Norwich bulletin., 1920-12-08
GIVES FOURTH LECTURE IN ! GERTEG ON sOCIAIIS

GIVES FOURTH LECTURE IN
 SERIES ON SOCIALISM
 Rev. Alexander IL Abbott in his fourth lecture in a series of six on So- cialism Tuesday evening at the Com munity House reviewed the history of Socialism to the present day quoting largely from the works. of Engels and Marx and pointing out the foresight used by these two men in writing their book and making predictions for the fu-l ture.
 In opening his talk Mir. Abbott said | | that it was hard to treat his subject | impartially and it was difficult to keep from overstating one side and under stating the other. He reviewed briefly his other three talks and the bearing these had on the present day. The task l tonight, said Mir Abbott, is to analyze the following three points: First. econ- omic interpretation of history; second, the concentration of capitalism; third, the class struggle; and find out what Marx and Engels meant by them.
 The economic interpretation of his
 tory means the finding of some econom- ic motive rather than. the romantic side of the deeds. This theory is stated in the communist manifesto by Engels:
 Tn every historical epoch the prevail
 ing mode of economic production and
 exchange and the social organization
 necessarily following from it. form the
 basis upon which is built up and from
 which alone can be explained the politi-
 cal and intellectual history of that epoch In other words the social and political conditions of any historic epoch take the direction from the economic conditions in that epoch and likewise do the moral, religious and institutional , forms.
 [ Mir. Abbott cited the discovery of . America, the evolution in the doctrine
 of atonement and the progress of ciyili- l i.Eation as being economic rather than 5 from any other motive. There are many h objections 10 the theories of Marx and | Engels but with sober thought t.iese ob- . jections do not seem so great when one | fully understands the idealism back of the theory.
 The second theory, that of the con- l. centration of capitalism follows close on
 the. first theory. The theory is arrived s at by applying the economic theory ot t historic forces to one field. namely-the n field of capi.alistic production. Exam.
 ing this field Marx and Engels observed
 the evolution taking place here as in
 other pheres whereupon he remarks
 Our theory is not a dogma but the eX-
 position of a process of evolution and g tat process involves. several successive l. s.ages." By this method they predicted Y n era of industrial concentration ant l. monopoly as the outcome of the compet e live struggles of their time. They ob O served certain stages in capitalistic pro Ie duction up 10 the coming of the ma
 chine; development of ancient civiliza ton; feudalism; the age os the ma I cline; competition. growth of indus T. ty and the new capitalist class. Our task is 10 examine this theory tc . see if the predictions of Marx and Engel' . have become true, Is the law of the con. = l rat of arafta ta1 int ar41 : hands a true statement of facts? The . socialist will answer Yes" Let us SC, s some specific examples that show tn, . truth of the law. First. the actual devcl IL opment of trust and monopolies; second ' the inter-industrial magnates or those in s' tcrlocking directorates; third. the inter B. national magnates; fourths the so-calie,
 policy Of peaceful penetration" that i ,: branching out of Russia and England int l. Persia; fifth. as En immedlet persona IL experience in matters referring to food clothing. the necessities of life, control O P 1 witch has become concentrated in fey le hands for the sake of profits.
 l. There has been marked criticism of ihi ss theory. It is said there is an increase i l. petty industries, the failu9r of large seal s. farming. the persistence of the sma
 stores, the fact that concentration Of in he dustry does not imply a like coEceutratio he of wealth. The socialistic criticisms q lg not seem to invalidate the theory. Tn ds petty industries are frequently absorbe, cd made tributary or crushed by the large rs. industries when they become threatenin. he He sees the facts of mortgages, externa tn control, the growth of factories as veh
 oles for farm products. The state of flu W. of the retail stores. There is a conceu on tration of the control of wealth even ge the number of shareholders increases uI
 der trusts.
 1s, Out of this arises the third theory. tha CT, of class struggle. The interest Of th d wage earner IS to receive the large
 wage possible for the least number eF hours spent in labor. The interest of tf or- employers, on the other hand, is 10 s'
 cure from the workers as many hours c. service. as much lal or power as possb rs. for the lowest wage which the worker ca rs be induced to accept. Ta's is the cla: z struggle. Of course. tn ers are excel ey tone times such as national calamity ar s. wars that both classes work together f' ms common good. but underlying there
 the essential diffe- rnce that comes To q the front again after the temporary and g
 cidental coincidences occur.
 The ideal socalisuc principal is a h manitarian one of frding some solution LIE abolish this strife of class.