PERILS. — SOCIALISM. 139 



ternity without a common father." There is, however, 

 an increasing number of men who believe devoutly in 

 the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man — 

 Christian men, who are quite willing to let the public 

 call them socialists, if the public will let them define the 

 word. The amount of socialistic coloring found in cur- 

 rent literature shows how large a place socialism has 

 gained in the popular thought. It is quite obvious that 

 the number of those who sympathize deeply with the 

 struggles of the poor and who are inclined to look toward 

 socialism for a remedy has largely increased during 

 recent years. There are many of this class who are 

 identified with no socialistic organization and who can- 

 not be enumerated. 



Socialism attracts very diff'erent classes of men : some, 

 Christian philanthropists, large-hearted and self-sacri- 

 ficing; others, who are discontented with their lot and 

 see no Avay of bettering it under the existing industrial 

 system; others, who are discouraged or are smarting 

 under grievances; and others also are envious, selfish, 

 vicious and lawless. Socialists of the latter class are 

 generally immigrants. 



The despotism of the few and the wretchedness of the 

 many have produced European socialism. It has been 

 siipi^osed that its doctrines could never obtain in this 

 land of freedom and plenty ; but there may be a despot- 

 ism which is not political, and a discontent which does 

 not spring from hunger. We have discovered that Ger- 

 man socialism has been largely imported, has taken 

 root, and is making a vigorous growth. Let us look at 

 it as it appears in this country. 



The Socialistic Labor Party and the Internationalists 

 differ widely and are strongly opposed to each other. 

 The one is the thin, the other the thick, end of the 

 socialistic wedge. Both seek to overthrow existing 

 social and economic institutions ; both propose a co-oper- 

 ative form of production and exchange, as a substitute 

 for the existing capitalistic and competitive system; 

 both expect a great and bloody revolution; but thej^ 



