Socialism has its social base in the working masses of the
whole world. They are the real living force of the new society which must
replace capitalism, but they continue to be tricked by their ignorant or
treacherous leaders who do not give them a political line of their own and who
have lined them up behind the plutocrats.
The prevailing economic system can only be abolished in two ways;
namely, by securing control of government or by violent insurrection. No sane
person prefers violence to peaceful measures, and hence socialists rely upon
the efficacy of a united class-conscious ballot to accomplish our end.
The Socialist Party
is necessarily a revolutionary party in the sense its basic demand is the
common ownership of the means of production and distribution and the operation
of all industry in the interest of all the people. Economic freedom can result only
from collective ownership, and upon this vital principle the Socialist Party
differs diametrically from every other party. Between private ownership and
collective ownership there can be no compromise. One produces for profit, the other for use.
One produces millionaire elites and the other economic equals. The Socialist
Party seeks to abolish class rule, wipe out class distinction, secure the peace
of society, and make of this world a fit and habitable place. Sadly the workers
sing the “Internationale” but do not presently apply it in practice. The
workers must struggle against capitalists and must extricate themselves from
their grasp. Capitalism inevitably produces exploitation and poverty, war,
nationalism, racism and sexism, a poisoned environment and the waste of human
and natural resources, none of which can be consistently eliminated without the
socialist transformation of society.
Capitalism does not dare use to their fullest extent the
productive forces of our present age. Its very existence depends upon limiting
these forces. There are a number of ways in which this limiting of production
takes place, but all involve fundamental principles of the profit system. Under
capitalism the production of wealth is carried on for profit. The desire for
profits is the motive force which drives the capitalist class to use its
capital in the production of wealth. In order to secure profits the workers
must be exploited. Part of the product of their labour must be turned over to
the capitalist class in the shape of interest and dividends. Only through
common ownership can society secure for all its members the benefit of an
improved method of organisation. Once we establish common ownership of our
industries we will throw off the checks of our productive powers and will be
able to produce more than enough not only to supply every human being food,
clothing, and homes to live in, but the opportunity for education and culture
which can make life worth living
The Socialist Party is an integral part of the World
Socialist Movement and declares itself to be the political organisation and
political expression of the working class. The Socialist Party, (in common with
all political parties) is a class party. It frankly admits that a political
organisation is but an expression of class interest. The party therefore exists
for the sole purpose of representing the producers, that is to say, the working
class. Representing, as it does, the working and dispossessed class of the
state, and having for its platform the abolition of the exploitation of the
workers through rent, interest, and profit, there can be no compromise between
the Socialist Party and the political expression of the owning class. The Social Party to clearly state the
principles which guide its attitude believe that poverty is necessitated by an
industrial system based upon individual ownership of the means of production,
distribution and exchange, utilised for private profit. They fully understand
that low wages, long hours, and scarcity of employment — that is, poverty — can
only disappear with the disappearance of the capitalist system of which these
things are the inevitable outcome. We have no hostility or jealous feeling with
regard to the workers of any other country, and disavow any intention of gaining
advantage at their expense.
Some say we in the Socialist Party are “idealists.” They say
on the whole we are a fine bunch of chaps but utterly impractical. Now, what is
this socialism we are accused of promoting. Socialism is defined as the common
ownership of the social means of production and distribution. It is the name
given to the next stage of civilisation, if civilisation is to survive. The machinery and progress in the technology of
production today we do not want to use to destroy, if we are to have civilisation.
Modern humanity does not intend to go back to the barbarism of the Dark Ages. But
as long as the instruments of production — land, machinery, raw materials, etc.
— remain private property, only comparatively few can be sole owners and
masters thereof. And so long as such is the case, they will naturally use this
private ownership for their private advantage. If we are to remain a
politically free people, the inevitable outcome will be that the people must
take possession collectively of the social means of production and
distribution. And this is called socialism. If civilisation is to survive, we
must act that civilisation does survive and that can only be accomplished by
establishing a socialist society.
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