We exist to spread socialist knowledge

The evils of modern society stand out for all to see but the remedy is far less obvious. To arrive at the conclusion that socialism is the real remedy involves study and investigation of the affairs of modern life.

Unfortunately, there are some workers who shun the duty of thinking out these “problems,” and they, therefore, fall a prey to what appears to be more plausible ideas. The danger exists that those workers who have been sickened by the compromise, confusion, and betrayal of the Labour and pseudo-Socialist left-wing parties may succumb to the ideas of other fake socialist parties to help them and advance their cause. Those who follow in the Left's footsteps and ramble in the reformist wilderness delay the time when they must inevitably come to see that the Socialist Party alone is sound, for its aims are revolutionary, its methods scientific, and its working democratic. With the materialist conception of history as his guide, the Socialist Party correctly grasps the relation which prevailing institutions bear to the slavery of the working class in contrast to the bewilderingly vague writings of the progressives on the Left. 

Loyalty to socialist principles and devotion to its aims will do far more to hasten the workers’ emancipation than the will-o'-the-wisp notions of the reformist Left. 

The State as we know it, arose as a part of the division of labour in early societies and carried on the administration of public affairs. The advent of private property in the means of producing wealth gradually influenced the form of the State until it became the instrument of the ruling class. The State has been the State of the chattel-slave owner, the State of the feudal nobility, and now it is the State of the industrial capitalist. It exists today because there is a class to be kept in subjection. When the present subject class become organised and seize political power, their supremacy will have sounded the death-knell of the State. The working class being the last class to achieve its freedom, its emancipation will end class distinctions: neither a dominant nor a subject class can exist when the ownership of the means of life is vested in the community. Tyranny presupposes power, but when the instruments of production are commonly owned, power to oppress can no longer exist. Further, when wealth is no longer privately owned there is no incentive to tyrannise. There are no clashing interests —the mainspring of tyranny. Socialists hold to the view that society is something more than a number of individuals—society is an organism. 

Consider the possibilities and needs of modern life. A great population covers the globe. These people need “food, clothing, and shelter” and a hundred and one other things that centuries of economic advance have accustomed them to and made part of their standard needs. How are these things to be supplied? What are the means at our disposal? To provide the things required the great machinery, etc., has to be used in accordance with the best and most productive methods. Association of the wealth producers is an imperative necessity of the future. This involves the organisation of industry, the division of labour, and the arrangement of processes in proper sequence. The distribution of wealth has to be organised, too, otherwise chaos and starvation ensue.

The Socialist Party does not advocate socialism as “the perfect system.” We seek but to adapt institutions and customs to the changes in the mode of producing wealth. We claim that subject to evolution, therefore, imperfect though it is, it is the best system possible in the circumstances that face us. The common ownership of wealth is decreed as the only alternative to private ownership, and the method of production conditions the method of control. Democratic control is the complement of communal ownership. Democracy, to the Socialist Party, does not only mean the counting of heads. It implies opening all the means of knowledge to the entire population; giving access to every source of information and advancement to all — thus ensuring, as far as is humanly possible, that the vote is the deliberate expression of the will of equals. And if all do not agree, then ample justification exists for acting on the decision of the majority in matters of social importance. There is no other way. The minority are ever free to try to change the opinions of the majority, but they must loyally abide by the supreme views in the meantime. Without this, all organisation is impossible, whether its ramifications extend to society or are extremely limited. It must be obvious that great populations cannot come together and discuss and arrange all matters in detail, but must delegate their authority to representatives. Though the “Referendum” is a serviceable method it must be supplemented by delegation when the occasion demands. Even the first two methods turn on majority rule in the last analysis.

Socialism is just as near or as far off as the industrial development and the political understanding of the working class will allow it to be. Notwithstanding the promises of the pioneers of the Left there has been no “hot-house” growth of socialist ideas—any more than there have been further progressive developments in Labour Party ideas.  The Socialist Party has propagated principles based on an understanding of the socialist teachings of Marx, Engels, and others who not only interpreted the world differently but showed the working class how to change it. The basic conditions of capitalism remain the same. However much the pedlars of vote-catching political slogans and election gimmicks try, they do not improve working-class understanding of socialism by their confusing jargon. With minds filled with capitalist ideas and bodies geared to the grind of capitalist economy, work is now all that matters to most people is the fact that they ‘live to work’ rather than work in order to live. The greater the acceptance of the status quo, the more stagnant the growth of socialism appears to be. Still, there is always a questioning of the value of the existing political parties and the industrial organisations. Self-styled ‘leftists’ still perpetuate the illusion that the salvation of the working class lies in Labour governments. Labourites oppose the socialist view that the emancipation of the working class lies in the abolition of the capitalist system. Socialists in all countries are faced with similar ‘intellectual’ opposition, our opponents adorning themselves with attractive political labels in order to suborn unsuspecting workers from socialist parties. The dissemination of socialist knowledge will help workers detect the political fakirs.

When the workers understand the need for socialism they can work for its achievement; while they submit to capitalism they will have to fight and die to defend it. Hence the pressing need for the dissemination of socialist ideas. It is a long and difficult task but the reward--“The World for the Workers”—is well worth it!