The Penn's Grove record., 1906-09-28

Tor, as extreme ID
not to be found under any form of
government, so there is no example Of
socialism in full operation. All govern
ment being more or less socialistic, the
contention, so far as this subject Is
concerned, is between those who re-
gard individualism as ideal, to be ap-
preached as nearly as circumstances
will permit, and those who regard a
socialistic state as ideal, to be estab-
lIshed as far and as fast as public
opinion will allow.
The individualist believes that COM
petition is not only a helpful. but q
necessary, force in society, to be guard
ed and protected; the socialist regards
competition as a hurtful force, to be
entirely exterminated. 1t is not neces-
sary to consider those who consciously
take either side for reasons purely self
ish; it is sufficient to know b on
both sides there are those who with
great earnestness and sincerity present
their theories, convinced of their cor
rectness and sure of the necessity for
their application to human society.
AS socialism is the eve doctrine,
the socialist is often greeted with
epithet and de%nunciation rather thai
with argument, but, as usual, it does not
deter him. Martyrdom never kills a
cause, as all history, political as well
as religious, demonstrates.
Moral Passion Pervades Socialism.
. No one a read ~socialistic literature
without recognizing the moral pas
sion" that pervades it. The Ruskin
club of Oakland, Cal, quotes with ap-
prevail an editorial comment which as
serts that the socialistic creed inspires
q religious zeal and makes it's follow
ers enthusiasts in its propagation. 1t
also quotes Professor Nitto OF the
University of Naples as asserting that
"the morality that socialism teaches is
by far superior to that Of its adver-
saries;'' and it quotes Thomas Kirkup
as declaring in the Encyclopaedia
Britannica that 'the ethics of socialism
are Identical with those Of Christian
ity."
1t will be seen, therefore, that the So
cialists not only claim superiority in
ethics, but attempt to appropriate
Christ's teachings as a foundation for
their creed. AS the maintenance Of
either position would insure them ulti-
mate victory, it is clear that the first
battle between the individualist and
the socialist must be in the field of
ethics. No one who has faith in the
triumph of the right (and who can con-
tend with vigor without such a faith0
car doubt that that which is officially
best will finally prevail in every depart.
ment of human activity.
Best Means of Development.
Assuming that the highest aim Of
society is the harmonious development
Of the human race, physically, mentally
and morally, the first question to de-
eide is whether individualisn or social
ism furnishes the best means of secur-
ing that harmonious development. For
t1O Jul VI lAio oloSuSolOAS A4ol-
vidualism will be defined as the private
ownership of the means of production
and distribution where competition is
possible, leaving to public ownership
those ear of production and distri-
button in which competition is prac-
tically impossible, and socialism will
be defined as the collective ownership
through the state Of all the means of
production and distribution.
One advocate of socialism defines it
as common ownership of natural re-
sources and public utilities and the
common operation of all industries for
the public good" 1t will be seer that
the definitions Of socialism commonly
in use include some things which can-
not fairly be described as socialistic,
and some of the definitions Qike the
last one, for instance) beg the question
by assuming that the public operation
of all industries will necessarily be for
the general good. AS the socialists
agree in hostility to competition as a
controlling force, and as individualists
agree that competition is necessary for
the well being of society, the fairest
and most accurate line between the
two schools can be drawn at the point
where competition begins to be posi-
BILE, both schools ~favOring public own
ership where competition is impossi-
BILE, but differing as to the wisdom Of
public ownership where competition
can have free play.
Common Ground.
Much of the strength developed by
socialism is due to the fact that social
lists advocate certain reforms which
individualists also advocate. Take, for
illustration, the public ownership of
waterworks. 1t is safe to say that a
large majority of the people living in
cities of any considerable size favor
their public Observation-Disclosures
because it is practically impossible to
have more than one water system in q
city, and socialists on the general
ground that the government should
W all the means of production and
distribution. The sentiment in favor
of municipal lighting plants is not yet
SO strong, and the sentiment in favor
of public telephones and public street
car lines is still less pronounced, but
the same general principles apply to
them, and individualists, without &C.
cepting the creed of socialism, can ad.
vocate the extension of municipal
ownership to these utilities.
Then, too, some of the strength of
socialism is due to its condemnation of
abuses which, while existing under In.
dividualism. are not at all necessary
to Observation-Disclosures which the in.
dividualists are as anxious as the So
cialists to remedy. 1t Is not only con-
sistent with individualism, but Is a
necessary implication of it. that the
competing parties should be placed
upon substantially equal footing; for
competition Is not worthy of that
If one party Is able arbitrarily
to fix the terms of the agreement, leav-
ing the other with no choice but to SUBJ
NIT to the terms prescribed. Individu-
aliStS, for instance. can consistently