Why I am opposed to socialism Part 7

"Dreamer of dreams, born out of my due time.

Why should I strive to set the crooked straight?"

Every thoughtful person recognizes the crooked, even though he may himself be a crook: and even many of the crooks, and certainly all the rest of us, desire with our might to make the crooked straight and to have an "Earthly Paradise," and to hope that "At last, far off, some good will come to all." We are groping, and to grope earnestly and vigorously is to find. We shall find; we must find; or chaos will come again. It must not be the invention of mere dreamers, however. In this age it is the practical business man who builds for permanency.

=Cutler, James Elbert.= (University Professor.)

I am opposed to Socialism as a method or system because of the impracticability of any particular program thus far formulated by Socialists. In the formulation of a Socialist program of action some important principle of social progress is invariably either wholly disregarded or treated superficially by general statements which lack point and application. The inability of the Socialists to agree among themselves as regards a program or plan of action plainly indicates the limitations under which Socialism labors in this respect. (See also "Why I am in Favor of Socialism.")

=Leveroni, Frank.= (Counsellor at Law.)

I am opposed to Socialism because--

First: It is pure theory.

Second: It is impractical.

Third: It leads to nowhere.

Fourth: It tends to destroy and it does not supply anything in the place of that which it destroys.

Fifth: It is opposed to Christianity and to Christian marriage and to settled economic theory.

Sixth: Its theory of distribution of property is fallacious as it overlooks human nature, it takes away the initiative in man, it compels the community to provide for the laggard and drone.

Seventh: It aims to destroy the family which is the center of civilization, it aims to place the education and training of children directly in the care of the State, which would be detrimental to the home life and love that ought to exist between parent and child.

=Anderson, Rasmus Bjorn.= (Editor, College Professor and Translator.)

I am opposed to Socialism on account of its att.i.tude to Christianity.

Its att.i.tude to Christianity manifests itself in the fact that it is not only a political party, but also a theory or philosophy of life.

Its principles and aims are wholly materialistic. It makes earthly happiness the main purpose and highest ideal to be attained.

I have in mind Socialism as taught by its great promotor, Karl Marx.

Socialism refuses to consider anything beyond the grave It deals exclusively with things pertaining to this life. It refuses to answer, nay, it insists that it is not necessary to answer the great question to every soul: If a man dies, shall he still live? It says we do not know and it is not worth while investigating. Denying all connection between morals and religion, it builds its moral life on a weaker foundation than that built on Christianity. Socialism is selfish.

=Ferguson, Charles.= (Author, Editorial Staff, New York American.)

I am not in favor of Socialism because Socialism is a state of mind in which men are absorbed in the problem of the division of goods. The true and wholesome preoccupation of mankind should be the creation of goods. It is of course important to divide right, but the right division cannot possibly be worked out until the problem is envisaged from the engineering point of view. The tools must belong to those who can use them. And the genius of our redemption requires that all wealth shall be made fecund or reproductive--that there shall no longer be any dead wealth--that there shall be nothing but capital and tools.

=Baxter, James Phinney.= (Author and Ex-Mayor of Portland, Me.)

There is an unchristian Socialism which embodies the spirit of an utterance all too familiar: "Do to thy neighbor as he does unto you."

It is impatient and intolerant of restraint, and, ignoring individual freedom, would resort to force to compel men to obey its arbitrary commands; indeed, it would destroy the fabric of society in the vain hope of rebuilding a perfect structure upon its ruins. What this spirit would do for the world may be read in the pages of history. To achieve its ends, it would employ cruel agencies, and the structure it would rear would partake of its own imperfections, for the unchangeable law is, men are known by their works.

May G.o.d deliver us from this kind of Socialism, and, in His good time, establish that, the beauty of which He sent Christ to reveal to men.

(See also "Why I am in Favor of Socialism.")

=Emerson, Samuel Franklin.= (College Professor.)

I am opposed to Socialism because it is a mechanical reconstruction of society, instead of an organic development.

Because it is an economic readjustment of society instead of morals.

Because it is based upon the essential antagonism of social cla.s.ses instead of essential co-operation.

Because it is a pa.s.sing reaction against the present transitional system of industry.

Because it fails to recognize the importance of the individual in all social movements.

Because it would result in a dead social uniformity, instead of a rich social variety.

Because its ideal is in reality drawn from the mediaeval and superseded social past, instead of evaluating the forces of the present.

Because it is saturated with a false and vicious economic philosophy.

Because it misconceives the social function of war, national rivalry and industrial conflict in the social economy.

Because it fails to evaluate the spiritual forces of society.

=Ellis, George Was.h.i.+ngton.= (Lawyer and Writer.)

In so far as Socialistic theory is concerned, beginning in Plato's "Republic," rea.s.serted in Sir Thomas Moore's "Utopia," embraced in the latter part of the eighteenth century in Europe by Fourier, Baboeuf, Saint Simon and Cabet, and later in the United States by Greeley, Dana and Hawthorne, I regard as important contributions to literature, whose chief value is inspirational rather than practical.

These theories involve such complete reconstruction and reorganization of society that their attainment are placed far into the indefinite future, yet their value as social and intellectual ideals serve a very useful purpose in human progress.

I accept in part what is called Christian Socialism in so far as it desires to bring more and more the Christ-spirit to bear in the commercial and business world, but I am opposed to the subst.i.tution of co-operation for compet.i.tion in the present state of human development. Co-operation may be all right when society has slowly developed by evolution up to the point where compet.i.tion is not needed to keep economic and social conditions on a natural and normal basis, but under present conditions it leads to economic monopoly and social poverty, as a few selfish and commanding industrial spirits get control of the whole plan of co-operation to the detriment of the great ma.s.ses. To prevent this situation compet.i.tion is the greatest natural check on monopoly and one of the best protections of the people. The advocates of this phase of Socialism I think are correct in their contention that Socialistic schemes will not solve the labor problems without that inner development through education and applied Christianity, yet I submit that they are in error when they insist that the powers of the government should not be invoked except to remove hostile legislation.