The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-06
THE WORLD AS IT IS.
From the Washington Post.

FROM the washington foSt.
Prof John b. Clark, Of Amherst, who
Is about to join the faculty Of Columbia
college, has recently delivered course
of lectures on social problems at the
Plymouth summer school Of applied
ethics. 1t Is evident from casual
glance at a newspaper report of one OF
these addresses that Prof. Clark has
been studying that outgrOwth of Bel
lamyism which has taken the name of
NatiOnalism. Respecting socialism and
inequality Of possession he says: Il
rejoice in an abundant and diversified
inequality. l want to live In world
of inequality. A state Of equality
would he flimsy and uncomfortable. 1t
would be an essentially bogus virtue.
The type of humanity that will enable
a man to look on his neighbor with the
slight affection that would depend on
his being no better off than himself Is
not desirable. Personally, I want to
live in a world where l am surpassed
in every direction. and where there
are innumerable wealthier people than
myself. where envy Is at least possible
and where virtue has some obstacles.
Then. and then only, will morals be
worth anything, affection be living.
and wealth respectable"
-:Il:-
cialists' panacea for social ills. In
order to do away with competition,
all inequalities must be abolished.
Every Individual member of society
must be Just as well situated as every
other member. The different capaci-
ties and inclinations with which nature
has endowed her human children must
be equalized, SO that no person can get
and hold more of the good things of
this life than his less gifted neighbOr.
The Nationalists modify the socialists
theory, to a considerable extent but
the road on which they start leads
straight on to socialism, and both, IN
the ultimate, mean communism. Many
OF the NatiOnalists are bright, brainy,
and honest, as were their predecessors
OF Brook Farm and New Harmony in
the first half of the century. Some Of
the socialists are honest, but others
are dishonest, lazy, lOafers, whose
principles are located In their abdo-
minal regions.
-:II:-
''The type Of humanity that will en-
able a man to look upon his neighbor
with the slight affection that would de-
pend on his being no better Off than
himself Is a good definition of the aim
Of socialism. The Author Of Nature
delights in infinite variety. 1t Is doubt
full II two things precisely alike were
ever created. "As near alike as two
peas" Is a common expression, but
those who have spent weeks in trying
to find two peas exactly alike have
failed. Put them under q microscope
and peas. or grains of wheat, or ker-
nels of corn are found to possess indi-
vidual characteristics. 1t Is positively
asserted by persons who ought to be
good authority In the premises that no
hairs of any persons head or on any
furbearing animal are just alike. The
attempt, therefore, to abolish all diff
ferences in human conditions has no
encouragement In the example Of the
Creative Power.
-:ll:-
Competition, instead of being the
source Of all our ills, Is the cause of
most Of the good that Is achieved in
this world. The natural desire to get
on In life has pushed the human race
from rudest savagery to It's present
position. That desire Is the very es-
serce OF the competitive spirit. 1t is
the great promoter Of progress In in
vention and in all that makes for the
advancement of mankind. Prof. Clark
recognizes the great social fact that
evil is q source of good. He wants to
live "in a world where virtue has some
obstacles" There Is no strength of
character where there is no resistance
Of temptation. Competition in good
works, trying to earn more money, to
raise more corn. to make a better coat
than any other man and to resist the
evils that have overcome other men
that Is what makes man strong and
brave; this Is what makes the world
go on growing better and better as the
centuries pass. gt