Dispelling the myths

We live in the capitalist system, so-called because it is dominated by the capitalist class. In this system the capitalists are the rulers and the workers the subjects. The capitalists are in a decided minority and yet they rule because of the ignorance of the working class. The capitalists are the upper classes. That is because they are riding on your backs. So long as the workers are divided, economically and politically, they will remain in subjection, exploited of what they produce, and treated with contempt by the parasites who live out of their labour. The Socialist Party is the party of the workers, organised to express in political terms their determination to break their fetters and rise to the dignity of free men. In this party the workers must unite and develop their political power to conquer and abolish the capitalist political state and clear the way for industrial and social democracy. Socialism is merely an extension of the ideal of democracy into the economic field.

 At present, industry is ruled by the owners of the machines of production and distribution, who have literally the power of life and death over the subjects.  If socialism, does not stand staunchly, unflinchingly, and uncompromisingly for the working class and for the exploited and oppressed masses of all lands, then it stands for none and its claim is a false pretence and its profession a delusion and a snare. Let us stand squarely on our revolutionary, working class principles and make our fight openly and uncompromisingly against all our enemies, adopting no cowardly tactics and holding out no false hopes, and our movement will then inspire and arouse the spirit, and develop the fibre that will prevail. Socialism proposes to put industry in control of the people so that they may no longer be dependents on others for a job, so that they may be freed from the tribute of profit, and so that they may manage industry in their own way, as seems best to them. Socialism holds as its great ideal that freedom of action which shall make the making of a living a simple, easy thing, possible to all; and beyond this lies the greater hope of being able to live, to really live.

If Socialism meant the solution of the bread-and-butter problem alone then it would be the most wonderful idea ever, for with all our technological knowledge and with all our machinery we have not yet accomplished this. Modern technology is to civilise the world in spite of itself and make it possible for us all to work together and have competition begin after every animal want is satisfied. Socialism means good to all and evil towards none. If it meant the solution of the bread-and-butter problem only, even then it would surpass all other movements the world has seen, because it would mean an end of the slums and the sweatshops, of child labour, of the worries that kills and the anxiety. But it will mean infinitely more than this. When the bread-and-butter problem is settled and all men and women and children, the world around, are rendered secure from dread of war and fear of want, then the mind and soul will be free to develop as they never were before. We shall have a literature and an art such as the troubled heart and brain of man never before conceived. We shall have beautiful and happy homes such as want could never foster or drudgery secure. The socialist wants a free world making everybody's lives better and sweeter. If the working-people are to be emancipated, they must emancipate themselves. The hour workers unite, that hour they will become the masters of the Earth. Many imagine that socialists are going to take all you have and divide it among the undeserving. We don’t want your paltry little capital. It would do us no good. We want the earth. Do not say that there is a large number who are unwilling to work. If that is so, what do you think of a system that produces a large number who do not like work? It is not work that a man shirks from, it is slavery. No human being is willing to be a slave. He may be apparently submissive, but in his heart of hearts he protests. We workers make everything and the capitalists have everything. 

You argue that you don’t want to throw away your vote for the Socialist Party. That’s right. Don’t vote for freedom — you might not get it. Vote for slavery — it's a cinch you get that. Socialism comes because nothing else can come. The competitive profit system has become disastrous; it was useful, for it paved the way to the socialist cooperative commonwealth. When Socialism comes, we shall not live to work, but work to live; we shall create no surplus value; wage slavery will be abolished, the class struggle will be ended forever. Workers should not and will not be satisfied until they get all they produce. We no more need owners of capital and other great industrial barons than we need a king. There is machinery enough to produce wealth for all. There is no necessity for poverty or the fear of want. Shall this country be owned by the few, or shall it be owned by all and operated in the interest of all? Some people say that we are free-born, but we must work for the man who owns the tools, and the man with the tools is the working-person’s master. Under this system he is no longer a man. He is a “hand” — and he is often reduced to a hand-out. All men, women and children can have all the beautiful things of life if the men, who have the votes, once understand that there is machinery enough to produce all the necessities and luxuries for all. When the working class rules there will be no beautiful thing destroyed. On the contrary, homes will increase in beauty, and the cities that now boast of their attractions will seem poor and ugly when compared with what they are under socialism. There will be no trouble about the necessities of life when the working class takes over the machinery. They will have all the best food they need, the best homes that can be built, the best schools — no child labor, no grinding toil — and all the beautiful things will be for everyone.