The Greeley tribune., 1906-09-13

rother than coheie'S
- tor as extreme individualism 10
ha ,ornd under any form OF
%. .0ment so there is no example OK
EO, ,a,,sm in full operation. All govern
s0e'I' n,,rr more or less socialistic, tho
iie', ,,otion so far as this subject ID
eoD', 1n,d is between those who re-
c0lI,' ,nJIyidualism as ideal. to be ap-
ga'u haJ as nearly as circumstances
p.UI ,n hermit, and those who regard q
w" Whistle state as ideal, to be estap-
, ",haI ne far and as fast as puohc
oolpion will allow
0p rsa ,rdtyIduallst believes that COM
,.,,ion M is not only helpful. but q
pa,sorv force in society, to be guard
,and nrotected; the socialist regards
no,itIou eu AS hurtful force, to be
.0 ,0.IrsIy exterminated. 1t Is not neces-
.ary 10 consider those who consciously
.sta M either side for reasons purely self
,.h. II is sufficient to know that on
s.,h Sidss there are those who with
..a.t earnestness and sincerity present
,har theories, convinced of their cor
.aotusss and sure Of the necessity for
.h.r anplcatiou to human society.
,s socialism is yhe newer doctrine,
tho socialist is often greeted with
entbet and denunciation rather than
with argument, but, as usual, it does not
deter him. Martyrdom never kills a
csuse. as all history. political as well
as religious, demonstrates.
Moral Passion Pervades Socialism.
M one can read socialistic literature
without recognizing the moral pas
sion" that pervades it. The Ruskin
club Of Oakland. Cal, quotes with ap-
proyal an editorial comment which as
serts that the sociallstic creed inspires
religious zeal and makes its follow
er enthusiasts in its propagation. 1t
also quotes Professor Nitto of the
University of Naples as asserting that
-the morality that socialism teaches is
ty far superior to that Of its adver-
ssres;" and it quotes Thomas Kirkup
as declaring in the Encyclopaed edia
Britannica that 1.-The ethics of socialism
are Identical with those of Christian
ig"
1t will be seen, therefore. that the So
callsts not only claim superiority In
ethics. but attempt to appropriate
Christ's teachings rs 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 a faith n
can doubt that that which Is ethically
best will finally prevail in every depart
ment of human activity.
Best Means Of Deveiopment.
Assuming that the highest aim Of
society is the harmonious development
oil the human race, physically. mentally
and morally, the first question to de-
eide is whether indlvldualism or social
Ism furnishes the best means OF secur-
lug that harmonious development. For
me purpose Of this discussion, indl-
'ianallsm will be defined as the private
ownership of the means OF production
anu distribution where competition Is
poSsoe, leaving to public ownership
,nose means of production and distri-
oa'loh In which competition Is prac-
ucaliy impossible, and socialism will
" defined as the collective ownership
through the state Of all the means OF
p'0auc'ion and distribution.
ohe advocate of socialism defines It
common ownership of natural re-
'0utces and public utilities and the
V"''i'oh operation Of all Industries for
he puphc good" 1t will be seen that
e uchhitlons of socialism commonly
~ use include some things which can
a" aD' 'aifly be described as socialistic,
,oaa na some of the definitions Qike the
hr s' .' o''e' Tor instance) beg the question
~ assuming that the public operation
". "'i industries will necessarily be for
a a"c general good. AS the socialists
cea, csaee IN hostility to competition as a
.on'follins force, and as indiyidualists
,ha 'nat competition Is necessary for
nv, NM wen being Of society, the fairest
twa a most accurate line between the
wb,s vi" SCHOOLS can be drawn at the point
hIa :, ~ competition begins to be posi-.
ersh,. m oo'h schools favoring public own.
blo ~ y where competition is impossi.
nmh,, @ ou' differing as to the wisdom Of
con why " ownership where competition
vi" have free play.
Common Ground.
socio,in,,' @urn Of the strength developed by
iUt''llsm js,. is due to the fact that social.
ind,,.' nT advocate certain reforms which
iiluIr,v,dualists ilIn0,.'a also advocate. Take. for
wator" wra''oh' the public ownership Of
citss ss majority nj of the people living in n
ts,r Secnnlpu public Ila Isas
have mol 1t Is practically impossible to
city, 'n"Fe more than one watcr system in a
Sromd "u u, socialists on the general
fIpN