New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-27
SPENCER ON SOCIALISM.
nEr1NEn As THE COMING Slavery

EXTRACTS FROM AN ARTICLE BY HERBERT SPENCER
CONVENIENT REGULATION AND POPULAR
DFsPoTIsM.
Herbert Spencer has been giving his latest
thought to the tendency and probable result
of state regulation and Socialism, when nc
entities The Coming Slavery" After describing
ut some length the Generalization and biunders
caused by much of the charitable ana rosui"'''0
legislation of England, he says:
The blank form o, a question daily asked i; We have
ALREADY done this why should we mol 90 tl,lt it
the regard for precedent suggested py u IL itbS
their sphere Of operation :more ana more numerous
plovTnenf and debating the treatment OF work
to be maze "!I',SVa1,.o =, 70 ,l
From inspecting lodging houses to limit the numbers
OF oceuuants and enforce sanitary conditions, We
have passed to Inspecting an houses ue,o" vT cnn
rent in which there are members OF more IMAM olT
family and passing u Kindred Inspection 1l az
small houses The buying and working of eleSraphs oy
the state Is made a reason Tor urging taat ne s
sboud buy and work the railways supplying chdIeh
CHed 2oG s6@ SI eSse b SIMPLIFYING TODD for their
and, after the practice has been made gradually mor9
10 be made gratis i'm the case VIII eventually be pro
posed to be made gratis in the other Ine iSf ,ua
good citizens being logically urged rs reason or the e1
tension And then ayewed proeGeahs s on be e adDg
room all publicly provided. II Is commended mat pleas
ieSsating for and organizing at much work
Not precedent only prompts TINS spread nut also ne
measures and for dealing with the artificial eNs COZ
tnuay caused Failure does not destroy ro',a nenp
agencies EMPLOYED but merely suggests more stiItcnV
use of such agencies wider Tamlications OF then.
Laws 70 check inemleIanee ogain'5 6 ~ frtRer re-
strant the sale of xicating liquors oe euS nS n
every session. not having done what was en- oc cnv
come demands for thorough going laws, locay
preventing the sale altogether; ana mere, s III t me-
vention shall be made universal Al the Man! b st
sncceeded in preventing outbreaks Of SMALLPOX Ievers
and the like. further remedy Is applied IoI II c
OF police power to search houses for diseased persons
and authority for medical officers TO examine any Uo
they think ft whether be or she IS SUM y v
an infectious or contagious malady ha1s oI IL lie
tiepce having for generations been cuItlFHeI ~ ~
roor-aw. and the improyiden ena9ed 10 n nrono.ed
TO be met by compulsory insurance.
STATE REGULATION GROWS on ITSELF
See then the many concurrent when threaten
continually to accelerate the transformation now gong
on There is that spread OF reputation cameG ~ He
++ r the nocy is carried There is that increasing
need for administrative compulslons ana restraints MIo
results from the unforeseen evils ana shoI1coiE vi
preceding compusous and restraints. M0reOYer every
additional state interference strengthens ue sac.
sumption that IL IS the duty OF the STATE 70 uCai w az
evils and all benefits. increasing poMfGI VI 10 q
growing administrative organization Is accompanied ~
decreasing power OF the rest OF me soce5s W ~
further growth and control me to,t
members OF the classes regulated by II to favor s eX
tension as adding the chances Of safe and Respectable
ooS on benefits received through public agencies
gratis benefits, have their hopes continually eAcite1 10y
Ing the diffusion OF pleasing errors rather than OF stern
dates for nubc choice TO augment then chances Of
Ind for popuar favor by cOuntenancng them. Getting
repeated Qualifications from new laws harmonizlng Win
their doctrines political enthusiasts anu GnNsc In
thrOpsts puSh their agtatiOn with growing commence
and success Journalism ever responsive 10 lInc op-
ion daily strengthens II by giving il voice. WINE eou-
fer-Opnion, and more discouraged mas ht'e u
Thus influences of various kinds consre to increase
CORPORATE action and decrease individual action Ana
of whom thinks only of his pet project and not at all OF
thegeneral reorganization which his Joined Win others
IL IEea AZ he
luton devoured its own children Here an analogous
catastrophe seems not unnse me Numerous id t% te
an merged In state sOclaism-swdlOwed IL the vast
wave which they have little by little raised
WHY SOCIALISM Is SLAVERY.
