Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-11-03

forces and work together for the com
mon good OF all parties to the contract.
The CORPORATION. therefore, Is, so tn
speak. the outcome Of Il treaty Of
peace between Il number OF men who
had previously been at war with one
another. 1t Is, In short. an arrange
ment by which they'llghten their res
pective burdens. In this way they get
rid OF much of the worry and anxiety
OF the business competition, and they
accomplish much more with n smaller
expenditure of energies. Corporation
is but another word for cooperation,
ana the more we study the question
the more do we incline to the opinion
that herein lies the solution of the great
problem which from the beginning man
has been trying to solve. With such
cooperation, strengthened and aided
by the numerous labor-saving invcn-
lions of the day. the greatest results
with the same expenditure of force are
to be ACCOMPLISHED, and the necessi-
ties. the comforts and the luxuries of
life are thus TO be obtained with the
smallest expenditure of force, with the
least amount of work.
That, mark you, is the plea and ar
gumcnt. in brief. of trusts and great
corporations. and it is also the plea
and argument for socialism and COM
w,
for the benefit of Il few. and latter by
all. for the common benefit OF all. 1t
is obvious. too, that as trusts increase
in magnitude and number, all men not
in them will be induced or forced to
combine and cooperate in self defense,
as wcil as self-benetit i'm other regards:
ana this must practically and logically
lead to the commune. The conclusion
is irresistible from every point of view,
ana 1t is the wise and just conclusion,
if the paragraph we have above quoted
IN behalf of trusts and progressive
cooperation be founded in right and
truth.
when that time comes. we who are
temporarily and Professionally bitter
opponents of socialism and communism
must become temporarily and provis-
visionally their warmest advo-
Gates, yet with n lurking long
ing for the individuality. the pcr-
sonal freedom and independence, the
aspiring, yet honest ambition and the
soul-stirring struggles with cfrcum-
stances and competitors, that are gone
The same paper from which we have
quoted above says that trusts and the
great corporations do not and will not
suppress individualism, but encourage
II by the recognition, reward and pro-
motion of excellence and genius. Blu;
IL that be true, why are socialism ana
communism necessary destroyers of
independence and individuality? II II
DC true, there does not exist n single
valid argument to meet Fourier. ST.
Simon and Robert Owen. 1t is not
true. The encouragement alluded to so
hatteringly is but that extended to
children and slaves, &c, who show
some aptitude that may be profitably
fostered. That is all.
If combination, cooperation and CON
solidation are to have their Derfect
work. from the corporation-trust to
the social and political commune. as
they must and will. unless the course
OF things he stayed and altered we
shall all be degraded to the lowest level
assigned and detailed according to
rule and order, without hope or fear
mere animals in Il tread-mi with no
prospect but the appoItioned time for
rest and feed. That may suit some
persons: but it is sufferable only MS
the last resort from II competition run
mad into monopoly and its greed and
eXorbitant opprcssions: and the Vir-
ginian- Pilot does not consider that this
life is worth living to such an end;
nor does it believe that brave and in
telligent men, 10 say nothing of Prov
idence. will permit so deDorablc and
shameful failure of the human ex.
pertinent.