The Advocate and news., 1898-03-30

Ing attached Wnlcn ~ DOTH nlSLuIlChlly
and philosOphically incorrect. AS cur
rently used, 1t carries with 1t certain
element of demagogism - upper-class
demagOgism, because generally used In
the interest of the few as opposed to that
Of the many. IL gives no reason for the
practice or opinion attacked, but sup
plies the lack of argument with an cpl
thet of Opprobrium.
II It Ia proposed to add to the function
OF government in any manner-7as, for
example, with us, the purchase OF our
telegraph lines and their subsequent
management by the Federal government
we are sure to hear the word paternal-
ism employed. The word paternalism
seems sometimes to be used to designate
any governmental activity, but more fire.
Quently to designate any increase In gov
ernmental activity. The people OF Eng
land do not as a rule call the ownership
and operation of a postal telegraph by
the government paternalism, but many
Englishmen would call the government
ownership and management OF the rail-
way lines paternalism. On the other
hand, IL one goes to Germany at present,
one finds few Germans who call the state
railways paternal in character. The
truth Is, however, paternalism has no
reference to the quantity Of govern
mental functions, but rather, II may
use the expression, to the quality of
these functions. It has no reference to
the extent of governmental activity, but
to the character of governmental author
ity. Paternalism means the theory OF
those who claim that sovereignty Is pa
ternal in origin and paternal In charac-
ter. Sovereignty, 1t is claimed by ad-
herents Of this theory, Is patriarchal,
because 1t grew up out Of patriarchal ar
rangements, and preserves its original
nature. The authority Of sovereign, 1t
is held by advocates Of paternalism, is
like that of a father.
j.
The State Is strictly cooperative in
character. II Is cooperative commun-
ity, and this is true without regard to the
extent of the functions of the State. We
may have paternal theory Of the State,
and at the same time advocate very lin
tied functions Of the State; or we may
advocate very extensive functions OF the
State, going even to the extreme Of So
cialism, and yet adhere to the co-opera-
tive theory Of the State-the common
wealth theory, as 1t may be called.
There are, as matter Of fact, two
kinds OF socialism-paternal and frater-
nal; but the popular socialism Of the day
is altogether fraternal In character.
am inclined to urge, as an objection
against 1t, that 1t has too little respect
for the theory OF paternalism; for 1t re-
jects leadership and guidance from su-
periOr classes. The German govern
ment has waged war against social de-
mocracy precisely on this account. 1t Is
not so much socialism as democracy to
which objection is raised by the ruling
classes in Germany. The International
Workingmen's Association, under the
guidance of Karl Marx, adopted resolu-
tions at its first meeting in London, Sep
tember, 1864, which began as follows:
I'm consideration that the emancipation
OF the laboring classes must be accom-
plished by the laboring classes" This
little clause means great deal: it means
the entire rejection of paternalism. 1t is
Is likewise true of American socialism,
as advocated by the SOcialistlc Labor
party, that 1t entirely rejects paternal-
ism, and implies separation Of class
from class, and rejection Of the as
sistance Of superior classes.
While the cooperative theory OF gov
ernment Is the correct one for modern
times, it ought to include a certain ele-
ment Of paternalisn. Democracies, above
all other forms of government, require
the leadership Of wise and strong men.
Moreover, there are classes in every
modern community composed Of those
who are virtually children, and who re-
quire paternal and fostering care, the
aim OF which should be the highest de-
velopment Of which they are capable. We
may instance the negroes, who are for
the most part grownup children, and
should be treated as such. How any one
who heiaVes in the fatharhnnd Of God and