Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-12-30
Social Problems.
Punxsutawney Spirit.

Social Problems.
Punxsutawney Spirit.
We give space in another column to
communication from gentleman who
signs himself W. S. King. He is evident
ly man who has given some thought and
study TO eocial questions, but has apparent
" became considerably muddled from too
promiscuous reading and an altogether too
blind confidence in his guides. But ne Is
not to blsme for that since of all problems
the social problem is the most dlfhcui'
and involved Hardly two eminent writ
ers on this question agree. In tact their
doctrines are diametrically opposed. The
di scussions of economic questions have In
few instances ripened into demonstrable
truths. The theories of modern economists
are Utterly discordant and contradictory,
and the extreme divergence of the paths
proposed By different writers for reaching
social happiness are simply ludicrous. IL
ia no wonder then, that the ordinary
student of these questions, who has not
time to penetrate below the surface, should
become confused and bewildered wnen
eminent scholars, who have made these
matters the study of their lives. so thor
ouehly disagree. In our judgment the man
who has most nearly reduced these specu-
lations to scientific basis is Herbert Spen-
Ger. He has no doubt promulgated some
errors. but be sticks closer to the natural
and his followers are less likely to go as
tray than the diciples of any other social
philosopher.
The disagreement of the social doctors
and the different remedies prescribed oy
them il amusing. One economist tells Us
that the most of the misery and crime OF
this world is due to private ownership IN
land. another to the warfare of competl
ton, another ascribes it to the profit sys
tenn, another to the drink traffic, another
to corporations, another to individual OWL
ership of land, ond so on. One school IN
sists upon the Naturalization of land,
another wants to confine all taxation to
land One falors the enlargement of tho
powers of government, another insists that
all government is necessarily tyrat-
ical. One believes that q system of COOP
GRAFTON would be just the thing. and anoth-
er that the decentralization of all the instru-
ments and means of production would be
proper.
Mr.. King seems to think that the woes
OF the world are due largely to corpora,
tions and the acumulative disposition OF
man. In this we think he ID seriously
mistaken 1t is impossible for man 10
do good for himself in this world without
incidentally doing good for others. Inc
more surplus capital man has at his dis-
n,sal the more likely he is tn do something
that will be beneficial to the community
Al large. If the possession Of large Tor
times were really bad thing for coun-
trv the Robin Hoods and Dick Turpins
who rob the rich and give TO the poor
would be public benefsctors and hlgnway
robbery would be an honorable occupation
A community with no capitalists IN IL Ii a
mighty poor place for laborlrg men. IL
we had few millionaires Ill Punxsutswney.
for instance, who were hustiing to increase
their wealth in any legitimate way, IL
would be much better for Us all Say we
had q population of 5. 900 souls, every one
D
", and each thoug t be had enough and
VAS making no effort to increase his
wealth. what kind of town would We
hayef There would be no public improve
mept. no advancement in any direction
But let twenty or thirty of these go togeth-
or. form a corporation. aud start for exam
ple. a large rolling mill, employ two or
three thousand men. The town would lm-
mediately boom. The man who owns
hundred million dollars does not have II
shut up in q strong box. As rule every
cent Of it if employed in the channels OF
industry aud trade. All he uses OF IL If
enough to purchase food and CLONES.
Another thing: The more money man mas
the less percentage oi profit it takes TO satis
fy him. The newsboy who invests q dollar
in daily papers at one cent eacn anu
sells them for two cents expects 20 make
. hupd ed per cent a day ON his invest
ment. The drayman whose whole capital
of 5000 is invested in horse and cart
must make hundred per cent month in
order to keep. The grocery merchant WIN
So. 600 is content with hundred per cent
a wear The wholesale merchant win
sI0O 600 invested il satisfied VII fifteen or
twenty per cent year, and the owner OF a
few millions thinks he is doing well II ne
can realize tour or five per cent year
But we save not the space to dweli on THIS
phrase of the question. ANY one eau
readily realize what stagnant old fogy
world this would be if every man had just
enough to insure him comfortable lVing,
and was content with that. 1t Is t9e
strife and contention, the hustling quail
ties of man, that brings out the best capa-
nil and no man can scumulate ior-
tune by bis energy and skill without PROV
ing benefactor to mankind in general.
The fact that in one ordinary life time
man who does not inherit penny, can, Dy
nis individual efforts, become master OF
hundred million dollars, is the greatest
-ncomium thai can be paid to the United
States of America OF course II Is To be
expected that ON the race track of lie the
feet footed courser, with high wlthers and
rremplous flank, its nostrils wide and its
name and tail flying like banner OF VIC,
tory, should be the envy OF all the Old
plugs and scrubs with spawned joints and
cock le- burrs in their tails. AND II THESE
equine plugs could talk they T0nid hold
,ueeting and pass resolutions recommend
ing the enactment OF a law making II
criminsl offense for any horse to go iaster
than mile in seven minutes.
What We want is justice-equal oppor-
tunities for equal skill, talents and abilities.
a comparison of this age and country Wild
any previous age OF country ought To CON
vince anybody that We are not going to
the demnition bow-wows very last. The
ordinary citizen now enjoys more OF the
comforts and conveniences of life than the
monarchs of two centuries ago, and 1t has
all been due to the cupidity of man-the
desire to "get on in the world
Now as 10 corporations What would
this country amount to without themf We
admit that some of them use their power
in a reprehensible way to crush competi-
tion and perhaps to influence courts aud
lsries and high officials of State. But this
l. due to the depravity of man. Plenty of
individuals are guilty of the same acts to
the extent of their ability. Corporations
are creatures of the State and can he curb
I'd by it. Were it not for corporations We
would have few, if any. railroads in this
country. No city would have decent
ster supply Few wo1ld have gas or
electric lights or street railways. Most OF
aur churches are Incorporated. If we
could seq Just how far the development OF
this country has been due tn sggregati"ns
If capital known as corporations, We GER
sainly would not regard them IS an unmix-
ed evil.