Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1901-01-25
SELFISHNESS MUST GO
OR CIVILIZATION WILL BE
CRUSHED FROM EARTH.
The Battle Between Socialism and In
dividualism-Radlcal on Both Sides
Are WronG-There Is Golden Mean
Public Ownership and Private Rights.

Public Ownership and Private Rights.
The root of the present day politi-
cal and social evils is selfishness
Greed, lust, hatred, murder, injustice,
pride and all uncharitabeness are its
children. Our industrial system is
founded upon it and our political sys-
tenn has 1t for cornerstone, writes
James A. Edgerton, secretary of the
Populist National Committee in the
George Weekly.
Selfishness is not all bad. 1t is an
instinct given the individual to in
sure his self-protection and to stimu-
late him to better his condition. But
in our age it has become abnormally
developed.
The only way to make for real pro-
gress and genuine reform is to strike
at this root-evil. We must cease our
cannabalism in business. We must
come more truly to recognize the
brotherhood Of man.
Christ struck the keynote to the
new civilization when he gave the
commandment, Love thy neighbor as
myself" We must let the spirit OF
that commandment enter into our So
cial, political and industrial life.
The radical socialist and the radical
individualist wage incessant warfare;
and both are wrong. The truth lies be-
tween them.
Government Ownership.
The individualist is wrong in that
he does not recognize that society is
an organism; and that unto 1t belong
those functions which are public in
the nature. He fails to see that those
things which are used by all in COM
mon should be operated by society for
the common interest and common
veal.
On the other hand the radical social
list makes a mistake in carrying this
principle too far. He wants all things
owned by the public, failing to recog-
nize that many things are purely pri-
vate in their character. A mans home
and all things pertaining thereto are
essentially private. Each man has an
tnalienable right to that which he pro-
duces by his own labor.
There is a clear line of demarkation
between that which pertains to the
community and that which pertains to
the Individual; and the rights of the
former are as sacred as the rights OF
the latter. The two are interdepen-
dent. The radical socialist fails to
recognize the very basic principle of
human nature, and that is individual
freedom. Although the misapplica-
ton of the principle has brought so
much injustice and unhappness into
the world it yet remains true that the
individual self-reliance of this age is
the browning glory Of our civilization.
The Golden Mean.
There is always golden mean.
There is always a practical, common
sense way of dealing with all ques-
lions. Extremes are never true. Men
often see only one phase of the truth
and mistake it for the whole truth.
The coming civilization will be
blending of the principles of socialism
and enlightened individualism. 1t will
recognize the brotherhood OF man
and the freedom Of each unit Of that
brotherhood. In it the public will own
and operate those things which are
public; but in no way will it trench
on the rights of the individual. There
will be neither a community of prop
erty nor a community Of wages. There
will simply be communal operation
of those utilities which are used by all
alike Each man will have right to
that which he produces or its exact
equivalent. Individual liberty will be
increased, rather than abridged; and
the private home and the family will
still remain the cornerstone of the So
cial structure.
Extremists Never Win.
This is the new and practical system
which the present thought is formulat-
ing. 1t is not socialism as that term
is usually understood. Neither is it
individualism. 1t is an lntermlngllng
of the two. 1t is not an ultimate con-
dition. There is no such thing. 1t is
a condition which meets the demands
of this age.
Sooner or later the radicals of both
schools of thought will be forced to
come to this neutral ground. 1t is the
logical and inevitable course. You
cannot overturn the world in a minute.
You must go by natural stages. The
next step in social progress will be in
the direction of Capitalization and CO.
operation; and this will lead in the end
to the public ownership of public utili-
ties.-J. A. e.