New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-29
ideals OF NEW SOCIETY"
FEAR OF AND RELIANCE UPON THE
STATE DISCUSSED.
An Knocks TELLS ABOUT FOLLOWER or
HERBERT SPENCER WHO WOULD GET
RID OF THE UNFIT.

Mr. BROOKS TELLS ABOUT A rolsA<o"rh W
HERBERT SPENCER WHO WOULD GET
RID OF THE UNFIT.
John Graham Brooks continued his lectures on
ideals OF New Society" yesterday morning be-
fore the League for Political Education. his sub
toct being "Alber, Scharffle" The lecturer pre-
sented point o. view directly opposite TO that
considered NJ the last one. which was on Herbert
spencer" the gst OF whose philosophy Is fear OF
the State while that OF Scharfe Is reliance upon H.
The idea OF both" said he. lis the same-per-
feet freedom for society and the individual: but
their methods Of attaining It are Numerically
ooposed This difference is partly due TO tenn
permanent and education. One has the Enghsn
lde, Of the State and the other the German. To
the German the State Is not simply a lot OF 'ndi-
viduals but an organism. different in degree and
kind from a mob Almost all German thinkers
start from this position They consider that indi-
vlduals have their appropriate spheres OF action
and the State its sphere. which ls constantly
growing one. Since Spencer wrote. tho English
view OF the State has been slowly taking on a
German character Where is the English city that
,s not RAPIDLY extending It's municipal functions?
This thing is true in almost every country even
10 a certain extent in our own.
"Scharfie advocates a vast Socialism. but would
carry (: on under the Hohenzoern idea OF gov
eminent II the democracy developed. II would De
impossible he thinks to sufficient unity OF ac-
ton Tor suCn Il purpose
In comparing the Spencer and scharne phiioso-
phcs. Mr.. Brooks said
Tho ordinary play OF private interests woulo
not have stopped the cholera In Hamburg IL
would not erect public schools or organize charity
In a village where every one knows everybody else
II NAV be safe for people to give as they Ike out
In a city they must adopt an absolutely dihereh'
policy The bes, scholars are now OF the opinion
that great corporations should not be allowed 20
overstimuate immigration We must say to them
You cannot bring these people here. There Is NOT
the slightest question that society will more and
more assume conscious control OF its operations In
order to avoid the difficulties into which We arc
more aud more coming. Private interests. IN the
form OF trusts are already doing II. and the next
step is for society 10 do it.
As an illustration OF what Spencer's philosophy
carried to its logical conclusions means. the lect-
urer number OF extracts rom eminent f-H-
ropean scientists who have applied u 70 the PROB
lem Of population -.
One Of them asserted that TO try 20 keep wretch
ed children alive Is inmical 10 the true interests
~ society and said that the tuberculosis bacillus
yay OF getting rid OF the unfit
There is so much truth In such statements as
this - said the lecturer "that'it is hard 20 an
ewer them but at the same tir1c, something has
grown up in our civilization which makes Il i'm
possible for US 10 let the child die or the man lie
In the ditch This feeling Is getting us Just now
into no end OF difficulty. but by what authority
has given us. Sociology must find way by which
we may keep IT, and not deprive the race OF Us
strength and II has already taken many steps In
that direction"