Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-11-14
Reply to q Humble Follower.

Reply to "a Humble Follower.
While ! have read your article in
reply to my inquiry with much Inter
est l fail to see any point made by
you, to my question. Will we drop
competition and adopt socialism as
the next step in evolution?
Since you left nothing for me to re-
ply to, will open up the subject by
showing what has been accomplished
during competition, a system under
which there is an opportunity to all,
to develop themselves intellectually,
morally and spiritually, to the best of
their attachments. The competitive
system is now less than two hundred
years old, but during the last hundred
years we can speak not bosstingly but
with honest and loyal pride of our day
and age that this century has accom-.
plishcd in upbuilding humanity more
than all the other eighteen since the
christian era commenced.
This development of human charac-
ter has been miraculous, a wonder
even at this age. sphere that our
century forefathers would have de-
clared impossible and beyond the pow
er Of human mind to conceive.
Under this competitive system isa
continual strife in each Individual to
do each days work better. You ace
the effects Of it In all of the arts,
trades, and sciences not only Ia our
own race but as fast IS christianity
and civilization reaches out, you see
the effects in all humanity,
Our forefathers plowed with a
crooked stick and generation after
generation plowed, If not with the
same crooked stick, another just like
1t. We pillow with steel pillow but de.
maud better one each following
year.
We saw in the Indian in his natural
state, lcthergy of mind, but no i'm.
provemant or development, while he
held everything in common, but az he
is now being gradually brought under
the competitive system you will no.
tice that dormant brain brighten. up
with intellect and force, that will
show its power in the world.
This competitive system has been
the opening of the mind power, a con,
tinual strife to do better, and has
made US our governors, representa-
tives, senators and even presidents,
and in the professional world doctors,
lawyers, ministers, editors and teach.
ers, and the thousands In the com.
mercial world who are now holding
valuable positions of honor and trust,
and last but not least our sturdy agri-
culturalists. All of these were only
few years ago tramping q mile or
more to some district or village school
to learn the first rudlments of an edu-
cation.
AS we look back at this we become
wonder stricken. This Is miracultu S,
and with this individual development
we see great moral growth.
| Dneling has been put aside and
legal settlement has taken its PLACE.
1 Slavery has been abolished. LiaHQr
has been bantshed from heAmerican
table and drunkards will soon be a
thing of the past, and the general
morals have improved as each indi-
vidual is brought to see his true po-
sttion In society. This has been
brought about largely II not entirely
by our churches aud assisted by our
educational system. We see not only
churches in the cities by the score,
and in every hamlet end village, but
at many cross roads throughout the
country, in these churches we see
members by the millions self sacrifice
ing, seeking only the moral and spirit.
| nal development OF all humanity.
| Not only in this country but teachers
and missionaries are being sent by the
thousands to every land and cline
that they may have the same inteleo.
tual, spiritual and moral teaching
that has made the individual member
of this great commonwealth the won
der of the age.
| All Of this has been accomplished
under this denounced competitive
system by the cranks Of to-day, it has
not only brought about these results,
but will go on and on for the better
ment of all humanity until the days
of the millennium.
This, the greatest development OF
humanity you wish to charge for
Some imaginary system, you call So
cialism, this competitive system we
know what it is, we know what it
has done and by that knowledge wa
know what 1t VIII do, e'
But still I am ready to listen to q
reasonable reply to my inquiry. Your
reasons for thinking that socialism
will Supercede competition.
Remain A SUBSCRIBER.