The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-09
DUTIES OF CITIZENS.
Their Performance May Solve
Social Problems.
JOHN LAMBS ABLE LECTURE.
His Discussion OF the Extremes OF Folit.
fcal Theories-Newsboys' Noisy
Meeting-Labor Notes.

ing, and not only woEkingmen, but those IN Gil
spheres OF life might easily ind food for
thought in it. Mr.. Lamb chose for his subject,
Government q Compromise of Extremes" and
handled IL in q very conservative and able man
ner. He said in part:
II is well known fact that students OF social
science divide ali economic thought into TWO
great divergent brane hes-that which tends 10
eentrslize power ana function In the state ana
that which tends to reduce state action TO q
minimum. The one tends toward socialism.
the other toward auarchism; and under these
tw great branches we may classify all. or nearly
ali, public measures now being agltate0 IN this
and iorelgl countries.
Il is i'm pos sibe to understand the labor Ques-
ton apart from a study OF the human mind IL
selis Let our premises BE- what they may, at
some point in our investigation we are inevlia-
big drawn back 10 q consideration OF tae actions
Of men in society and thence 10 a consideration
OF the motives and springs OF action-the germs
from which come Gil that Is right ana wrong IN
human affairs. Now, the motives AID springs
OF action are found in the mind: and so far "a
the mind is imperfect Will that imperiecilon re-
fleet itself in action. We have, then, two things
to consider in any honest treatment OF the labor
question. First the qualify OF the human
mind both as to morals and intellect; and sec
ond, the influence OF environment IN Shaping
human conduct apart from the natural bent OF
the mind itself. i confess 10 have grown tired
OF treating the labor question through It's spe-
cial features for no matter what one OF these
special features we present, whether anarchism
or socialism as tho two main su odlvlsions OF the
general problem OF society, or the more speclaf
and subordinate reforms OF land, currency,
transportation, tariff, education, cooperation,
etc, we invariably find that. aide from the
question of logical or moral perfection IN the
theory itself. the possioi ity OF its application
with men in their present stage OF development
becomes in reality the main question; 50 that,
whatever may be our ideas, We are always I'M
PEELED by the overwhelming force OF necessity
10 accept less than we desire as condition OF
obtaining anything at all
There is one great law which it would be well
for al! men to bear well in mind III dealing with
matters that involve the progress o. society. 1t
is the law OF universal progress in organic ana
inorganic life. BY this law things that are SIM
PIE IN their nature are. Is they develop sub
divided and specialized SO as to form 81 aordi-
nate parts o. Il more compex but more efficient
machine. Nothing illustrates this more COM
pletely than the increasing subdivision OF labor
In nearly all branches OF toll. Formerly single
man made a whole shoe Now, II Is said that,
III large factories. sixty persons take part in the
making o. one. Consider ng, then, the close re-
lat!on6 that must exist between The individual
aad the group, the question arises how shall
matters De SO arranged that the individual viii
have the greatest possible freedom without be-
ing At liberty to turn this freedom into license
to the injury OF the many? The very statement
OF the problem suggests the conclusion that no
perfect solution Is at present attanabe. 1t Is
evident that this view OF the problem does nos
run either to the extreme ideas OF socialism or
snarchism.
Socialism proposes not merely sm all increase.
but all overwhelming increase in the functions
oil the state, and the socialist IS too quick to rs
sumo that the state is Synonymous with the peo-
pie, Or will be, under q sociailstic regime. Now
this is fine ideal, but fear ii will not be real
lied until the people become so thoroughly alert
and intelligent that no improper manipulation
Or abuse o! power by public agents can escape
prompt discovery and punishment. Here, then,
Is the weakness OF socialism: the assumption
that some Kind OF machinery can be devised
that VII handle concrete affairs with the same
regard for the general welfare and the same
scientific impartlailty as that which IS mlrrored
IL the brain Of the socialist.
The theories OF auarchsm differ from those OF
socialism IN that they deny the value OF man 8
free viii and intelligence in regulating all mat
ters or public concern while the socialist, as We
have seen, oyerestmates them. Under an-
srchism, no man should be- compelled TO do
anything except TO refrain from any act OF IN
yasion, the socailed philosophical M archIsts
express il. In spite OF the apparen, precision OF
this theory, l suspect that, III the absence OF
laws defining and liking the limits OF perlnissi-
f., bic action, IL would puzzle some OF the an
archis,s to decide just what constitutes sin
yasion."
