Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-09-11

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
lsh; 1t Is sufficient to know that OIL
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 newer doctrine,
the socialist is often greeted with
epithet and denunciation rather than
with argument, but, as usual, it does not
deter him. Martyrdom never kills
cause, as all history, political as well
a. religious, demonstrates.
Moral Passion Pervades Socialism.
No one can read socialistic literature
without recognizing the "moral pas
sion" that pervades 1t. The Ruskin
club Of Oakland, CAL, quotes with ap-
proval an editorial comment which as
serts that the socialistic creed inspires
a religious zeal and makes its follow
srs enthusiasts in its propagation. 1t
also quotes Professor Nitto of the
University of Naples as asserting that
1.-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
iV."
1t will be seen, therefore. that the So
cialists not only claim superiority in
ethics, but attempt to appropriate
Christ's teachings as foundation for
their creed. AS the maintenance Of
either position would insure them ulti-
mate victory, 1t 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 faithO
can doubt that that which IL ethically
best will finally prevail In every depart-
ment Of human activity.
Best Means Of Development.
Assuming that the highest aim Of
seoiety is the harmonious development
Of the human race, physically, mentally
and morally, the flrst question to de-
side is whether individuaiism or social
asm furnishes the best means Of secur-
ing that HARMONIOUS development. For
The purpose Of this discussion, indi-
v,daalism will be defined as the private
ownership of the means Of production
and distribution where competition is
possible, leaving to public ownership
those means Of production and distri=
button In which competition Is prac-
hcally impossible, and socialism will
DO defined as the collective ownership
through the state Of all the means of
production and distribution.
One advocate Of socialism defines 1t
~ Common ownership Of natural re-
SOURCES and public utilities and the
common operation Of all industries for
tho public good" It viii be seen 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
controlling force. and as sRdividualists
agree that competition is necessary for
the well being Of society. the fairest
and most accurate line between the
two schools can be drawn Mt the point
where competi1.an begins to be posi-
BILE, both schools faveslag public own
srship where competition is impossi,
bio. but differing as to the wisdem 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
tndiyidualists 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 ownership-individu
because it is practically impossible to
have more than one wafer system in a
city, and socialists on the general
ground that the government should
own all the means of production and
distribution. The sentiment in favor
OF municipal lighting plants is not YET
30 strong. and the sentiment in favor
Of public telephones and public street
car lines is still less pronounced, bu-
the same general principles apply IL
them, and individualists, without &C
ceptag the creed Of socialism. can ad
vocate the extension Of municipal
ownership to these utilities.
Then, too, some Of the strength of
socialism IL due to its condemnation OF
abuses which, while existing under In
diy!duallsm, are not at AL necessary
to NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. which the Up.
dividualists are ns anxious as the So
cialists to remedy. 1t is not only con-
sistent with individualiswk 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
name IL one party Is able arbitrarily
to fix the terms of the agreement, ieaT-
M fha Qther with no choice bvt to sub