The record-union., 1898-03-02

is striving among other things, for the
! following conditions which already eX-
Z ist in this country: Payment of pol
: litical representatives elected; election
! of magistrates by the people, with the
right of holding them responsible; sub
stitution of militia for a standing army
decision of the proper representatives
on questions Of peace and war; aboli-
: ton of all laws which restrict or sup
press free expression of opinion and
/ the right of meeting or association;
! declaration that religion is a private
matter; abolition Of all expenditure
from public funds upon ecclesiastical
and religious objects; ecclesiastical and
religious bodies to be regarded as pri-
vate associations which order their af-
fairs Independently; seculariZation OF
education; compulsory attendance at
public national schools; free education
free supply of educational apparatus;
administration of the law by Judges
elected by the people; appeal in Grim
inal cases; free medical assistance and
free supply of remedies; the fixing OF
a normal working day which shall not
exceed eight hours; legal equality of
agricultural laborers and domestic SER
wants with industrial laborers; confir-
nation of the rights of association.
The American socialist, again, is
striving to establish conditions which
largely exist in the countries of Eu-
rope. For example: Governmental con-
troll and ownership of railroads, tele-
graphs, postal savings banks, and the
municipal control and ownership of
water works, gas works, electric plants,
and all industries requiring municipal
reimbursement.
The end which all socialists have in
common, and which as yet has nowhere
been attained, except in most limited
degree, is the governmental control and
management of all agricultural, indus
trial and commercial undertakings. So
cialism not alone means the conduct
Of all enterprises already under gov
| ernmental control in one country or
another. but it further means that all
productive enterprises, all industrial
undertakings, all commercial opera
tons, shall in time be conducted by the
people as a whole for the benefit of
all, instead of, as now, by individuals
or by private enterprise for private
gain.
In other words, socialism, embracing.
as it does. followers who represent most
every grade of society, most every vo-
cation and most every profession, has
taken up the fight originally between
capital and labor, and has so broad
ened it as to represent not the mere
. wage-earner on the one side and the
capitalist on the other but individual
isTn versus collectivism. with a view Of
bringing to an ultimate issue the ques-
ton as to whether individuals posses
| sing uncommon powers shall be per-
mitted 70 use these powers for their
own profit. or as to whether the de-
sire for individual gain shall be sub
Ordinated TO the welfare of society as a
/ whole In other words, the issue is:
Shall the individual be permitted to
continue to use to the fullest adj
vantage, for his own good and his own
profit, every ability with which he is
endowed, regardless Of the effect upon
society? Or shall he be obliged to
share the efforts of his uncommon pow
ers in the fullest degree with his follow
creatures?"
This, in q few words, is the issue be-
tween capitalists and anti-cap italists.
/ Upon this issue there has been pub
lished in recent years a vast literature,
embracing among the writers on both
sides some of the greatest intellects
Of the century. This is the issue that
the nineteenth century will leave heir
unto the twentieth century. 1t prom
ises to be a problem which is almost
certain TO cause great social evolution,
if not revolution.
The advocates Of socialism start out
with the moral advantage on their side
Of preaching the doctrine Of altruism,
or the brotherhood of man They not
alone aim to establish the political
equality but also the social and eco
nonic equality of ali. Their doctrine,
In few words, is, The greatest happi-
ness to ALL" and zone for all and all for
one"
This is certainly a noble and self
sacrificing creed. 1t is line of thought
far in advance of the feelings of even
those who give utterance to these senti-
ments
Much as the fulfilment and the uni
versal acceptance Of these doctrines
might be hoped for, il is doubtful
however marked the progress of the
twentieth century may prove-whether
the hopes Of the socialist are likely to
be even partially fulfilled by the end
Of that period.
The question that presents itself to
the mind of the disinterested student
OF sociology IS: Are the doctrines of
f socialism practicable? and If practica-
be. are they desirable?" Shall the
Interests Of individuahsm be so curbed
and restrained as to be subordinated en-
tirely 10 the interest Of the social or
ganism-interests which are frequently
antagonistic? And if this is possible,
viii it result in the greatest good to
the greatest number?
1t must be admitted that Individual
ism carried TO an extreme brings with
1t. in the form OF capitalism, grave and
serious evils. Granting that socialism
Is practicable, yet when carried to the
extreme it must likewise bring with
Il grave and serious evils-evils likely
TO prove even more serious than those
now existing That capitalism in the
future VIII be permitted to enjoy its
past or its present liberties IS doubtful.
That the capitalism Of to-day is likely
10 be the capitalism of one or more
generations hence is also quite improb-
: able. Even the present generation is
likely to see enacted much legislation in
the direction of restricting the liberties
and checkmating the possibilities for
abuse CT power on the part Of capital
ism.
, Though the complete subordination
Of the individual TO the mass is not
likely to transpire until human nature
itself will have undergone a complete
| change. until selfishness shall have be-
come a forgotten human quality. yet
| when 1t Is remembered that human
loba,acfpr has upra.ar<yaf,eA marked,