The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-25
TOWARD COMMUNISM.
This Seems To be the Drift Of the De
vclopmcnt Of Corporate Principle.

Lynchburg Va, April ~. 1892.
Editor Of The Times:
Sir.-Anent your editorial of yesterday
under the caption. Tho Drift Toward
Socialism" you seem to feel a certain
amount Of disquiet AT such tendencies.
This is rather surprising since that your
position in the past has been that the
corporate principle must be kept invio-
late and that accumulated wealth must
be allowed 10 effect all the saving posi-
BILE both In prod/tive and distributive
capacity. This ~e.ng true (and | sin.
cerely believe your ara correcD. does IL
not follow that If tho few individuals
may combine 10 effect so much saving
both 20 themselves and 10 the consumers.
that the whole people may through their
general government combine their wealth
10 effect this saving for themselves? II
seems 70 me that instead OF this being an
attack on accumulated wealth Il is higher
development Of the same corporate prin-
ciple. with this difference: that while all
the advantages OF accumulated wealth
are enjoyed in the cheapening Of produc-
ton and distribution. communistc or
socialistic government has the additional
advantage 81 distributing the benefits de-
rived from the profits generally instead
Of specifically. as is the case with cor
porations. To deny all the people the
right 10 do what a part OF the people have
a right 10 do Is placing restrictions on
progress.
Ii seems rather 10 be a gradual change
from individualism 10 communism. First,
men acted slngly: then learning that bet
ter results could be had by acting jointly,
they formed partnerships gradually in
creasing the scope Of the federation or
corporate principle until it has developed
into the so-called trusts and the next
and last development will be communism.
and the limit TO which federation may be
made productive OF common good is the
point at which united effort becomes less
progres siye and productive than indi-
vidual effort Under this plan. when the
pe0ple have qualified themselves for II,
everything hat can be done bet
ter done and more cheaply done
by the general government than
IL can be done by the individual will
become a function OF the government.
These changes. howe w. viii be gradual
and viii have the Occidental ups and
downs that characterize all progress.
When Arkansas renders IL unlawful for
insurance companies 10 do business In the
State then. If insurance Is a good thing.
it clearly becomes the duty Of Arkansas
70 flrnIsn us cillZens the Insurance. OF
which &c has deprived them. and there Is
really no reason why II should not do so:
because. If the people OF that State did
not pay more than they receive the COM
panies would leave there. and II Arkansas
does not pay more than II receives then
Il would be better for the people Of Ar
kansas Fl tho profit were kept I'm the state.
There Is nothing more socialistic than
our free school system. and seeing the
great work that 30 IS accomplishing. one,
instead Of being alarmed. IS az once con-
WINGED OF the correctness Of the underly-
ing principles and the elevation OF tho
minds Of the masses will as surely lead
10 higher forms OF government as will
the debasing Of their minds lead 10 cor
ruption and ignominious slavery. and
believe that with the expansion OF the