New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-14

c.o,u nor ~ the erote.aue drvel OF that Lon
don Socialist editor who. q. the recent "r'hue'
valid Church Conference, gravely propouhueu
"the land theory Of Jesus: to wit: Tine meeh
shall inherit the earth: wherefore the Ia"u
should be owned exclusively by persons OF MEEK
disposition But II land and other properly are
still to be held by individual owners, the Social
side of private property" must be much oe'e'-
cred. Men must regard wealth as trust iro'"
God. and administer 1t accordingly. win mat
do ctrine only two classes OF men VIII seriousi'
disagree-nisers and Socialists. lie also con-
siders TIE question OF limiting inhertahces' 80
as to enforce the rehabilitation OF properly ana
prevent the accumulation OF vast hereoitary
fortunes On this theme he Is fairly conserva-
tive certainly not going to such extremes as 10
Socialists or as does the recently enacted budget
of Great Britain. But even ne reBaroS INC
danger Of an hereditary plutocracy too seriously
Spealsing on this theme recently, one OF the lore
mos, business men and publicists OF America
man Of vast experience, shrewd observation ana
sound Judgment. said; vi great ioi '"'e'
auassed in Wall Street or other fields OF specuia-
ton 90 per cent are dsspated-redistripu'eo-
tr the lfetmes Of the men who make the'h' anu
of the remainder. 80 per cent 40 not ou''as' '"e
nov, generation" That is to say. only one
fortune In a Eulurcu icaSi'S' 49,
children of the man who MADE IL.
Finally. our author swings around TO the ac-
acknowledgement that private ownership OF prop
crty Is best: that competition III oiu'"'''
branches Of trade and industry Is beneficial; and
that the Naturalization plan. or Socialism, Is
70 no applicd only to few things. and they OF
recent origin. superimposed upon our soc'ai anu
industrial structure since the Constitution was
needed,
,bov are IN he effected by improving the present
system. not by sweeping It away and founding
y nov one That Is sound sense and In uttering
q ba practically abandons the whole Socahst
case II such be his convictions. 1t Is great
,,, ho an NOT have the courage Of them. III he
had his book would have been called not So
c,,lisn, and Social Reform but socialism
vorsus Social Reform" and would have mace.
wba, despite his sentimental timidity II still I'M
nloe a Vigorous condemnation OF Socialism as
oonosed TO The true interests Of society as well
os NJ tho Individual With the possible exception
NJ the naturalization OF the treasures OF the
Garth not one OF the reforms he proposes IL
Socialistc. and why he should speak OF 'hem as
the strong features Of Socialism Is past all
finding out To nationalize railroads Is not
Socialism any more than to natonaIze the
postal service To put the light supply OF
city under municipal control Is not SOCIALISM
any more than thus 10 dispose OF the wafer
supply These things all Involve puohc IRAN
chiscs and are thus radically Differentiated from
cotton mills. and grocery stores, ana lawyers
Offices and backsmiths' shops. all OF which 'ie
co,,oi,s, a,ouId nationallze Nor are the found
ing II colleges and hospitals the opening Vi
orls and similar good works. Socialist!c; nor
any other Of the good things for when PROFESSOR
Ely SO eIoouen.ly pleads Some Of them might De
possible under Socialism. Some certainly "ou'u
no, be But they intrinsically belong 70 no spe-
cInc system. They ale manitestaio" Oh 'n''
better part Of human nature which exists unuer
all systems but which finds It's greatest develop
,,,eni under n system which encourages maj
yidual growth and culture and permits ihd'-
yiiual ambition and achievement
II acknc wledge." says an Accomplished "ii.et
Of the present day that collectvism cannot De.
until individuality becomes less marked In the
race And when that happens. the race VIII o9
ready to die l! is very Gomp ,sa raa,caI and
fatal defect ~ Socialism more defily set Loi'h.
But the same writer elsewhere sayf: men
mankind becomes sufficiently !ntelngeht 10 APP
preclate the fact that free competition 80 dearly
nr,zed now Is not free at all; when every one
realizes that the present system gives rev men
fair chance and gives NJ man the fullest cnanSe
10 live his highest. then the world Will be READY
ror colectlvism Why not h gin now to educate
nc.ul. Ia the ldea?" Why not rather educate
Them TO make competition free. ana 90 10 I'M
prove the present system that II VIII give every
man n chance Why not educate them To prog
ress To- optimism 20 making the best 81 Things
t,s,s,d ~ IA dlscontent To broodlng over imag
mary WRONGS to hoping for the impossible? such
a work Professor Ely and men Ike him should
be doing But In this case he has missed an
opportunity Of doing 1t by i!morously catering to
the inflated fanccs ~ false system and the
voice that should have been vibrant with master
ful authority is little better than reluctant
echo Of the clamor Of those who are vainly Elk
pecting all things In an hour.