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My life : a record of events and opinions - Wallace-online.org

My life : a record of events and opinions - Wallace-online.org

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"VACCINATION 329Countess <strong>of</strong> Warwick, <strong>and</strong> many less-known womenare earnest workers for the cause.I may conclude this subject with the answer Irecently gave to the question, "Why am I aSocialist ? " I am a socialist because I believe thatthe highest law for mankind is justice. I thereforetake for my motto, " Fiat Justitia Ruat Ccelum ;<strong>and</strong> my definition <strong>of</strong> socialism is, " The use by everyone <strong>of</strong> his faculties for the common good, <strong>and</strong> thevoluntary <strong>org</strong>anization <strong>of</strong> labour for the equal benefit<strong>of</strong> all." That is absolute social justice ;that is idealsocialism. It is, therefore, the guiding star for alltrue social reform.The Vaccination Question.I will here say a few words about another subjectin which I take a great interest, <strong>and</strong> upon which Ihave ventured to express views contrary to those heldby the orthodox authorities.I was brought up to believe that vaccination wasa scientific procedure, <strong>and</strong> that Jenner was one <strong>of</strong>the great benefactors <strong>of</strong> mankind. I was vaccinatedin infancy, <strong>and</strong> before going to the Amazon I waspersuaded to be vaccinated again. <strong>My</strong> children wereduly vaccinated, <strong>and</strong> I never had the slightest doubt<strong>of</strong> the value <strong>of</strong> the operation—taking everything ontrust without any inquiry whatever—till about 1875-80,when I first heard that there were anti-vaccinators,<strong>and</strong> read some articles on the subject. These did notmuch impress me, as I could not believe so manyeminent men could be mistaken on such an importantmatter. But a little later I met Mr. William Tebb,<strong>and</strong> through him was introduced to some <strong>of</strong> the moreimportant statistical facts bearing upon the subject.

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