Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-07-30
THE TREND TO SOCIALISM.

There can be no doubt that we
are moving more or less rapidly
toward socialism. The man of
sixty years of age who has been
. thoughtful observer cannot fail !
to discern that the movements of
society show a marked tread in
that direction. Sometimes it has
been scarcely perceptible, yet
there has been such a tendency.
There has been no radical recon-
struction of society, bat social
condilioss are widely different
from what they were fifty years
ago. Among these new condi-
tions we may easily distinguish
some which owe their existeuce
to the socialistic spirit.
Our increase of population, our
material development, our i'm
proved and enlarged means of
communication and transporta-
ton have all contributed to fuse
Our people into one mass and so
have made our common necessi-
ties and purposes mere apparent
and insistent.
The inclination of the people
to urban life and the consequent
phenomenal growth of our cities
render some phases Of socialism
necessary and bring others within
the range of possibility. In these
water, light, street. railways and
general sanitation become urgent
necessities to the whole populace.
It's found that the people in their
corporate capacity can supply
these more efficiently and cheaply
than private corporations so in
nearly all cities, with the excep-|
ton of street.railways, they are
regarded as public utilities to be
furnished by the municipality.
In a few cities street railways are
operated by the city government
and ID many there is a growing
purpose to place them Under pub.
lie control.
The socialistic purpose is to
make the national. state and mt
nicipal governments common
carriers and place the telegraph,
express and railways under gov
ernmental ownership and opera
tion. That socialism will ex-
tend so far in the near future is
not probable, yet we may expect
a farther growth and application
of socialistic theories. This is
altogether reasonable when we
contemplate the agencies which
are surely disseminating such
teachings.
In addition to these conditions
which we have already noted and
which our advance in civilization
must intensity, the teachings OF
Christianity are an ever present
and mighty force working in this
direction. 1t emphatically and
persistently proclaims the Father.
hood of God and the Brotherhood
of men. simultaneously a amulti-
tude of fraternal societies teach,
as by divine authority, this
beautiful truth. It is a popular
theme. Men, professed disciples
Of the Christ, who In their daily
and hourly life as individuals
deny this truth make haste to
testify to 1t in public assemblies.
Christianity is intensely socialis'
tic. 1t induces the bedy polite
to establish and conduct in whole,
or part educational, eleemosyn.
ary and reformatory institutions.
Through its influence a large
number Of our people would have
governmental ownership and con-
troll of everything which they
classify as public utility to
the end that all may more surely
share alike in the benefits of cur
material development, and that
there may be a more equitable
distribution Of the fruits of human
endeavor. Though this is taught
by Christianity it Is also the
teaching of socialism.
We are long ways from a
realization of socia1istic purposes
and dreams. We never shall
realize them this side of the
promised millennium, but grad
ually we shall come yet nearer to
it. There is little danger of a
mad rush or blind leap to it
for it must come if at all through
the perfection of law and order
and the spirit of brotherhood.
Communism and anarchism
may appeal to force and be
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