Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-02-15

Nationnlism Versus lndiviuu"'e
Trhe following paper was read by W.,
Huff ot tbo Mems Social Science CluD.J
Nationalism defined is a social theory
which advocates IL more precise, orderly
and harmonious arrangement OF the So
cial relations of mankind than the pres,
ent system. Nationalist hold tha' al
the natural resources of earth pe'ohs W
mankind. collectively, from when AL
,rrst snbsist. That which sustalns lie
10 taken from the land. All necessanes
If life are got from the land by the
application of labor. Now we propose 10
take this land, which is the natural prop
ertv of all, and place labor, Its TOOLS pro-
duction. distribution and exchange IN
the hands of all the people where IL
riyhtfully belongs. This is what we
mean by Nationalism. Nationalism Is a
system in which all work to their aoiil'y
and live to their needs. 1t is the doc'
tr;ne of collective ownership, control
and direction of all conditions entering
into the political, social, industrial ana
material want of man as social being
Our government is dual-poitical ana
industrial. Therefore our nation IN i's
control and development from the De-
ginning up to the present compete
break down of our commercial ana III
dustrial system is the result OF TWO OPP
posing systems, Nationa!ism and lnulV-
idualism. Now we propose to show that
Individualism in its effect in our INDUS
tria! system is directly responsible Tor
our present deplorable condition.
In order to make more clear the mer-
its Or dement's of the two systems in our
republic it will be necessary to 60 BACK
TO their adoption and trace their influence
and effect on our political and industrial
life as nation.
Over one hundred years ago this re-
public was established by Matchmaking
the military forces of the thirteen colon
les. The machinery of national and
state government was brought under
nationalism. Our school and news sys-
tens were nationalized. Our police force
and charitable institutions are national
lied. Now this was the creation OF all
the people by all the people for all the
people to establish political liberty and
equality and secure their inalienable
rights to life liberty and happiness; TO es'
tabish justice, to insure domestic tran
guilty and promote the general welfare
This far our government is based on
nationalism. Does any one wish to farm
out to corporations or combines any Of
this control? Now, 1 said our govern
ment was dual-political and industrial
| have considered the political in its es-
Enlistment and purpose. Let us return
to the beginning of our republic
and note our industrial development
and its Obstructive influence on
our declared inalienable rights. Oui
industrial system was established by
placing the land and tools of production
in the hands of the individual with pri
vate ownership and profit as an incen
tive to its development and competition
as a general leveler of prices. Now al
this time economic equality prevailed
with a fair field for individual enterprise.
1t prevailed not by law, but existed in
the general poverty of the people and
the inexhaustiable natural resource al
hand. One had to but reach and take
From that time the increase of wealth
and manufacturing was very gradual up
to 1860.
At this time the industries had become
partitioned and specialized and as re
suit. All the country towns had wag
on shops, shoe shops, tailor shops, cab
met shops, carding mills, tanneries' etc
These conditions gave general prosperity
A professional tramp at that time wa
not known, they are the product OF mod
ern conditions.
In '6l the war broke ont. BY enor
nous swindles in government contracts
millions were piled up in months. Al
endemic of fraud and wild speculation
seized the nation. Railroad construc
ton become the craze. Charters wer'
secured and the people induced by fals'
representation and fraud to issue bond
to more than equal their construction
Even the government became involved
and granted charters to the Pacific road
and gave lands, bonds and interest equa
TO their construction three times over
This craze went on until the who'll
country became net worked with roads
By fraudulent freight rates these road
have strewn the nation with fnancia
wrecks and built up our colosal com
bines and corporations As a result w
have the beef combine, coal and coal oil
combine, the sugar and cracker combine
the Irvine and whisky combine and hun
dreds of Others either complete or il
process of completion. These combine
control the industries of the nation
Now let us look at the land held II
this country by titled British Lords.
will rive amount of holding Of individ