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Show SANE DISCOURSE ON SOCIALISM. The Missionary for October publishes the fob : lowing synopsis of Dr. Kerby's paper on Socialism Social-ism : Socialism is one of the forms of organized social so-cial discontent. As &Ueh it must be clas-ed with unionism, single tax, populism. Catholic and general gen-eral reform activity, municipal leagues, ete. Fundamentally the same psychological factors produce all. viz.: dissatisfaction with conditions as they are. and an effective desire to improve conditions by reform. These forms oT social movement are not differentiated primarily by theii-form theii-form of protest so much as by the plan of reform proposed. , The elements that make reform movements are ..permanent in the human race. Hence to look upon Socialism sis the arbitrary creation of lawless men, to look upon it chiefly as a form of atheism, to rest content with denunciations, is an inexcusable error. We priests must know it as it is; know it as an effect, understand fhe causes which produee.it; discriminate in our dealing with Socialists, and understand that abuse and inaccurate information Mould expose us to merited ridicule and weaken cm-power. cm-power. We cannot learn Socialism from academic books; we must go to the Socialists, to their propaganda prop-aganda literature and press, learn from them what they are and what produces them. We should give them credit for honesty and earnestness until we know that they do not merit such consideration. In this way we will know actually whaj, Socialism is. It must, be. looked upon as an effect. Icn are not Socialists until they lose, confidence in government. gov-ernment. Do the facts of political corruption which none of us deny warrant one's despair? 3Ieu are not Socialists until they believe that honest, hon-est, humane competition in industry is impossible. Who doubts the extent, variety of pernicious and villainous deception, adulteration, cheating and defrauding that go on daily? Men are not Socialists until they believe that the interests of wealth displace those of men a3 men in our institutions. Can we deny that appearances ap-pearances go to show that wealth is too powerful? When these facts of political corruption are marshalled; when by their side we place the facts and dishonest business methods universally met ' with; when we review the role of money in our institutions, we have before us a set of facts appalling ap-palling in their magnitude, and disheartening in their significance. ' Wo conservatives think always of what our institutions in-stitutions have done; many think always of what our institutions have failed to do. From among ihese'come our Socialists. The. hideous aspects of our moral, social, industrial, in-dustrial, political life are heaped up in consciousness, conscious-ness, and these, men live in the presence of that despair begetting power. You may say that Social- ists are lazy, or idle, or intemperate, .or vicious. I care not. 1 wish to insist mainly on one point: that Socialism is an effect, natural, necessary, unavoidable un-avoidable in present historical circumstances. If we priests wish to ileal with it in a way worthy of our power, we must take hold of the 'conditions which produce it. The church must oppose it,, for it is a menace, immediately, to our institutions, and remotely to our faith. But the clergy must stand squarely and face the facts which' are making mak-ing Socialism. Let us go to the Socialists, and find out. sympathetically sympa-thetically what are their feelings, their intentions. Let us face the evils which they rightly criticise, and make war on them. But let us never confine ourselves to resolutions or. condemnations of organized Socialism. A body of public leaders who will vote a condemnation con-demnation of Socialism and be silent about the deplorable phases of our political, commercial and industrial life, would not show the wisdom or perception lhat we may legitimately - expect of those who attempt to direct public opinion. Of course, I do not underrate the force of the Socialistic propaganda, nor do I forget that men may be talked into it. In as far as this is the 'case, there is some good in resolutions; honest opposition opposi-tion and enlightened warning. But the main power of Socialism is in the evils which we see and the despair which they engender. This is particularly par-ticularly the case since education is universal, democratic equality of man ar.d man is taken as 'an axiom, and the individual Dclievcs in his own value as never before. The main emphasis in Catholic action should be laid on practical reform work. In Catholic Europe we find admirable results. A coherent, timely philosophy of reform has been worked out and the clergy are actively interested in the material ma-terial welfare of laborers. The Holy Father in his encyclical Eerum Xovarum, gives Socialism, only secondary attention, while the main force of that splendid document is directed to reform. The principles therein contained are in accord with the best tendencies and wisest statesmanship of our -time. We should master them, know their relations and limitations. We should then know the facts in modern life, be thoroughly versed in everything that bears on the whole organization of current social discontent. We must avoid hasty generalizations, inaccurate information, and immature im-mature judgment. Social discontent cannnot bo suppressed. It will yield to proper direction. But that, direction must take account of all that is true in complaint and just in criticism today. ' Proper attention to social reform 'will deprive Socialism of its power, while mere direct opposition opposi-tion to it accomplishes little. |