The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-05-01

exercised great power, whose adVo-
Gates boast that in it is found cure
for all the social and economic ills
that affect humanity Nor would their
remedy he limited by them to the
social or economic ills. It's applica-
tiOn would also cure us Of our pOliti-
cal and reliaiOuS troubles as we'll
They tell us, TOO, that the cure is
SIMPLE writes Archbishop Glennon of
ST. Louis.
Have we trouble with the poor
their children or their housing?
Charity or philanthropy furnishes no
real help. Only one power is COM
petent; and that is the state. Is there
trouble between labor and capital?
The simplest solution of it is to have
the state settle it by taking over capi-
tai. Are the children neglected, let
the state become their parent, and
nurture them as a mother would.
Does crime exist? The reason for it
would 10 Il great measure be removed
since crimes are committed because
Of private Ownership-by the state
taking over the ownership, and hecOm-
ing the sole possessor. The system
for which such extensive claims are
made is known under the generic
term of socialism,
What Is Socialism?
Of Socialism it would be difficult
to give a popular and adequate def
milton: for, just like liberty or democ
racy, it is made to cover the mass
of principles, and OF systems, the eX-
trcmes of which sometimes contradict
one another Some of our nervous
people think that if city were to
own trolley line, it would be due
to socialism. If the ownership eX-
tended to all public utilities, it would
be, in their opinion, advanced social
ism. whereas the socialists themselves
yl,...lAre n would NOS Ue even Il begin
ming. Socialism covers activities pro-
NOTED by leading statesmen, on one
hand: and. on the other, by the Le-
mines and TrOtzkys, who claim that
they alone have the courage to put
in practice the true socialism Marx
and Engel have taught. An applica-
tion SO extensive, including principles
so varied makes it a difficult task to
discuss the same with intelligence;
for Il discussion or criticism Of one
principle or school Immediately pro-
ducCS a disclaimer from the socialist
nearest YOU, who tells you that he be-
longs to the other school, and that
the principles you criticize are also
1. w. LII L.
iects the principles criticized, he will
be found claiming cOmradeship with
those who profess them.
It is quite true, however, that So
cialism differs in different countries.
It is one thing in Russia. In Ger
many it is of that transient character
which changes its definition every
dav. In France and Italy it is made
the tool of the FreemasOns to attack
the Church, their attention and ener
gy being so centered thereon, that
their campaign against capitalism
goes by default In America we have
samples of them all; or if blended, the
blending is mild and chastened be
cause of surrounding conditions.
Whatever be the means taken in its
exploitation, all of them are practi
cally agreed on one principle, which
may be set as a definition Of social
ism; and it is that principle which
would "substitute a state monopoly
instead of private ownership of all The
sources of production and means o
distribution" Which means, for al
practical purposes, all there is of per
manent value-lands, industries, fac
tories, ransportatiOn-Would be takel
over by the state and managed TO
the benefit, and in that process
directing the activities, of all the pee
pie.
An Attractive Idea.
The idea appears at first sight quit
attractive. 1t speaks of all the people
and it suggests that thereby wi
come to them, under a state whic
would be of their own creation, thei
fullest development of liberty, frate
nifty and equality. There would be n
Door. There could be no poor. Ther
would be no rich; or rather, as tn
prosperity of one would be the pro-
Derity of all, all would be rich. The
all would work for the state, which,
turn, would take care of all. The1
would be no more poor farms, nc
dependent poor, nor idle rich, neithe
would there be orphans, because I'll
state would take the place OF the pa
ent.
Such is the roseate promise he
out by the eXponents of the syster
The dream has never been actuallze
On the other hand, to the great majo
ity there is the firm conviction foun
ed upon the experience OF the pas
the conditions of human nature al
of the human character, that the
cialzed state will ever remain
dream. since it's actualization Wou
run counter both to experience, and
our human nature as it is constitute
Or in other words, we believe that Il