Now, we Socialists propose that society in its collective capacity shall
produce, not for profit, but in abundance to satisfy human wants; that
every man shall have the inalienable right to work, and receive the full
equivalent of all he produces; that every man may stand fearlessly erect
in the pride and majesty of his own manhood.
Every man and every woman will then be economically free. They can,
without let or hindrance, apply their labor, with the best machinery
that can be devised, to all the natural resources, do the work of
society and produce for all; and then receive in exchange a certificate
of value equivalent to that of their production. Then society will
improve its institutions in proportion to the progress of invention.
Whether in the city or on the farm, all things productive will be
carried forward on a gigantic scale. All industry will be completely
organized. Society for the first time will have a scientific foundation.
Every man, by being economically free, will have some time for himself.
He can then take a full and perfect breath. He can enjoy life with his
wife and children, because then he will have a home.
We are not going to destroy private property. We are going to establish
private property—all the private property necessary to house man, keep
him in comfort and satisfy his wants. Eighty per cent of the people of
the United States have no property today. A few have got it all. They
have dispossessed the people, and when we get into power we will
dispossess them. We will reduce the workday and give every man a chance.
We will go to the parks, and we will have music, because we will have
time to play music and desire to hear it.
Is it not sad to think that not one in a thousand knows what music is?
Is it not pitiable to see the poor, ignorant, dumb human utterly
impervious to the divine influences of music? If humanity could only
respond to the higher influences! And it would if it had time.
Release the animal, throw off his burden; give him a chance and he rises
as if by magic to the plane of a man. Man has all of the divine
attributes. They are in a latent state. They are not yet developed. It
does not pay now to love music. Keep your eye on the almighty dollar and
your fellowman. Get the dollar and keep him down. Make him produce for
you. You are not your brother’s keeper. Suppose he is poor! Suppose his
wife is forced into prostitution! Suppose his child is deformed! And
suppose he shuffles off by destroying himself! What is that to you?
But you ought to be ashamed. Take the standard home and look it in the
face. If you know what that standard means, and you are a success, God
help the failure!
Our conduct is determined by our economic relations. If you and I must
fight each other to exist, we will not love each other very hard. We can
go to the same church and hear the same minister tell us in good
conscience that we ought to love each other, and the next day we
approach some business transaction. Do we remember what the minister
told us? No; it is gone until next Sunday. Six days in the week we are
following the Golden Rule reversed. Now, when we approach a business
transaction in competition, what is more natural than that we should try
to get the better of it?—get the better of our fellowman?—cheat him if
we can?
And if you succeed that fixes you as a business man. You have all the
necessary qualifications. Don’t let your conscience disturb you—that
would interfere with business.