The independent., 1903-12-03
A PERVERTED EGoIsM

"egoistic" as opposed to an "altru-
istic" theory, which, being translated
into the vernacular means that social
lists believe every man with the rar-
est exceptions) acts in harmony with
what he believes to be his own sell
interest, rather than through any love
or consideration for his fellow men.
In fact, they contend that he is COM
PEELED to do this; that in any conflict
between his material interests and his
ideals. the average man will respond
to his material interests.
OF course, with such theory, there
must be some explanation of this
phenomenon: Millions Of men, wo-
men and children toiling many hours
each day for the barest necessities OF
life--som of them starving-WhIle
some few thousands live without work
surrounded by wealth In lavish pro-
fusion. The socialists are called upon
to explain why these millions giye.up
the wealth they produce and starge
and deny themselves and permit the
non producing thousands to live life
OF idleness and luxury. Their an
sWer is that these thousands dominate
the government and that they per
vert the egoism" Of the millions;
which is another way of saying that
the idle thousands by some hocus poe
us cause the toiling millions to believe
that their lot is inevitable, the result
Of natural causes, over which man
has no control, or else is the direct
fault OF the toiler and starver himself
--he being addicted to drink, or the
tobacco habit, or is lazy and shiftless,
etc.
1t is needless to add that however
much there may be In socialism that
Is either absolutely Objectionable or VI
sionary, there Is an element of truth
In this perverted egoism" explana-
ton. For example, the socialists
point out that the controlling factor
today in perverting mems egoism is
public opinion" that this is now
more powerful than any other force;
that men respect and obey public
opinion" but pay little attention tt
future rewards and punishments t6
accrue to them in the world to come
In other words, their fear Of public
ostracism and their love for public
plaudits Is more intense than theiI
hopes of heaven or their feals of hell
and this fact is amply sustained by
the testimony of the clergy itself, es
pecialIy when it speaks frankly Of tn,
decadence of church-going amcng thu
wage-working masses.
Now, this public opinion" is manu-
factured by officers of government
educators, editors, lawyers, doctors
and the preachers themselves-all o
which, with few exceptions, look Il
the wealthy thousands for their sup
port. Being manufactured by the ben
efieiaries of wealth holders. 1t is nat
ural that public opinion" should b.
made to favor those who pay for il
Hence. with rare exceptions, we fin,
these moulders OF public opinion
preaching the gospel of content. lie
well enough alone,' keep on letting
we'll enough alone" and ''for God
sake keep on letting we'll enoug
alone" AS their own bread and but
ter depends upon making the propc
brand of public opinion" thei
"egoism" requires them to speak an
write many things which their cor
sciences revolt at.
Hence. we can understand the res
sons why preacher OF the gospel {
brotherly love taught by Jesus Chris
will roll over his tongue the daint
morsels or benevolent assimilation
sdestiny" tho will of C,0d A" ete