Socialism Summmarised.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 16, 23 June 1911, Page 12

Socialism Summmarised.

H. M. Hyiidis-aii's Celebrated "Pocket Guide.*'

&®M'T miss T&IS.

Socialism is a conscious endeavour to substitute organised co-operation for existence in place of the present anarchical competition for existence, or the system of social organisation calculated to bring this about. This definition, though it gives, perhaps, adequate expression to the active and practical side of Socialism, lea.yes out of account altogether its

theoretical basis. From this point of view, Socialism is an attempt to lay the foundation of a real science of sociology, which shall enable mankind, by thoroughly understanding their past and present, to comprehend* and thus, within limits, to control tho movement and development of their own society in. the near future. Consequently Socialism in its wide sense is not, as is still commonly thought, a mere aspiration for a bettor state of society, still less only a series of proposals to mitigate the evils arising from tho present social arrangements.

Modern scientific Socialism essays to givo an intelligible explanation of the growth of human society, and to show that as each stop in the long course of development from tho institution of of private property, through chattel slavery, serfdom, and wagedom, was inevitable, so the next step from, capitalism to Socialism is also inevitable.

The object which Socialists have in view is that this, tho final transformation should bo made consciously by an organised, educated and intelligent people instead of unconsciously, and, therefore tempestuously by groups of discontented, embittered and ignorant w*orkers. Agitation against the injustice of the present system of production, therefore, is only valuable so far as it educates men and women to appreciate tbo tendency of tlio time, and leads them to organiso for the attainment of tho definite end which tho evolution of economic forms

has made ready. Whether the great change will be brought about peaceably or forcibly has no bearing upon Socialism in itself, but depends upon the stage of development -which has been reached in each civilised country, and the attitude •which the dominant class may adopt in relation to the demands which the economic situation inrpols the producing class to make.

With the establislrment of national and eventually of international, Socialism, mankind resumes the definite control over tho means and instruments of production, and masters them henceforward for all tune instead of being mastered by them. By such co-operative industry, whose power over nature is increased by each fresh invention and discovery, a carapace of repression is lifted from too faculties of each individual, and wealth being made as plentiful as water by light, wholesome labour, all freely contribute o increase their own happiness as well as that of their follows. "Human nature assumes a new and higher character in a society in which the surroundings art such that lifo is not, as to-day, a constant struggle against tho pressure of want and tho temptations of misery. Instead of tlie personal, limited, introspective, individual ethic is the social, altruistic, broad ethic in which the duty toward society necessarily involves the highest duty toward a man's self. Woman, relieved of economic and social subjugation, will assume her place as the social equal of man. So far, therefore, from -individual initiative and personal freedom in the highest senso being limited and stunted, human beings w*ill have the opportunity for attaining to a level of physical, moral and mental development such as the world has never seen. The golden age of society is, indeed, not in the past, but in the future.