The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-08-01
WITH THE EDITORS.
THE sOCIALISTIC. MENACE

THE SOClALlSTlC MENACE
There has recently been brought to public at
tention a remarkable prophecy as to the dangers
of radical socialism in Russia and the United
States 1t was written 10 years ago by H. G.
Wells, the English socialist. E&
Mr.. Wells prophecy with regard to socialism
runs in part as, follows: I'll. Al ! Il NJ &. .;s.3
Social democracy may conceivably become a
force that in the sheer power of untutored faith
may destroy government and not replace it. do
not know how far that is not already the case in
Russia. l do not know how far this may not
ultimately be the case in the United States
"Untutored faith that may destroy government
and not replace it, is phrase singularly desclip-
tive of the Bolshevist debace in Russia. Yet q
decade ago Mr.. Wells foresaw that condition. Even
more remarkable was his coupling Of Russia and
the United States in his forebodngs.
For Mr.. Wells is theoretical socialist who is
enamored of the dream of a society existing under
such envisioned conditions, but who has a lively
sense of the dangers involved in blind effort
to actualize the dream through sudden revolu-
ton. Socialism in England and to certain ex-
tent in France has been conservative. It has
aimed at bringing about changes gradually,
institutions. The Fabian society of English So
cialists, of which Bernard Shaw is bright exem-
plar, takes it's name from that famous Roman gen
eral who won campaigns by studied policy of
delay. 5a
But Mr.. Wells perceived that Russian socialism
was of different temper, and he feared precisely
what has happened-the overthrow of orderly
government without the capacity to replace it with
anything but anarchy. He wrote: Suddenly
and instantly to deny and abolish private property
would bel write as convinced and thorough
socialist-qute the most dreadful catastrophe
human society could experience" The Bolshe-
visits have made good his prediction in Russia.
There is also the significant circumstance that
in the United States, which Mr.. Wells coupled
with Russia in his prophecy, the socialist organ
izaton has fallen into the hands Of MARKHAM rad
icals, men who boldly advocate the abolition Of
private property, and who propose precisely what
the Bosheviki proposed and attempted to bring
about with such disastrous results in Russia.
And not only is the American socialist organize
ton thus committed to extreme radicalism with
its coroaries of disloyaty and fostering of class
hostility, but American socialism has also brought
forth such menacing by-products as the l. w. W..
and the Nonpartisan league lone teaching and
practicng the destruction Of property through
sabotage and other forms Of violence the other
seeking to achieve its confiscatory purposes
through acquisition of political power.
Thus we have in our Haywoods and Townleys
and Hillquits and Bergers the making of Lenines
and Trotzkys, if opportunity should ever offer.
What Wells feared for Russia, has come about.
What he feared for the United States can be pre-
vented. But to prevent it requires popular edu-
cation in the real nature and purposes Of Ameri-
can socialism. Minneapolis Journal.