New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-17
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
SOCIAL PROBLEMS DISCUSSED.

PHILANTHROPY AND SOCIAL PROGRESS. sey
Ethics at plymouth, Mass during the session of
1892. With an introduction by Professor Henry
G. Adams, pp ri, 2G5. Thomas l. Croweii %
INSTEAD OF. A BOOK BY man too busy to write
anarchism, culed from the writings OF Benjamin
II. Tucker. PIP. X, 512. B. II. Tucker.
One OF the keynotes of the volume edited by
Professor Adams Is apparently the sentence in his
introduction where he says: "sociey is coming IN
fact TO be organic ana the claim OF perfect organism
that all parts should find harmony OF HE IN 'he
recognition OF common aim, shows tseH III 'he
attitude which large number Of persons are as
Stunning before the vexcd problems Of the day..
1t is to be hoped from the bottom Of the heart OF
every human being who loves the freedom OF MS
own individuality that this Is not true. NAN Is ho
part OF a huge animal, the last product oi 'Noi"'
ton. The craze Of organization can De cairieu 700
far. II has already been carried TOO lar III hear!
every country on the globe. When 1t shall nave
been carried that nothing Is lett OUTSIDE Oh IL,
where will the world be Can anything be Imagined
more inane than humanity so completely organized
that individuality Is lost II has been Always the
subbornness of individuals, not tie organization OF
the masses. that has saved morals.
In fact, Professor Adamss generalization goes FAR
hevond the prport of interesting essays contained
In this volume II every city In ChTstendom had
n charming social settlement such as Is described
by Miss Jane Adams. or a university settlement hh'
those discussed by Robert A. Woods; II everywhere
there were combinations Of men and women IN the
cause OF philanthropy advocated by Father iiuht
ington or OF the narrower aid more watchful al
ninlstra,ion OF charity outlined by DR.. Losanquct'
even then the rcformcrs would only find Themselves
lhe Newton, picking up pebbles and shells Oh the
shores OF an infinite 1t IS something 10 De
thankful for that humanity Is so much greater IMAM
all the people put together who trying TO make
1t better. can thus be HPi''''
only in its own way, way that
has long been recognized as also the WAY OF 'he
Deity. The hope of humanity is not in the crysaih
cation OF masses 1t Is in the flow OF indiViifl NE
where all organisms the moment they have ceased 10
be useful swept away. Organisms int 'oulu
not be got rid of-sOcal. political relglons-thoSe
have been in the past the most troublesome things
with which uanina has had to deal The ideal method
of social reform was stated for all long ume
ago not as an influence shaping humanity from
without, but leaven changing lis nature ron
within 1t Is because Of the strongest feeling OF
individually that can symmthize lully win ui'
work Of Hull House Miss Adams describes it, for
In spite OF all generalization. the work appeals to
people one by The same is true Of the Uni.
versity Settlement as described by Mr.. Wood. And
Father untingtons addresses are burning appeals not
to consclencclcss organism, but TO the shame ana
the sef-respect of each h"arer or reader. That Is
why the book is worth reading.
Mr.. Tucker says he too busy TO write a BOOK
II he had not been too busy or too careless to edit
this apology for book, II would have been better for
him and for his readers. Everything he has 10 say
that Of any pertinence to his theme is comprised
In some Of the longer essays As ao apostle OF what
lie takes to be the TRUTH he should consider that bul
let with a billet is worth ton OF shot scattered at
venture. 1t Is needless say that Mr. fuckers ideas
10 be neither vel nor trac Intentionally or un
teTtonally. humanity has made many experiments win
anarchy. These have never been satisfactory. AS,
on the hand, organization that Ignores the mdi
v1dual must later he swept away SO the
individualism that recognizes neither the past nor
the future Of the race which fancies that wisdom
born IN the nineteenth century instead of being
the growth OF ilnumerablc ages, serves only rs
momentary Spectacle That this is not the best
possible OF worlds may be granted. But humanity
is not through with eXis;cnct yet. II is absurd TO
PR pare fer the gllea age before III r c. whole
gives golden signs Of fitness for IL. The stock
argument that some tyrant some class Of tyrants
Is pressing humanity down will not bear inspection.
The life Of number Of tyrants will be worth pins
fee II the people once decide that they oppressed
Meanwhile agitation, not even Mr. fuckers book,
viii do any real harm.