.
I'VE can not change the organic
nature OF man. This fies In the
face OF facts. Modern science, with
its evolutionary theory, has shown
this we'll We may a. well expect
an organism TO feel pleasure In the
depletion OF its nerve cells ~ for .
man to feel pleasure In the deple-
ton OF his pocektbook.
And these attempts 10 change
the nature OF man have been the
method of social reform, evangei-
lists, Christianity. labor legislation.
civic education. social service work
and moral regeneration.
we don't say that socialism has
higher ideals than these things.
But IL holds itself to be based on
reality. II holds itself to be scien.
tifc. which Is only a finer way Of
saying IL is practical"
The address was followed by an
open forum, in which he was aues-
toned on IN epoem that appeared
I, In The Masses which brought
down the condemnation OF the Rev.
w. ". Wray Boyle.
Eastman could not quote the
I poem, but said that II was a nature
story. using material from 1.-THE
Bible