Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-14
SURVIVALOF THE FIT.
Such Will be the only Solution Of
SOCialistic Agitation,
ACCORDING TO AN EMINENT DIVINE
An Interesting Lecture on Socialism in
Christ NJ. 3. Church.
TIE BEST MAN BOUND TO GET ON TOP

An address on Socialism" by the Rev.
C. E. FELTON,, D. D., was embodied in the
programme of the weekly entertainment Of
the Young Peoples Society of Christian
Endeavor at Christ NJ. E. Church, on Penn
avenue last night, and the large audience
which had assembled for the occasion paid
close attention to the lecture throughout.
DR.. FELTON,, after giving short review Of
the history of socialism, from the efforts Of
Lycurgus and the Spartans in Greece down
to the modern phas of nihilism and COM
munism, continued.
"There is no doubt that there is an under
lying element of dissatisfaction in our
society which demands readiustment. There
is something wrong somewhere, and the
workings and efforts Of socialism are nothing
else but the pulsations of a law which is slowly
working itself out That it eventually
WILL COME RIGHT
have not the least doubt. But do not agree
with the elements that are brought into force
by the Socialists,
"The Socialist of to-day advances the theory
that natures gifts were given to be equally
divided among all men. The Socialist does not
allow a man to have private property; he wants
everything to belong to the community. Then
again, the Socialist Is more or less an enemy OF
established religion, as he is an enemy TO all
existing social institutions.
"NoW am believer in socialism myself;
but hold that the man who has the most MT
ness to exist has also the most right to do SO.
In that sentence you have the solution OF what
the evolution of socialistic workings amount
to. 1t has been the rule in nature ever since
the world has been created; it is SO to-day, and
IN f11of fr1<rr ho
of the fittest will be the result. Thousands OF
years ago we had different plants, different
animals and different races ofimen from those
we have to-day. Those that could not keep
step with the advance of evolutionary progress
remained behind in the race, and the fttest
survived.
To-day the white man of America is pander-
ing to the Indian; still he is dying out In spite
of it. The outcome of this underlying element
of dissatisfaction, which is
WORKING TO GET RIGHT,
will be nothing but the triumph Of the most
competent. He will be triumphant, he will be
victorious, whether he be the man who works
at the anvil, or he who sits in the Senate. The
slow, cOnversative man will tarry behind,
while the progressive genius will advance until
he gets to the top of the hill and plants there
his banner OF victory.
tainly it is. The competent man should be the
survivor, because he has the most right. In
the battle of life the ignorant has always to
give to the intelligent; the weaker always
has to give way to the stronger.
What should we do, therefore? Simply this:
Seek the best intellectual, moral physical and
social development that you can find. Keep
abreast with the demands Of progression;
make yourself competent for the race, and you
will be one Of them who has right to survive;
you will be fit.
''The great fault of modern socialism is de-
parture from religious principals; in fact,
ton of religion, and most Socialists are either
agnostics, materialists or atheists. Now that
Is the mistake. Were socialism to rest upon
and endeavor to get its rights through the
teachings of the Man from Galilee, 1t would, I
have no doubt, be more successful"