The Socialists | AdventAI

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · May 23, 1878

The Socialists.

The Socialists, or Social Democrats, as they are frequently called, constitute one of the most numerous and powerful social and political organizations in the United States, and one that exercises an extraordinary influence upon public opinion, because so far its principles, aims and policy have been discussed more in the family circle than in public places. There is a German-speaking branch in this city five hundred strong, with a military company as a part of it.

The majority of the Socialists are German-Americans, and the next strongest element is the American, which is increasing rapidly in numbers. The great body of the Socialists are American citizens, and those not such are becoming naturalized. The exact strength of the Socialists in the United States is not known to outsiders, but they are variously estimated at from seventy-five thousand to one hundred thousand. They advocate very radical doctrines. They hold that land is the natural inheritance of man, and as such every citizen should have his proper portion of it. Land monopoly is considered a crime against humanity, and no man should be allowed to rob his fellow man out of a birthright in the soil. They demand that the United States government take possession of the railroads, telegraphs, canals and like institutions, and operate them for the people. The Socialists and the communists are two different bodies, the latter being still more radical than the former. Women are members of and a power in both organizations. —San Francisco Chronicle.