The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-11-29
SOCIALISM,.
Rev. Or. Dalton's Fourth Saturday
Lecture.

Rev. DR.. Dalton delivered the fourth of his
lectures Saturday afternoon before large
audience.
No word, said the lecturer, is used with
more VaguenesS than socialism, or in agreater
number of Senses Even when properly
used, it has many applications Socialism
is often COMPOUNDED with communism, the
theory Of which is that the good things of
this world should be distributed not according
to merit, but according to the needs of each
individual. Inequalities must not be allow
ed to exist. The theory common to socialists
IS that all power ought to be concentrated
In the State, which should own, control, and
direct everything of concern to the commune
ty. According to some, land only should be
taxed, and so heavily taxed, that it would
cease to be of value to the present owners,
who would, therefore, be glad to relinquish
Y, ceding it to the State by whom it would
De leased to applicants. The State should
especially railroads, factories, and all other
productive properties. The State should be
the sole capitalist. Others do not 90 so far
but for the present at least, ask only that
government should secure to every man the
means of living by providing employment,
giving good wages and reducing the hours
Of work so as to make life easy to all. The
difficulties Of these schemes in all their
phases are well nigh insuperable and the
contemplated condition of things without
advantage. The remedy would be worse
than the disease.
The policy opposite to this is. called
''Ldissez tdire," the French for ''let alone"
According to this view, the State should not
interfere at all, but leave everything to in
dividual effort and competition. This has
been the fayorite theory of: political econo-
mists who defend this principle on the
ground Of its efficiency. Self interest is the
spring OF human activity and of all efforts
to improve our condition. Let this have fair
NAV and the hest rpcnlfc will f0llou
always or at once, but in the long run. So
say the economists. No doubt this theory
is sounder than the other and wherever APP
piled, viii secure better results. But it is
not without defects which must be remedied.
In this world, the young, the feeble and
the ignorant must have certain degree of
protection. Their hours of labor must be
regulated; the poor should not be allowed to
live In unsuitable places; food must not be
adulterated; but the State must aid to pro-
duce these results or avarice and greed will
impel men to abuse the rights and privileges
of their fellows
Ignorance is a standing menace to the re-
public. The law of self-preseryation re-
quires the State to provide the means of edu-
cation to all classes.
In fine, experience shows that certain
things are necessary to make life enjoyable
and even tolerable. The State may, there
fore, rightfully impose taxes to secure to us
these things, as e.. g. streets, sidewalks,
parks, postoffices, etc.
1t appears then that there is a middle
ground between the extremes of socialism
and selfish indivdualism, which soon runs
into extremes unless duly guarded and limit
ed.
Men are intended to live together and to
make society as pleasant as possible should
be the aim of all legislation. Communistc
schemes must soon fail and socialism as or
dinarily understood, is impracticable. Some
legislation is necessary to protect the people
and give proper opportunity TO individual
and cooperate effort. Cooperation has been
need technical education in the arts and
manual trades. Finally all schemes are
doomed to failure which allow every man to
do as he pleases