The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-05
THE INDEFINITE OLOGY.

There were those who hoped that the
economists, at the late meeting in this
city, would have contributed something
to relieve that branch of economics called
sociology of the vagueness which has
characterized the expressions of the
most of those who have attempted to
discuss the subject Such hope was not
realized. 1t was talked about, was the
subject Of lectures, and yet it's bound
aries are as vague as before, and the
aims of its professors are just as in
definite. In a vague manner the lead
irg speaker talked of the general I'M
rest of the masses and the prevalence of
the opinion that most people did not get
as much of the good things or even of
the necessities of life as they earned
If he did not positively declare that
comfortable living is the inalienable
right of every human being that assump-
ton was the keynote to his long and
labored address as published in the Jour-
nal.
If that is the best which those who
hold the chairs Of sociology in leading
universities can present in that line they
may as well leave the subject to those
orators who, under the name of social
lists. assail the present social structure,
denounce government and capital and
1aunt the red flag. Whether professors
of sociology in universities sustained by
the millions of monopolists or imported
Socialists who have parted company
with useful employment, those who
teach that the world owes every human
being the comforts of life teach a heresy.
In a certain sense society owes every
man an opportunity to earn his bread.
but, on the other hand, the individual
owes it to society to in some way qualify
himself to take advantage Of the oppor-
tunity No human being has any right
to say 81 am here and 1 must be fed,
clothed and made comfortable His
duty, or, rather, the duty Of those who
are responsible for his existence, is to
prepare him In some way to avail him.
self of the opportunity to earn living.
If providence or nature designed to give
all human beings the right to food
raiment and houses it would have had
them all awaiting their arrival here.
Within the limits Of the torrid zone
nature seems to have prepared a limited
range of food for those who live In that
climate, but the conditions are such that
even the shiftless of other zones would
not change their hard lot for that of
those who can have food by the taking
and who need little shelter.
Sociology may become a science, but
when it does it will be because those
who make it such have begun with a
sensible recognition of existing condi-
TONS They will recognize at the outset
the natural tendency Of the human race
to shirk and to eat bread in the sweat
of some other mans brow. Instead of
needing the indications Of unrest they
will analyze them to ascertain how far
they are the results of such heresies as
that the world owes every human being
a living. Instead of coddling those who
make no manly effort to earn their
bread. the true sociologist will begin
with the harsh but practical incubation
his bread by his own efforts, and If. when
the opportunity is presented, he fails to
do so it is in most cases due to his UNI
willingness or inability to give an equiv
| alent in service for the bread he would
| eat Sociology which will be of use to
the world will keep individualism in the
| foreground, and will teach that industry
and intelligence will in most cases in
| sure the comforts Of life.