Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-03-28
THE COMING SLAVERY.

The coming slavery, asserts Herbert spen-
Ger in the current number Of the Popular
Science Monthly, is TO be 'the slavery Of
socialism, the tyranny OF the many which
will crush all individual energy, restrain
every individual impulse and reduce all So
ciety to the dull level Of mediocrity." The
tendencies toward such q degrading move
ment In society, he thinks, are already to be
seen in the steady growth of state intcrfcr-
ence with private effort and voluntary enter
prise; In the provision for improved dwell
ings for the poor at less than their CONNER
cal value, In the free schools and libraries,
in the English poor lave, which make the
laborer half q pauper in the increase Of
regulative legislation in the advocacy ol
state ownership OF railways, and in other
signs OF the times.
The tendency is for society y Slcn in geuet-
al, in distinction from men in pariicular--tc
acquire oil property and all rights, and IN.
take to do everything which is now done by
Individual effort and enterprise.
We admit that tendency in this direction
Is apparent, but we doubt whether it viii
ever lead to such results as the eminent
philosopher apprehenda. We DO moi
believe that any slavery OF social
ism" or Tyranny Of the mauy'
can suppress the power of individual energy
| and individual will. These may he modified
they may be restricted, even, they may cease
to exercise such supremacy in the field OF
human endeavor and achievement, but they
can never be crushed. The crushing of in
dividuality would be equivalent to the crush
ing OF the race-power. A system of social
ism which Is equivalent to the boitng out
oflall personal distinctions, would be the DE-.
| struction OF society. We do not believe that
socialism can grow, or eau be pushed
TO such an extreme as to become
the slavery OF the individual. Mr.
Spencer proves this, we think, in biz
own limo OF argument. For socialism, as {
system, he shows, must have organization
1t must be, In certain sense. machine
and as such requires to be governed Now,
| II this elaborate organization should come
into the hands Of certain controlling partie.
ii few individuals should secure tbt
| government of lit would be nothing less
than an exaltation of sefishncss. The very
despotismof individuality would reign in aud
through system which had for it's end and
aim the CELEBRATION Of the individual as such
The end must be revival Of depotism. One
man, having secured the control of the glea,
machine, would decline to surrender bis
power when, by the rules Of the organiza.
ton, lie ought to do so. He would use his
| discip ined army OF officials 10 make himself
supreme, and would no longer even profess
10 exercise his power for the common GOOD
and as the servant or agent Of the State. bat
would proclaim himself its master and the
people bis iects and servants.
Ii this is what Mr.. Spencer means by
The tyranny OF the many" and the Crush
ing of all individual energy" we do not sec
how the ground which he takes ia logical. Ii
would seem to us the tyranny of the few and
the slavery of the many. Indviduaism is
something which can not be crushed out by
any system, even OF socialism 1t will find
expression in my possible organization of So
ciety