The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-08-02
AWAY WITH "PATERNALISN. >"

AWAY WITH "PATERNALISM."
A friend who says he indorses most Of
the opinions Of The Times, says he fails
to appreciate our frequent condemnation
of any sort Of manifestation Of pater-
nalism in government, which suggests 10
us that word or two upon that subject
may be productive Of good.
The average citizen hears socialism"
and anarchy" denounced every day. but
he hears no definition OF the distinction be-
tween the two, and he gets no very clear
account Of what either is. The Socialist
thinks that all property should be owned
by the State, which should aiiot out to
individual citizens so much as they re-
qulre for the necessities Of life, comforma-
bly, to the whole amount possessed by the
State. He also thinks that all employ
ments should be under the control Of the
State, all employees to be employees Of
the State instead Of employees Of private
persons stimulated by the prospect Of
gain 10 pressing the business energetically
TO success. Under the Socialists idea the
State is everything, the individual
nothing, and every movement or change
In life Is to be directed and controlled by
statute law The Anarchist, on the con-
trary, says that there should be no law
at all. That men should be governed by
their own sense of right and justice,
which would undeniably bring about that
interesting state Of society where
HE may take who has the power,
And he may keep who can"
During the war there were many parts
of the Southern States in a condition of
total anarchy. There were no courts held.
and, II there were any civil officers at all,
they wholly abdicated their functions as
officers and left society to run itself as
IL best could. The county of Fauquier,
Virginia, may be mentioned as a con-
spicious example of this; yet no better
order could have prevailed anywhere than
prevailed in those regions during that pc
riod, and particularly in Fauquier.
But We all know perfectly well that
while II might be possible to get along in
the country. where the people live at con-
siderable distances from each other and
all know each other, without law or off,
GERS Of the law it is simply impossible
to have any state of affairs like that in
the towns and cities a large part Of the
population of these must be controlled
by the strong arm Of power resting on
fO 90 oil Iar
anarchy is case Of no law at all, and
while we will not tolerate the suggestion
OF either. if we were compelled 10 choose
between the two, we should cast our vote
10Y anarchy every time. In a state OF
anarchy each men knows that he must be
guardian and protector of himself and
these dependent on him. and indiyid-
ualSm, manllness and courage are de-
veloped, at least. and inevitably a form
Of law-upon a pinciple implanted in the
minds and hearts OF men by the Creator
would be developed while under state Of
socialism, where TIE Legislature is every
thing ehicanery. trickery. bribery. fraud
are the influences which shape and con-
duct every movement in life.
The true theory Of life is liberty regu-
lated by law The foundation of this is
the proposition that every man may do
as he will so long as he does not inter-
fere with the rights of any other man.
This idea demands government as
means Of c, mpclling each man to keep
within his own sphere and TO keep out
Of the sphere OF his neighbor. 1t de-
mands that society shall use all the power
Of society in securing 10 that neighbor
freedom TO occupy and enjoy his own
without molestation from any one. Now,
says this idea. when government has Sc
cured that end. government has done all
that government is instituted for: and
when It steps one inch over the boundary
between that theory and the theory
which wishes 10 control all things by law,
1t has surrendered the whole case TO the
Socialist. II 1t allows the Socialist 10 in
fringe one iota upon the dividing line. It
can offer no objection to the Socialist