1t apparent, then that the remedy for present
evils must lie far "a 1t depends on pubic ar
rangameuts, in iuiicious balance OF private
sui pubic functions; ard this baiance being.
iii the very nature of things, Incapable OF accu-
rate scientific Determination, must be found APP
proximatey by means OF experiment III limit
ing or extending state power. Nothing short OF
Judicial thought ana acton viii ever solve,
even with tolerable satisfaction, the yexed
problems OF society. 1t follows, then, that par
t.sanShip can not solve them. The most that
antagonism and give the victory 10 the stronger.
But strength, whether financial, intellectual,
physical or numerical, Is not justice. the
equity OF case l. not determined either 10y cut
ting coupons, weight. brains measuring mus
! Giles or counting noses. Can We be TAR? Are
we judicial enough to give property. enterprise,
brains, Geuius inventive skill, literary aud sci
| en,hc talent the same consideration that We
! ask Tor manual labor?
10 Ii Is generally admitted ty economists that as
long as the present wage system exi is disputes
| b2twe employer and emp!oye are lucyi Il b. c.
1t is also admitted that this antagonism mi Sht
| he done away wi by q system under which the
| workmeu could collectively own and operate
| the means OF emp oyment. But how little has
! actually been realized toward its mpli, IL
| menL Most OF tae attempts at COO; eratiye pro-
| ductiOn aud distribution have failed: and. IL
! We view the results OF these cOopera i've cutter
| prises where every member had Il voice il the
| management. either directly or through au
executive board. Is Il not q serious problem how
| fast and bow lar We should move toward pubic
| control OF industries
| The chief aim @ the church and the school is
| 10 Improve meu's intellect and morals by direct
action upon the mind and heart OF the iud-
| vidua. The caiei aim OF Industrial organjzl-
| ton Is 10 make the environment such that iadi-
! vidual improvement viii be more EASILY accom-
| p.isned. which OF these two forces, Gu
| vlr0Hment or personal character, il the
stronger in shaping the development Of men?
! Will enture tbs assertion that failure in life
Is rs much. # not NOR. due l. the weak re .ses
| and vices OF the tud yidua than 10 the il flu
| ences OF unf~v0raole environment. | admit
II
! baiiied by nm apparently ;aexorabe environ
| meui, but deny that man with mod, rate
| educational equipment cannot be reasonably
success. vi, on the whole, il he .EtprOVGs al. his
! ia ult.es ~ mind AMI body, avpi!s himself Of
| All his opportunities and economics care 'uly
! his time aad resources. ! y 5 raised in u ueCA-
! horhooI whers / had chano: 10 observe tie
/ growth AMI development g.! great uu4o Der OF
| youuE men. | kHGw ia, no circum, tluces Of
/ these young men dii not ti3er mater .niiy from
those OF the average young man thToUg aout the
! country, and hR4 ample opportunity 10 %
/ serve that the = 'tuG men mi q; ~. have had
! tsjr education hal thsy speui ouc-half the
! Ee at study that tley did ou the streets and IN
( the Saloons.
/ 20 not believe that il is either right or
| wholesome To talk 10 men about their rl.h ts or
wrongs without calling Alteration t. their
/ duties; ant tie first question that any man
ought tn as1 himself, when he asv.res To ful er
freedom Of action AMI greater resp0ns tuI..tv is
/ " neither be has iaIIhel himself lur the proper
/ performance oi the higher duties which thIs adj
/ Sauce4 position involves. Hero l. vast Coan-
! try; rs ministries AMI interests diversified ,
| sIch an extent inst tie most ample knGwl- dye
OF facts anu the relation OF facts Is necessary in
CrIer 10 term any intelligent come ;,t.on OF the
| great, unWieluy machine N all The pubic
| Problems with whlcn We have To deal are far
/ reaching AMI lutE.c1te Their proper under
/ standing ar gItic;ous handling require not
on sIecia. training, tut com reAeDsINa quail
ties 81 U'u3 AMI uncommon administrative
( cspscity. lie DlAS~ ~ tbs g,eop.e, " 40 ~ our
( fH.in 81 soEesAnieGt are made factors Iae Ill
/ Tecton 81 pubic affairs. are iESiue0 N their
/ Specs! trades an occupations, but, with rare
p-sDcAt az affairs ~ The broader principles Of
/ political PHILOSOPHY. A. u Consequence, thew
/ Afe driven u DEPEND very Iarr IL up8,, men
/ VINO htvs acquired THIS know IeIge, either in