The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-11-15
PROFESSOR HOWERTH ON SOCIAL IDEALS
The Many Attempts Of the Past to Project a Social
Ideal Nationally.
WE CAN PROCEED WITH SAFETY ONLY STEP BY S
In Existing Society we Must Therefore Seek the Elements
Of an Ideal Future.

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the social intelligence.
"But social intelligence implies
social organization. Intelligence
always maniiests itself in economy.
The advancing intelligence Of society
must, therefore, manifest itself on
the industrial plan in the constantly |
increasing effort to eliminate waste. !
To every thoughtful person who looks
at modern industry from the social |
standpoint it must be obvious that to
whatever degree Of perfection indIyid-
ual enterprise has been brought, there
is an immense loss of wealth and
energy and human life accompanying
the production Of our national wealth.
Society must conscientiously aim at
getting rid Of this loss. This involves
the organization of labor and industry.
"This organization may be brought
about by one man, benevolent despot-
ism; by few leaders of industry,
capitalism; by the government, state
socialism; or, finally, by the people
themselves, democracy or Sociocracy
Against all these methods of social
organization, except the last, serious
objections may be offered, They all
involve the placing OF too much power
In the hands Of individuals who, how
ever benevolently they may be dis
posed, may not remain so under great
temptation. AS to organization by
the people, 1t is obvious that at pres
ent they lack the intelligence to act
coacertedly toward this end. Never
theless, ideally all affairs Of the people
must be conducted by themselves,
for it is only by concerted action
that the highest degree of economy
may be reached, and the discipline
obtained which is requisite to the
highest individual and social develop
ment. What is done for the people
without their initiative, is paternal-
ism; but what the people do for them
selves, consciously using some Of their
number as agents, is true democracy.
If, as Lincoln SAID, Government
should be Of the people, by the people
and for the people, and II as the
leaders OF modern art declare, 'arJ
should be Of the people, by the pc pie
and for the people, how can we
escape the conclusion that production
should be Of the people, by the people
and for the people.
"Social Intelligence and the social
Organization Of society's routine IN
dustry imply the operative spirit.
Without voluntary cooperation there
can never be an ideal social condition.
| Competition, therefore, in the narrow
aud popular sense, can have 20 place
In an ideal community. AS rivalry
for social benefits it is doomed. In
its higher form, namely, as emulation,
or rivalry in social service, it must
always continue, and 1t is desirable
that it should do so. We need to
learn, however, that the so-called law
Of competition is not, as many sup
pose, irrevocable as the law Of gravi-
tatiun. Indeed, ii is not a law at all,
but rather a method which nature
employs to secure action which alone
I is necessary To social evolution.
Nature, says Goethe, knows no pause
in progress aud development, and
attaches her curse on all Iuaction.
II therefore. the action of men can be
secured without the narrower form OF
competition, the social end is
attained. Observe that l do not say
that even in the ideal social society
competition or struggle will be abol-
ishea. | only maintain that the form
OF competitor which results IN strife,
can no longer exits. The model
state, SAYS Amiel 'ought to resemble
great musical society, 10 which
everyone submits to be organized,
suboIdlnated and disciplined for the
sake Of ars and for the sake Of pro
ducinR a masterpiece. Nobody i.
coelced, uobpdy Is made use Of fel
selfish purposes, nobody plays hypo
, critical Or selfish part. All bring Iheil