CHRISTIANS AND INFIDELS

(By Robert Blatchford, in the Clarion).

Socialism and Atheism are being bracketed together by certain section of the British press, and the charge is commonly supported by quotations from my books and articles.
Now I do not know what proportion of the Socialist party are Christians. There may be many Christian Socialists, or there may be few.
But I am quite sure that most of those outside the Socialist ranks who profess to be shocked by infidelity are infidels themselves, and are Christians only in name.
For to be a Christian, in fact, one should believe in the teaching of Christ, and should at least try to put Christ's precepts into practice.
But how many professing Christians really believe what Christ taught ? And where is the one man who obeys implicitly the express commands of Him he calls 'Lord, Lord!'?
Christ said, ' Sell that you have, and give to the poor.' Do the readers of the STANDARD, the MAIL, and the EXPRESS obey that order ? Do the leaders of the Liberal and Tory parties obey it ? Do the Protestant voters of Kirkdale obey it?
I am told by men who should know, that the essence of Christ's teaching, and the foundation of real Christianity is the Sermon on the Mount. How many of those who attack Socialism because of their faith in Christianity believe the Sermon on the Mount? They dread Socialism because they think it would destroy Christianity. And they defend and uphold a state of society and a system of politics and commerce which are more anti-Christian than anything the most atheistic Socialist has ever dreamed of.
Let us take the Sermon on the Mount as a test, and find out who are the 'infidels.'

But woe unto you that are rich ! For ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full ! For ye shall hunger.
But I say unto you which hear, love your enemies, do good to them which hate you.
And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek, offer also the other ; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.
Give to every man that asketh of thee, and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest ; for He is kind unto the unthankful and the evil.

I need quote no more. Which of the Tory papers believe these words? Which of the Christian opponents of Socialism believes these words ? If an infidel is one who is unfaithful to his religion what are the bulk of our professing Christians but infidels ?
And I ask the Christians if they really believe that if Christ returned to earth today He would approve of our modern system of riches on the one hand and poverty on the other. Would he approve of our existing system of commercialism based on ruthless competition ? What would He say of the unfed children, of the dishonored women, of the outcast unemployed men ? What would He say of the Trusts, of the millionaires, of the 'Smart Set,' of the slums, of the Yellow Press ? Would He approve of the Empire? Could he approve of the Church ?
You infidels who call yourselves Christians, what are you doing on the side of the landlord, and the money-lender, and the sweater, and the publican, and the gambler? What are you doing in the ranks of those who oppress and plunder the workers and the poor ?
You who listen to the hireling scribes of the covetous and the rich, what do you know of the Socialism you oppose ?
Are you aware that the Socialist, be he a believer or an atheist, is nearer to the Christ you profess to worship than you are yourselves?
Are you aware that you cannot deny Socialism without denying Christ ?
Are you aware that you cannot revile socialism without reviling Christ ? Has it never been apparent to you that all the institutions of this Christian country are contrary to the express teachings of Christ ? Don't you know that the lynch-pin of our social system, the principle held most precious and most sacred by your Liberal and Tory leaders, is the principle of selfishness : the desire for gain ? And don't you see that this principle is the very principle against which Christ's whole life and teaching made protest?
' But Socialists do not believe in God.' Ah ! And what does the Tory Press believe in ? What do the Tory leaders believe in? And how could all the Socialists in the world prevent the weakest and poorest man from believing in God, even if any single Socialist would try to deny the right of any fellow-creature to believe in any religion that to him seemed good.'
The wicked Socialists, your masters and exploiters tell you, will rob you of your wealth, and of your liberty, and of your faith. How much wealth or liberty or faith do you possess ?
We have a faith ; a faith that all men should be free, a faith that all women should be honored, a faith that all children should be loved, and taught, and fed.
You do not know that, because you take your facts from liars, and your morals from rogues, but it is there to see. You can find that Socialist faith in the Socialist books and newspapers. You can hear it uttered from a thousand Socialist platforms.
Go to the Socialists and judge for yourselves. Mix with them. Talk with them. Argue with them.
I am the arch-infidel of the movement. I am the terrible example of Socialist atheism. Well, read my books. Then read the Tory papers. Then read the New Testament. And if you are brave enough and good enough you will come with me and help in the work of the emancipation of mankind.
Now try it, if you dare.

Clipper (Hobart, Tas. ),  1908, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article84641719