Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1898-09-24

adopted" And, after giving many more
examples of this rinciple of co-opera-
ton and it's unvarying success, Dr. Tay-
lor makes this pregnant remark:
Floral altruism is fact il the Nege-
table kingdom, only found in the most
differentiated floral societies. Just as we
meet with it only in the hlghest-devel-
Oped of humanity. although we antici-
pate it will be still more developed as
mankind grows out of it lower into its
higher life" That the same co-opera-
ton exists among animals in innumer-
able instances is so well known that we
should only be burdening our paper
with superhuous details by giving cases
in point. Let any reader refer to the
extremely fascinating eXperin ents
made, for instance, by 81, John Lub-
book.
Now, what conclusions are we able to
draw from our short excursion into the
plant and animal Kingdoms, which eX-
cursion should. however, be prolonged
by each reader at his leisure, so that he
may be thoroughly convinced of the
facts, and consequently of the correct
ness of such conclusions? Surely none
other than these: l. That there is
gradual dawning, a gradual manifesto
tion of reason Tor reasoning instinct)
already distinctly traceable in plant
life. ,. That the struggle for life is
fercest among the lowest forms, grad
ually softening and modifying as these
evolve into higher types, and transform
ing itself ultimately into altruism and
cooperation, both plant and animal life
showing many and startling cases in
support of this fact. 3. That this CO.
operation is invariably to the benefit
and progress of the community.
The next question which we have to
consider in our pilgrimage would be
this: Can this gradual and continual
modification, this tendency towards al
truism and cooperation, be traced for
ward in man? We think it would be
an insult to the reader if we were not
to say at once that asking the question
is already answering il Indeed, this
tendency toward altrUism and collec.
tivism has become so pronounced and
nmistakable that Mr. Spencer is quite
alarmed and has written very power
fully against it, although he is con-
WINGED that he is preaching to deaf ears
and that collectivism will sooner or later
become an accomplished fact.
And if all our facts are correct and
our reasoning logical our last and final
conclusion from the foregoing would be:
That the law underlying the evolution-
airy process makes for collectivism. and
that there is a deeper significance in
the old saying that man is social
animal than we have yet realized.
And this tendency toward collectivism.
growing ever stronger as man evolves
into higher and higher life. by no means
/ love to excel. which nature has so firm
~ implanted within us, and which is 50
essential to our advancement that. with
out it. evolution would. so to speak.
come to a standstill. Have we not all
a craving to excel, be it in a mental or
physical combat. though there is no re-
ward of any kind attached to such eN-
cellence? Why, even the thief. who
viii so skillfully rob us OF our watch or
purse. will, under other and more fav-
Orable circumstances where this pur-
er craving, or, as we say, his better
nature, has an opportunity to manifest
do noble act, and rescue drowning
child. or perhaps a paralytic old woman
from the burning flames.
And as little as we shall lose our de-
sire 10 excel, so little need we appre-
bend that general free education will
raise us all TO the same level. Bit JUS
tice win be satisfied inasmuch a. every
boy and girl will have the same chance
and the same privileges. The genius,
the student, the highly endowed will
form the aristocracy. We shall have
an aristocracy OF the mind, instead OF
one of the purse. 1t will be an aristoc-
racy in accordance with evolution. in
accordance with natures law, fit to as
sumo the highest offices the Offices of
honor and to direct the affairs of the
community for the common good. At
present you cannot expect men of edu-
cation and refinement to "hobnob' with
the coarse and vulgar 1t is against
nature, which says, "Qui Sc resemble,
$ assemble," and collectivism does not
expect It.
We are now in a position to realize
the fallacy contained in such unfortun-
ate books as Social Evolution" 10y Mr..
Benjamin Kidd and their kindred.
What shall We say of writer, calling
himself an evolutionist. who does not
seruple to speak of altruism as NEW"