But why this change described -as the coming
slavery 81 Is question when in ny wi iaTer,
What Is essential TO the idea OF slave We primarily
think Of him one who IS owned by another TO be
more than nominal however. the ownership must be
shown By control OF the Slaves acons--a control Wnch
which fundamentally distinguishes the slave Is mat ne
iabors under coercion TO satisfy anotner ee5I5 i
originally the slave Is prisoner whose me Is az the
mercy OF his captor it uces here to note that there Is
harsh form Of slavery in which treated animal he
has to expend his entire effort for his owners vantage
working for his owner, lie IS allowed short time IA
which 10 work himself and some uoun0 on which 10
grow extra food further anenOl5' ION gtEes INN
power sell the produce OF his lot ana keep the pro
ceeds Then we come to the sill more moderated FORM
which commonly arises where having oeen Irce man
working his own land, conquest turns MN INTO what
We tl1tll-hNu a % SUI
each year fixed amount OF labor or produce OF both re-
tanning the rest himself Finally, IN some cases, as IN
estate and lie for himself elsewhere under tue
Condition that he shall pay annual What IS II
when in these leads to qualify conception OF
the slavery as more or less severe Evidently the
greater smaller extent 20 when effort IS GonPusoIiy
expended for the benefit OF another instead OF FOR SELF
benefit If all the slaves labor is for his owner the
slavery is heavy and If but little il Is light Take now
further step. suppose dies and his estate with
it, comes the hands Of trustees or suppose the
estate and everything on II to be bought ny coMany;
T. the condition OF the slave any the better Tie amount
Tor a company substitute the eonmunityi does II
make any difference TO the slave II the ime ne has 70
work others great and the time eit for himself is
= 5 Wneled TO labor for other benefit than his own
tween that which he i forced TO yield mp That which
he il allowed rotan and matters not whether his
master a single person or society II without option
he labor for the society and receives from the gen
era stock such portion as the secie awards nm ne ne
comes slave 10 the society o9ciailc arIah- eheht3
leces-itate an ensavement Of this hnli and toward
fuch enslavement many recent measures and still
more the measures advocated are carrying us.
STATE OWNERSHIP OF RAILROADS.
Already this exists to large extent on the Continent
Already have had here few years ago loud advocacy
Of n And now the cry when was lsseG ~ In9ndTy
cratic Federation which proposes STATE approximation
1rtTe from above Joined by pressure rom below Is
fkey effect this change dictated by the policy every
where spreading and with 1t must come many attendant
changes. For railway pr9pretors at first owners and
masters of numerous businesses directly OF indirectly
connected with railways; and these will have TO be pur
Government Wneu LAc railways dIc purchased
Already exclusive carrier OF letters exclusive trausmitter
o. teerams and the way to become exclusive carrier
a. parcels the state viii not only De exclusive carrier
Of passengers. goods and minerals but viii add
present various trades MANY other trades. Even now
besides erecting its naval and military establishments
and building harbOrs docks breakwaers etc, II does the
work Of sb-builder canuOnfOnnder small arms maker,
manufacturer OF ammunition etc, etc and when the
railways have been appropriated with or without COM
pcnsaton the Democratic Federationlss say 1t VIII
have 10 become lOcOmOtlye-engine builder, carriage
vessel owner coal-mner stone-Gnarrier omnibus pro
IIetOT etc Meanwhile its local lieutenants, the NUM-
ciIal goyeInmens already Ia many places suppers OF
water, gas-makers, owners and workers OF tramways,
prOprietOrs OF baths, will doubtless have undertaken
various other businesses. when the state directly
by proxy has thus come into possession Of has
ablshcd numerous concerns for wholesale production
AID for wholesale distribution. there viii be good prece