The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1897-11-18

tendency of the government wAsS,-
cialis.ie; that there was e tendency
Tor the government 70 DO things
which always had been left. aid
should be left, to the individual; that
most OF the great cities of tse em pire
had not only assumed the functions
OF supplying their inhabitants with
water, gas, electric light and street
railway service, but that they were
going great deal farther and were
even building aud renting kous,
and doing host Of other things that
were not within the province of gov
ernment.
He was reported as saying in ans
wer to this criticism that it was not
a question of Socialism at ali but
simply question of business: a
question whether given community
can secure certain advantages and
supply certain needs common to all of
Its people more cheaply or in a more
satisfactory manner when acting
collectively than 1t can by leaving
everything to individual effort; that
collective body has the same right
to pursue the best business methods,
and do all things necessary to its
welfare, or the welfare Of It's mem
bers, that the individual nas; that
the best interest of the community
must be the criterion by which to de-
eide each case; there was q time
when private individuals carried the
mails and charged wha. they pleased,
there beng no government posto flee
but as the world advanced every
government took the pc stal business
into its own hands, and no intelli-
geat man would have it turned over
to private corporation.
The government, whether State or
local. has found it necessary to make
the roads, and where private COM
panies have built roads and are
charging toll, the public is acquiring
themi there Was time when eduea-
ton was an individual affair, but as
the world advanced it was found to
be a matter of such Importance to
the State that every enlightened
government makes provision for ed =
ucating all. That it was question
of development and each age must but
only supply its own needs, but must
determine the method for doing it.
This lays down an indisputable
principle. For it would be absurd
to claim that An association of men
cannot :employ the best business
methods to supply its wants, and
promote the health, the life or the
physical, moral and intellectual de-
velopment of its members.
On the other hand, there are hun
dreds Of things which in our age
cannot be done successfully by the
municipality Or the government, but
must be left to individual effort.
Governor Altgeld proceeded to
give mastery review of the grand
progress made by Glasgow, Man
chester snd Birmingham under the
municipal ownership Of street rail
ways, gas works, houses for work
ingmen, and other vast public fune-
tlons which are now commanding
the study and admiration of the
world. He continued:
Not going further into detail, let
me say there are at present in the
the United State 1876 municipalities
that supply their inhabitants with
water, with gas and electric light
aud one-thlrd of the street railway
mileage Of Great Britain is owned
by the municipalities. Leaving out
> London, it amounts to twc-thlrds
: And IN most instances in which they
. do not own the street railways, they
have compelled the companies t
grant low fares and divide profits.
3 Evervwhere the tendency is to
ward collective ownership and enter
prise, and SO satisfactory has thi
4 been found that where once trie,
= the public will tolerate no othe
= method. It is obi jected that in som
9 of the English cities the stree
S railway service is not as good as i
: is here. But this is not the question
q The question is, how does it com
d pare with the service formerly givel
9 by the private companies.
On the Continent the awakening
9 Of cities toward a higher life
It as marked as in Great Britain
9 About thirds Of the larg
l. cities Of Germany own. and or
|
light works. This movement ha
st been so rapid that it will not be ion
70 until there will not be private ga
,. plant in Germany. Wherever stree
d railways sre not owned by the m,
, nicipalitv, they are operated unde
q strict regulations, giving reduce
t. fare to workmen, and they have als
n to divide profits with the govern
ot ment This is true in nearly a
10 Continental cities.
lr The cities and governments ,
: Europe simply did what commo
. business sense suggested. Thev d
e not attempt to establish Socialist
IS state. The governing forces the
lg are opposed to Socialism and try
os crush it wherever possible, but the
p appear to have been driven to IL
US teonclusion that all those that are tt
ut, subjects Of monopoly can be ma
go aged by government, and that th
a is the only way that the governme
s. can protect its people against 70
berry.
p Every business reason applicab
1g to the municipalities and cover
Is ments of Europe is applicable her
Id We want as pure water, as go'
to drainage, as cheap service as tn
he have, and we want the same exercis
do aud when it is apparent that by az
sn ing collectively we can do busine
more successfully, can serve OF
a selves better in every way, and G.
he secure for the public treasury tho
d. millions which now go into the poe
ed cts ofgrasping individuals, have '
not a right to do itq If we find that
Dr. this manner we can give steadiue
Id to labor and can elevate its standa
IN and improve the conditions Of all
TO- our people, dare We not do it 2
60 Everv one of the reforms CARR
he out in England and on the Contint
Ike met with fierce opposition from {
At 4