The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-08-13
By H. NJ. WICKs.

VI JHS SOCldIISI leaders OF Cne cOuu-
tries participating in the war was
condoned by the outstanding socialist
leaders of the United States. At no
time did the official socialist spokes-
men in the United States ever per-
ceive the full implications of the in
fanny of the heroes of the second in
ternational.
When the war broke out and one So
cialist party after another went over
to the side of its master class and
directly aided in the unprecedented
slaughter of the working class of
Europe there was splendid oppor-
tunity for the socialists of the United
States to take the lead in the strug-
gle against social patriotism and to
strive to mobilize the socialist parties
of the neutral countries to work with
the opposition elements in the belli-
gerent countries. But such a step
would have meant a definite break
with the past, a Reputation of the
second international Such stand
would have been taken if the socialist
party had been real MARKHAM organ
ization, instead of a weird aggrega-
ton of rank opportunists, hopelessly
welded to legalistic formulate. The
executive committee of the party
could not conceive of such thing as
a revolutionary struggle growing out
of the political and economic crisis
generated by the imperialist war.
They abandoned all thought of revo-
lutionary activity until the war was
over, when again they would dare
hope that the socialist parties would
resume their course. This ridiculous
attitude was the American expression
of the opportunistic blight that af-
flicted the whole international and
that at the outbreak of the war was
formulated in the treacherous theory
that war is a definite break in the
chain of events, an abnormality that
bursts unheralded upon the world
and, after a period of time, abates,
when society again reverts to it's
: normal course" They failed to I'M
derstand the elementary principle
that wars are but continuation of
peace time policies through the en-
ployment of other means-that is to
say, violent means, by fighting out
on the battle-fields the differences
that cannot be liquidated through the
customary diplomatic trickery. He
who does not understand that war is
not a disease, a madness that seizes
nations, but continuation of the old
political relations under other forms
is not competent to speak for the
revolutionary movement.
THE first official war manifesto of
= the socialist party of America,
august, 1914) did not even mention
the renegades of the European par
ties. It's first proclamation was mere
pacifist verbiage of which the fol-
lowing are the outstanding points:
"The Socialist Party of the Uni
ted States, in conformity with the
declaration of the international So
cialist movement, hereby reiterates
its opposition to this and all other
wars, waged upon any pretext
whatsoever; war being a crude,
savage and unsatisfactory method
of settling real or imaginary diff
ferences between nations, and de-
structive of the ideals of brother
hood and humanity to which the in
ternational socialist movement is
dedicated.
"The Socialist Party of the Uni
ted States hereby expresses its con-
demnation of the ruling class of
Europe, and points out to the world
that by their action in this crisis
they are unfit to administer the af-
s fairs of nations in such manner
that the lives and happiness of the
people may be safeguarded.
"The Socialist Party of the Uni
ted States hereby pledges it's loyal
support to the socialist parties of
Europe in any measures they might
think necessary to undertake to adj
vance the cause of peace and good
will among men.
"The Socialist Party of the Uni
ted States hereby calls upon the
national administration to prove
the genuineness of its policy of peace
by opening immediate negotiations
for mediation and extending every
effort to bring about the speedy
termination of this disastrous con-
flict."
The socialist party, in it's procla-
nation, went on record against ALL
wars; including even revolutionary
wars, instead of urging the workers
to turn the imperialist war into a
civil war against capitalism.
While correctly condemning the
ruling classes of the various nations
as responsible 'for the war it did not
mention the servants of those ruling
classes of the various belligerant
countries, the social democratic
leaders who resorted to the foulest
deception in order to betray the work
ing class into the shambles.
By proclaiming that the Socialist
Party of the United States hereby
pledges its loyal support to the So
cialist parties of Europe in any
Y1aas1IraS thew r,oiobt tbipL ,,aoooeo,.,,