The Washington times., 1905-04-06
The Next Advance.

Thinking men will do we'll to read
the Social Forecast" written by the
venerable DR.. John Bascom. The
character of it's author, the remark
able erudition behind it, and the
extraordinary conclusions to which
it leads, make it one Of the most i'm
portant paperA which have appeared
in the magazines for many, many
months 1t is contained in the cur
rent number of The Independent.
DR.. Bascom is no Bryanite He is,
instead, one of the brightest lights
in the history of American economic
study. Twenty books such as The
Philosophy of Religions" Evolution
and Religion" THE Growth of Ma
tionality in the United States,' and
a standard Political Economy tes-
tify as well as seventy-eight years
of fine citizenship to his superiority
above demagoguery, his extended
knowledge of history, and his intelli-
gent honesty.
Yet now, in the twilight of his life,
speaking with the caution of the
scientist and the independence of
the scholar, he testifies to firm
grounded views which are separated
from socialism only by the modera-
ton and calm with which they are
outlined. Note this appraisement:
In the generation just passing forms OF
social activity have shown themselves
and social states have arisen, which
cannot but greatly alter the next thirty
the member of a free state, on equal
terms with his fellow-citizens. This
would be true under any circumstances.
but is still more true when this wealth
has been acquired in abuse and in def
anee of economic and civil law This ad-
ditional fact shows that the tyrannical
temper is present. which. opportunity
favoring, viii disregard all rights in be-
half OF personal power. We can but pre-
dict that the next generation is threaten
ed with still greatert perversion of the
conditions which belong to a free and
democratic community.
The wealth of which he speaks has
been accumulated, in his Judgment,
at the expense OF equality injeconomic
opportunity. Shorn of its technical
lty of phrase, the Forecast" argues
aatly that great combinations of cap
ital operate under advantages which
practically ride down every sort of
opposition. They have, he says, al
ready destroyed political equilib-
rum" Social equality cannot hold
it's ground while this abuse of privi-
lege prevails in production and poll
tics" That separation in society be-
tween wealth and Indulgence, those
afioat and those submerged is more
than threatening, "a separation
which is itself decay of society
which is increased by its own action
and which so far civilization has
never escaped" Even education and
the church are being affected by ae-
cumulated wealth. I'VE have instant
occasion for that eternal vigilance
which is not only the price but the
luuSliOu u liberty.
IL read in their proper places In
the chain of DR.. Bascoms argument
these contentious strike the mind
hard. Yet it is more interesting to
note that there is in this expert view
fair prospect of remedy Not much
help will come through either polit-
ical party as it is now organized:
The Republican party is fast becom-
ing the bondman of plutocracy. Its
motto is to stand pat" careless OF dis
cussion or ,vindication: 1t has so long
prospered by concession that inquiry
and resistance are foreign to 1t. The
temper of President Roosevelt alien tc
this attitude, may make slight assures
and chip off thin flakes The Democratic
party has broken midway, one extreme.
~ plutocratic, the other democratic
But there is yet much hammerine
here and there" This is the phrase
used to indicate the restless search
for a remedy being made by The
masses. "The moment a workable
seam shall appear many wedges arr
ready to be driven home The situa
ton is bad, but there is hope to bet
ter it. And then comes this declara
ton, the actual forecast, based upor
this study of our present condition:
Our forecast is that one or those sud.
den changes, which are sure to arise il
times OF wide pressure, will combine
these forces of resistance. and with
them sweep the field for another deal ir
human rights and one more approach
toward the Kingdom of Heaven.