The Inhumanity Of Socialism

by Edward Francis Adams

The majority of Socialists would reach this end gradually, by successive steps, and with compensation to existing owners. A violent minority would reach it per saltum, by bloodshed if necessary, and by confiscation-- "expropriation" they call it. All alike conduct their propaganda by endeavoring to create or accentuate the class consciousness of manual workers who constitute the majority of human beings and whose condition, it is insisted, would be improved under a Socialistic regime. The violent wing promotes not merely class consciousness but class hatred.

Genres: History, Classics

48 pages, Paperback

First published September 25, 2003

About the author

Edward Francis Adams was an editorial writer. He was a farmer and businessman who settled in California. In California, he farmed in Santa Cruz County, was an organizer of farm cooperatives, and eventually agricultural editor and writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. He was also instrumental in the founding of the Commonwealth Club of California. He graduated from Western Reserve College 1860.

Reviews

[Kym Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A duo of essays of pamphlets written in 1914, so before the fruits of Socialist ideals had been able to manifest it the inevitable grim reality.

For the most part the book makes an argument in the authors attempt to moralise against coerced collectives. It then struggles in the later stages as he argues from a Judea-Christian perspective.

An interesting contemporary read from the early 20th Century when Socialism was a far away utopia yet to destroy millions of lives. This book does not predict the mass murder to come, it however does forewarn against the inabilities of such centralised redistribution of materials.

A quick and interesting read, to be read with other books on the subject.

50 %

[Kenith Andry · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting read.

This little book contains two speeches by E.F. Adams. The first in the book is the second speech, which was given in 1913. The second speech from 1905.

Adams’ insights are prophetic. Subsequent attempts around the globe to implement socialism have produced what he predicted.

This is short book is worth reading.