New-York tribune., 1900-07-05
COLLEGE HEN AND SOCIALISM,.
THE TRIBUNEs COMMENTS DISCUSSED BY
DISSENTING CORRESPONDENTS
Of The Trihnne

To the Editor Of The Tribune,
Sir: In your leader Of the 18Th. college Men and
Socialism" you say that socialism would decree
there should he competition and no one should
surpass any one else. That is why the college man
the Of brains and education-shoud be the
last 10 countenance socialism. Socialism IS op-
posed 10 nearly all that for which a college educa-
tion stands"
Permit M 10 say deem these statements to be
far from the truth. and If so be they We're true
then system Of college education is In need Of
thorough reconstruction, TO adapt itself to modern
methods and needs.
Now. I take it. The Tribune holds that the
interest OF the college the interest Of brains
and education; that these tend 10 distinguish the
individual and emphasize individualsm, Of which
socialism IS assumed to be the contradictory oppo-
site. In this latter assumption lies the mistake.
Individualisn and socialism describe complement
ary moral forces which may be compared 70 the
centrifugal and cenrrpetaI forces in the mechanical
sphere II is not the true interest OF the individual
conscious OF brains and possessed Of education to
spread his own individuality in aggressive and
selfish way over the widest dematn possible, 10
make everything tell 10 his own selfish aggrandize-
7nent, and write a broad I the face of the
universe. Rather is II his interest well his
glory serve many possible and In the largest
number Of ways possible. And 10 prepare him TO
do this the college should lay great stress on
Plato, who advises virtue a way of prudence and
development only, but the English classics as
guides IN an ethical sense and the cultivation of
the humanities.
Chancellor MacCracken, IN q late address, de-
clares that kind Of service that justihes the
existence Of a university is the work 1t and
ought 70 do IN mediation between the millionaire
and the moiler, between capital and labor and be
sides this, the training Of the people dstin-
guished from special training OF the student. The
work OF the Prospect Union, led by prominent
socioog1sts Harvard, is an instance OF this last
point. The wisdom Of the promotion Of atruistc
ideas has been proved by the lives and work of
scores Of college bred and professors in both
England and Americs-men whose stand
Tor all that is good in the social life and for every
thing that makes for social betterment
Selfish and egotistical monopoly by the powerful
is rapidly locking up the doors Of opportunity for
the great majority of mankind, only among
the manual workers but also among the brain
that even purely selfish considerations would still
lead the FAR sighted feel that some other social
order than that toward which iudustrialism drifts
rather than steers is highly desirable, while the
broader and less self-regardant outlook which
would take in all the interests Of fellow men,
would md many other arguments leading the
same conclusion.
Socialism has longer any arbitrary or artificial
panacea or utopia IN view. Socialism in Its largest
table crysJsI Iizaon human society on principles
OF equaiy ot rights OF social justice and universal
peleNoteflce. On thlS point would recommend
every citizen read Professor ElyS excellent book
on Socialism and Social Reform a clear out
!-ne OF the development Whlcn the above movement
has undergone and its gradual emancipation from
Its cruder earlier theories 10 this more natural and
reasonable conception of the outlook before
As thus stated. socialism offers the only reason
able conception Of future development that has yet
peen lTeseiteg 10 Ihe human MIND certainly lndI-
vidualisrn, college town bred, has conception
of the future 10 oppose to it
I have much say upon these most i'm
portant questions of education in college and out
but fear have already oyersLepped your limit as
Manhattan. June o. 1870