The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1906-09-15

confined to the theory, aud theory
needs to be corrected by experience.
As In mathematics no one can calcu-
late the direction of the resultant with
out a knowledge Of all the forces that
act upon the moving body. SO in esti-
mating the effect Of a proposed sys-
tenn one must take into consideration
all the influences that operate upon
the human mind and heart, and who
is wise enough to Predict with certain
ty the result Of any system before it
has been thoroughly tried? Indlvidu-
alism has been tested by centuries of
experience. Under 1t there have been
progress and development. That it
has not been free from evil Is not
sufficient condemnation. The same
rain that furnishes the necessary inois-
ture for the growing crop sometimes
foods the land and destroys the har-
vest; the same sun that coaxes the
tiny shoot from Mother Earth some
times scorches the blade and blasts
the maturing stalk The good things
given us by our heavenly Father often.
IL not always. hare an admixture Of
evil, to the lessening of which the In
telligence of man must be constantly
directed. Just now there are signs OF
an ethical awakening which Is likely
to result In reforming some of the evils
which have sprung from individualism.
but which can be corrected without
any impairment Of the principle.
Altruism Necessary,
The Individuals. while contending
that the largest and broadcast develop
ment Of the Individual, and hence Of
the entire population. is best secured
by full and free competition, made fair
by law, believes in a spiritual force
which acts beyond the sphere of the
state. After the government has Sc
cured to the individual, through COM
petition. reward proportionate to his
effort. religion admonishes him of his
stewardship and Of his obligation to
use his greater strength. his larger
ability and his richer reward in the
spirit Of brotherhood. Under Individ-
ualism we have seen a constant In
crease tn altruism. The fact that the
individual can select the objects Of his
benevolence and devote his means to
the causes that appeal to him has Civ
en- an added stimulus to his endcavors.
Would this stimulus be as great under
socialism?
Probably the nearest approach that
We have to the socialistic state today
IL to be found In the civil service. II
the civil service develops more useful
ness and more altruistie devotion to
the general welfare than private en-
ployment does, the fact is set to, be
discovered. Thb is not offered as a
criticism Of .ciytl service IN so far as
civil service may require examination
to ascertain fitness for Office. but It il
simply reference to well known
fact-viz, that life position in the
government service, which separates
one from the lot of the average produ-
Ger of wealth, has given no cxtraordi-
nary stimulus to higher development.
1t is not necessary to excuse or to
defend q competition carried to point
where It creates n submerged fifth. or
even a submerged tenth. to recognize
the beneficial effect Of struggle and
discipline upon the men and women
who have earned the highest places in
industry, society and government.
A Friendly Rivalry.
There should be no unfriendIiness be-
tween the honest individualist and the
honest socialist; both seek that which
they believe to be best for society. The
socialist, by pointing out the abuses Of
individualism, will assist in their cor
rection. At present private monopoly
Is putting upon individualism an M
deserved odium, and II behooves the
individualist to address himself ener-
geticalfy to this problem in order that
the advantages Of competition may be
restored to industry. And the duty Of
immediate action Is made more impcr-
alive by the fact that the socialist is
inclined to support the monopoly. in
the belief that 1t will be easier to in
duce the government to take over an
industry after 1t has passed into the
hands Of a few men. The trust mag
mates and the socialists unite In ce-
-claring monopoly to be an economic
development, the former hoping to re-
tain the fruits of monopoly in private
hands, the latter expecting the ulti-
mate appropriation OF the benefits Of
monopoly by the government. The in
dividualist, on the contrary, contends
that the consolidation of industries
ceases to be an economic advantage
when competition is eliminated. and
he believes further Tat no economic
advantage which could come from the
monopolization of all the industries in
the hands Of the government could
compensate for the stifilng of lndivid-
ual initiative and independence. And
the individualists who thus believe
stand for morality and for a system
Of ethics which they are willing to
measure against the ethics and moral.
fly Of socialism.
Clubs ana Tippine.
In clubs the best service is obtained