The Cairo bulletin., 1906-06-09
THE PATERNALIsTIC DRIFT.

In the course of long editorial re-
viewing the work Of congress at its,
present session, Henry Watterson, In
the Louisville Courier-Journal, says
much that Is pertinent to the present
political situation, but more especially
IN criticism of the drift of congress
and OF public sentiment as well. He
particularly concerned about the
drifting away from the sacred doc
trine OF states rights. However some
OF the strongest passages In the edi.
torlal touch on one OF the newest
movements intended to correct the
evils Of society and of government as |
well. He says:
What does this paternalistic drift |
signify? What does 1t prophesy? The |
triumph of Socialism? Hardly. Sol
cialism Is dream, vagary, theory. |
1t can never triumph. 1t is not prac. /
tical enough to triumph. Were it Civ |
en- trial 1t could not last five min !
utes, for its maintenance would re.
quire universal honesty. Every man /
would have to hold in respect the /
rights OF every neighbor. Man Is not
built that way. In numerous cases
ne Is dishonest, and the dishonest man
would like no better pickings than
those offered by the system of Social
ism. Even now, some of those advo-
eating Socialism are knaves and
rogues. On the other hand to be Just,
many of them are honest men who
have allowed their yearnings for hon
esty and fair play in the conduct of
public Offices and commercial enter.
.prises to lead them TO stray into a cult
which cannot establish such honesty
and fair play on earth unless it can
revolutionize human nature-which IL
cannot do.
Far from indicating the triumph of
Socialism, which is a governmental
system, the manifestations in the pres
ent congress are calculated 10 develop
stricter civic and commercial moral
ity which viii take much wind out of
Socialsn's sails. The abuse. of cor
porat.ons and others had much to do
with the present wave of Socialism.
so-called. Socialism feeds on discomfort
with the relations between wealth and
poverty. with corporate IawIessenss,
injustice and favoritism. II all men
were just and honest all corporations
would be likewise. because they are
organizations of men, and IL all cor.
porations were homes, and just there
would not be enough discomfort to
affect public policies to any great ex.
tent. Now, law, under the present Re.
publican form of government, can en-.
force fair dealing and square dealing
in way Socialism could never dc.
The paternalistic spirit In the con
gress Is but the expression Of a de.
mand for the enforc of morality
by means Of law. When all interests
are thus forced to be moral-although 7
no system of government can be de-
vised that will insure complete and :
unanimous honesty and morality. for
thieves and grafters are unavoidable
the men who have gone over to an r
ism as protest against the tyranny J
and corruption of plutocrocy will have !
little motive to stick 10 the ism. while c
much of the discomfort which has in
duced others to take mp similar va. I
carries will be allayed. a
The desire for strbcter adherence
10 law and higher moral tone in bust. {
hess life l. praiseworthy. A good mo (
i've undoubtedly is al the bottom of =
tome Of the clamor for paternaiistic
measures. Thus far. thus good. But
whatever may be Of the praissworthi-
less Of the desire and however lofty v
nay be the impulse. II is matter Of Z
'egret thar the states themselves are {
lot left to cure their own defects. ana c
hat, having authority. they DO rot DO h