A Party of Principles

 The principles of the Socialist Party are fixed in a declaration. The object aimed at, the end to be attained, remains ever the same. The means to be adopted to give practical effect to those principles change with time, and place, and circumstances and the policy to be followed to attain that end requires to be frequently revised, and sometimes modified, as circumstances change. We cannot say when or how the decisive struggle may be fought, but if we keep our faces ever towards the goal, our ideal ever before us, no step taken will be wasted. Scientific socialism, historic materialism, exists precisely for the purpose of foretelling things. Of what has not yet been experienced it cannot, of course, make an exact forecast, but if we know generally what exists and in what direction it is changing then science must draw the conclusions as to what it will change into. Socialists must draw these conclusions in order that men and women may adapt their actions to circumstances, so that instead of wasting their efforts by working against the future and retarding the development of new forms, they may consciously work to hasten and assist such development.

The Socialist Party is agreed upon their object and that being the social and economic freedom and equality for all, and the realisation of the highest individual development and liberty conceivable for all, through the social ownership and control of all the material means of production. The end of exploitation of one person by another will be an unprecedented liberating and transforming force. This can bring a qualitative improvement in the lives of all. Socialism does not mean mere governmental or municipal ownership or management. State-owned businesses are run for profit just as other businesses are.

Socialism implies the social ownership of all natural resources.  It involves co-operation between individuals and groups of individuals and  the conservation of wealth. In a system of universal co-operation for production for use, all destruction of wealth, all waste, would be sheer loss. Under the present system of capitalism – with its class ownership and control of all natural resources and all means of production – with universal competition and production for profit, waste means gain, and is not only inevitable but necessary. What is blocking the way to economic and social progress? The Socialist Party reply: The system of profit-making, the ownership and control of industry by a few for their own gain and not for the benefit of the people.

Socialism is not some utopian scheme. There will be no overnight miracles inside socialism, but the way will be cleared to achieve a decent, meaningful and productive life for all working people. Capitalism has created the economic conditions for socialism. Today there is social production but no social ownership.  This is perfectly certain, the economic forms are fully ripe for the transformation to complete social ownership and control. Socialism will bring social ownership of social production.  What, then, is it that stands in the way? Nothing but the want of education and organisation on the part of the people themselves. Our work, therefore, is still that of agitation, education and organisation. Socialism will be won through the overthrow of capitalism and the seizure of political power by the working class. The people will take over the economic forces developed by capitalism and operate them in the interests of society. Socialism will open the way for great changes in society.

Production for profit involves the production of a surplus of wealth over which those who have produced it, and who most need it, have no control.  Our concern is with substituting the common social ownership of the means of life for the present system of class ownership.  The demand of the Socialist  Party is for such a complete change in economic conditions as will secure work for all, wealth for all, leisure for all, pleasure for all.  We do not, however, put the cart before the horse.  We believe that changes in religious belief and in social relations will be the consequences, not the causes, of economic changes. Therefore, we are directly concerned in attacking existing economic conditions, not the outward expression of those conditions.

Private ownership of the means of production will end. The economy will be geared not to the interest of profit, but to serving human needs. This will release the productive capacity of the economy from the limitations of profit maximization. A great expansion of useful production and the wealth of society will become possible. Rational economic planning will replace the present anarchistic system. Coordination and planning of the broad outlines of production by public agencies will aim at building an economy that will benefit the people. Workers will be able to manage democratically their own work places through workers’ councils and elected administrators. In this way workers will be able to make their work places safe and efficient places that can well serve their own interests as well as society’s.

Socialist democracy would be far broader than what is presently possible since the people’s actual voices will be heard, not simply those of the rich. Socialist democracy will destroy the power of money over politics. The people will elect officials and representatives at all levels of administration. There will be the right of recall and referendum. Classes will disappear, the state will “wither” away. Socialism will realize the ideal “from each according to one’s ability, to each according to one’s need.”

  Our critics urged us to drop our socialist 'dogma’ for the sake of unity. But the object of a Socialist Party is the realisation of socialism and the emancipation of the working class not to reach the best terms with capitalism. The Socialist Party have often been told that we are not practical, that our ideas are of a visionary character, and that we lack knowledge of political affairs. Socialists must explain their aim and the essential characteristics of socialist society clearly, so that we can be understood by every one. We must do away with the many misunderstandings created by our adversaries. The workers are accustomed to organising for defence in to-days trade unions, for instance.   We suggest that just a change in tactics from mere defence to a vigorous attack is all that is required.  It is not enough to strike, the bosses can sack you and then starve you into submission  It is not to build the barricades  and start a street-corner insurrection, in which only the workers' blood is shed and a capitalist can only get hurt by accident! These, of all policies, are the least practicable. But our policy is to seize the political machine which is the source of the ruling class’ strength. It is for the control of parliament that they tell you all kinds of lies, make all kinds of false promises, and bribe the most despicable scoundrels. Don't be misled by those ‘radicals’ who tell you a vote is simply a piece of paper. Behind the ballot paper is real power.