The Northwest worker. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1915-1917, 1916-02-24
EDITOR is WRONG
SAYS COM. STONE

[ ODiFNU0 u H. oAOhNs VI HtsAhAAtN'
Wash, takes exception TO our editor
ial on Economic Determinism, which
appeared in the issue Of Feb. 10th,
under the caption Inspiring Exam
pie" As our critic merely makes
S series of dogmatic statements with
out touching upon the one point raised
in our editorial concerning the mater
ial sacrifices of Poland's greatest
pianist, we find little temptation to
write another editorial in support of
our thesis. However, we publish the
comrades criticism for the sake of
freedom of expression. hoping the
readers of The Northwest Worker
win take the trouble to refer back to
the "souib" in question and see for
themselves in how far, if at all, we
have "belittled' the great principle
of economic determinism.
one point only we wish to add to
what we have already said; Cultivat-
ed human beings have an environ
ment other than the economic to
which they must adapt themselves.
To a greater or less degree all men
and women. ignorant or cultured,
have two environments, each one OF
which has its own imperative de-
mands Besides the economic en-
vironment, there is a psychological
environment. whose demands are Of
ten in conflict with the economic en-
vironment Adaptation to ones psy-
GEOLOGICAL environment is as essential
a phase of the struggle for larger
higher life as is the bread and butter
struggle for a mere animal existence
Sometimes the struggle for the graft
fication of a psychological need, the
realization of some high and noble
ideal of life and living, is so deter
mined and so persistent that the bio
logical desire for life itself is van
uuished. the idealist giving up his
very physical existence rather than
Weld to any adaptation short of his
psychological goal OF what avail
are economic, or mercenary motives,
in such instances? But your average
economic-determin Socialist, not
really understanding the historical
verify of economic determinism, as
used by Marx and Engels, means pre-
ciselv that no comrade in the move
ment is actuated by other than purely
pecuniary, economic motives; mean
ing that no one works for any motive
other than the betterment of his i'm
mediate financial or material inter
ests or condition. And it is against
this narrow, small-souled, not to say
brutal conception of life and human
motives, that we protest. In no other
sense can we be charged with "be-
lifting" the Illuminating principle OF
historical materialism, or economic
determinism.
The people of the Southern states,
including the ministry, sought to JUS
tify and retain chattel slavery be-
cause this ancient institution was in
accord with their economic well-being.
Their fight for an utterly anti-Chris-
tian system affords a most valuable
example of economic determinism.
On the other hand, the efforts of
Lovejoy and Garrison were the re-
suit of their idealism, their psychology
ical environment, not Of economic
determinism Their economic en-
vironment was precisely the same as
that of the men who hated and per-
secuted them for their fearless de-
nunciation of slavery, mobbing and
starving Garrison and actually muir
dering Lovejoy.
OF Garrisons economic determin-
ism" Wendell Phillips said:
This boy (Garrison) stood alone,
utterly alone, at first. There was no
sympathy anywhere! His hands
were empty; one single penniless
comrade was his only helper. Starry
ing on bread and water, he could
command the use of types, that was
all. Trade endeavored to crush him;
the intellectual life of America dis
owned him. No sooner did the
church discern the impetuous boys
purpose than out of that dead, slug
gish cloud Numbered and lightened
malignity which could not find words
to express it's hate The very pulpit
where / stand saw this apostle Of lib
erty and justice sore beset, always
in great need, and often in deadly
peril; yet it never gave him one word
of approval or sympathy. During all
his weary struggle, Mr.. Garrison felt
it's weight in the scale against him.
In those years it led the sect which
arrogates to itself the name of Lib