The Saint Paul globe., 1905-04-30
30
a FEW FALLACIES

We publish in another column a very
interesting statement of the academic
theory of socialism, in reply to some
articles recently appearing editorially
In The Globe e. 1t is a pleasure to
give place to this letter, because it re-
veals so clearly the philanthropic ideas
OF those who have been taken captive
by the socialistic notion, and discloses
their utter practical weakness.
The idea which the writer entertains
Of society is a beautiful one As we
have already said, the socialistic
scheme, being applicable successfully
only in an ideal community among per-
feet men and women, is bound to ap-
peal to the imagination strongly. Our
point is that it does not appeal with
equal force to practical common sense;
and that, as men and women are today,
1t is not practical working hypothesis.
Mr.. Borky makes some statements
that must be unconditionally chal-
lenged. He says that competition for
living is unnatural. Neither nature
nor its Creator intended one creature
should need 10 ask another creature
for chance to make a living" Now
nothing is clearer in the history of life
on this planet than the fact that one
life climbs upon the wreck of another
to its development. Animal preys upon
animal, and the stronger upon the
weaker. We are not speaking of this
as having any relation 10 the moral
law. We mention it as a fact in the
process of development Man elevated
and ennobled is working away from
this crude and inhuman system; but
nevertheless 1t is the system according
to which nature worked out her eIe-
mentary plan. We may get away from
the competitive struggle after a while
by some development, but if so we
cannot appeal to the natural order, but
to the development of moral and eth
ical impulses in man.
Mr.. Borky admits the whole point
raised by T h e G | OBJ when he speaks
of his ideal as ability and labor con-
secrated to the public, scientifically
directed by government of industrial
experts" There's the rub. How is he
going to pick out his industrial ex-
perts, and then how is he going to get a
government composed of them? Are
the men in public place today always
the fittest? Do we find the experts in
all lines of work chosen to public office
having such work in their charge? Is
1t not rather common that the unfit
find the place? Under the socialistic
scheme, as at present, men must work
out their own salvation; and the best
government that can be hoped for is
one representing not the highest type,
but the average intelligence of the
whole body Of the people. There is not
the slightest promise of securing a
government by industrial experts any,
where in the whole socialistic plan.
Finally, the socialist seems to us at
utter variance with all experience and
all human nature when he points TO "a
secure future" as the most delectable
gift to be conferred upon mankind. On
the contrary, we find in insecurity the
great incentive to struggle. the great
motive power of progress. Who are
they who do things? Are they not men
who rose from poverty and were stim-
ulated to effort by the need of labor?
Where do we find the least admirable
class of human. beings on the face of
the earth today? Is it not among those
whose future is secure from birth? Go
into any Of the centers OF wealth, look
at the younger people of the leisure
class and see what is their standard Of
conduct as a whole, and what their
highest ambition.
The truth is that it requires human
effort of the highest order to withstand