The Advocate and news., 1898-10-12

natural liberty. The principle, II is Salu,
has it's root in human nature and Is sane
toned by Christianity. Such is the ma
ture Of competition and the advantages
claimed for 1t.
Now, we are so accustomed to the prin-
ciple, its laws and methods are so
wrought into the industrial and social
life of the capltalistic system OF industry
under which we were born and bred,
that to challenge its truth Is regarded
by many almost as chimerical and often
sive as it was for Calico to question the
belief in the stability Of the earth, or
the motion of the sun.
Now, let us be fair toward competi-
tion. 1t has not during certain stages of
the capitalistic regime been an unmixed
evil; nay, it has been most important
factor in progressive industry. 1t has
served in the industrial evolution as war
has in the social evolution. But, as war
has had its day as factor in Civiliza-
tiOn, so the system Of competition must
yield to a better way. Whatever It's rela-
tions in the past to ethics, it now con-
flicts with the higher idea of right pre-
vailing at the present time.
1t is felt to be the cause Of nearly all
waste, ill-will and misery that threaten
society 1t is already yielding to trusts,
the unconscious fOrerunner and incipient
form of Socialism. It has not yielded,
however, out of regard to Socialism, but
because it had so much rope it has hung
itself.
We object to the competitive system
and the whole philosophy which under
lies it, for the following reasons:
1. 1t assumes that competition unhin-
dered will work itself nearly or quite per-
feet. Professor F. A. Walker says, I'VE
want more, not less, competition; when
1t Is perfect, like the atmosphere, 1t
presses equally on ALL" In other words,
1t assumes that competition can be per-
feet among unequal competitions.
2. 1t assumes that labor can be sepa-
rated from the laborer and treated like
mere commodity, as corn or cheese.
3. It assumes that competition among
employers is as severe as among labor
ers, so that employers have no advantage
over labOrers; in other words, that the
demand for labor is as great as the sup
ply.
4. 1t assumes that laborers can resort
to the best market as readily as mer-
chandise.
s. It makes money, not man, the center
and circumference of its system. Man,
mon swallows up humanity.
6. 1t ignores all ethical considerations
in economics, which is unsclentiflc, and
has already proved ruinous to many Of
the higher interests of society.
z. Competition places the individual
above society. It rewards not according
to honest effort, fidelity in service, or
character, but according to cunning,
skill and strength, thus leaving the weak
to perish in the struggle for life
8. II regards the wage-worker as
commodity subject to the law Of supply
and demand; assuming that, as cotton
mills shut down when the demand
slackens, so laborers will stop being born
the moment they are not wanted.
8. 1t assumes that free competition is
a natural law, and therefore cannot and
ought not to be restricted; that is, that
the Manchester or English free trade
school Of Political Economy, the funda-
mental doctrine Of which is laissez faire
-non-interference by the State-is a po-
litlcally sound and morally righteous
principle.
10. It assumes that the free play Of
individual self-interest will result in the
highest possible good of society as
whole.
IL. 1t assumes that If man does not
seek his interest, his interest will seek
him.
r. It assumes that that government is
best which governs least, and this, no
matter how complex society becomes
and how unjustly the strong oppress the
weak.
1S. It assumes the validity of the
maxim, "The greatest good of the great
est number" which, when analyzed, is
found to contain more deadly moral
poison than most Of the current devils