The Common Sense of Socialism A Series of Letters Addressed to Jonathan Edwards, of Pittsburg

"The Common Sense of Socialism" by John Spargo is a political treatise written in the early 20th century. This work is comprised of a series of letters addressing a character named Jonathan Edwards, in which Spargo aims to elucidate the principles of socialism and respond to common criticisms and misconceptions about the movement. The book presents a critical examination of social injustices and economic disparities, particularly focusing on the plight of the working class in America and the moral implications of wealth distribution. At the start of the text, Spargo introduces Jonathan, who expresses curiosity and confusion regarding socialist ideas after reading various opinions and listening to speakers. He praises Jonathan's earnestness for seeking understanding over blind acceptance. The opening portion outlines the dire state of working Americans, emphasizing the stark contrasts between wealth and poverty, and inviting readers to recognize the failures of the current capitalist system. Spargo presents various statistics and anecdotal evidence to bolster his arguments while condemning the socioeconomic structures that perpetuate inequality, urging his correspondent—and the readers—to engage thoughtfully with the topic. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

John Spargo was a British political writer who, later in life, became an expert in the history and crafts of Vermont. At first Spargo was active in the Socialist Party of America. A Methodist preacher, he tried to meld the Protestant Social Gospel with Marxist socialism in Marxian Socialism and Religion: A Study of the Relation of the Marxian Theories to the Fundamental Principles of Religion (1915). He also founded a settlement house in Yonkers, N.Y. Spargo moved steadily to the right after 1917 when he supported American intervention in World War I. With AFL leader Samuel Gompers he organized the American Alliance for Labor and Democracy in 1917. Spargo helped draft the Colby Note that formalised the Wilson administration's anti-communist policies. He strongly denounced the Bolshevik Revolution in Bolshevism: The Enemy of Political and Industrial Democracy (1919). He opposed the foreign policy of the New Deal, especially its recognition of the USSR in 1933. He supported the House Un-American Activities Committee in the late 1930s and Senator Joseph McCarthy in the early 1950s. He endorsed Barry Goldwater In the 1964 Elections.