Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-06-29
3OWDOlN COLLEGE,
Ntinued from Page One.)

full gym fish. The stress of competi-
ton human life is by no means Sc
severCet, under the same law, more
humabeings are born than can live.
Somenust go. Those that are the
weak ana least fit. physically and
menty, tend naturally to perish.
| l IS talking with young fellow
on ustrct one day who had been I'M
able retain any position of work be-
causof epiletic fits, who there. and
righn the midst of my conversation
witthe poor fellow was again strick-
en- Wn with epilepsy. We do all we
caro- make the life of such an indiyid-
uapefnfortable and happy, ami vet we
| artlalf persuaded that nature is right
| milking away such individuals, an
prenting them from producing more
| upftunates like themselves.
hose, on the other hand. that are
sCnSest and fittest survive and re-
pauce. III; this way the better types
q Individuals are preserved and the on
,srd march of the human race is made
,osible.
Iith.s law OF selection Socialism COM
bat a dilemma. Under the Socialist
regime, either the customary average
of ,irths must be restricted or else go
onas at present, unrestricted Ii re-
stl,ted, and the process of selecting
GU the most fit prevented, progressive
deeneration and final death of any
sua society must necessarily follow. If
onlhe other hand the births are not re-
sttted, and the law of natural selec-
tia are allowed to continue, we have
tn struggle for existence again. We
an back at our starting point and the
ans of the whole scheme are defeated
Ssmuch, then, for the attempt of so
ciism to wipe out the struggle fer
estence.
socialism, in the second place, aims
t do away with the social struggle.
Sppose for the moment, though hard
timagfne, all competition taken away
all individual incentive and initiative
pne. What would happen to our in
dstry-Our commerce? Where would
te so for our inventions, and discover
IS, and improvements? What would
jecome of our entire progress? Little
tffort could be expected of Il people
VINO possess no individual stimulus
L.
ioin College what she is today, in her
her courses of instructions,
Ter modern methods, her general char
,cter--what is it but the activity to
Keep abreast with the finest institutions
# the cOuntry-tO offer to her sons the
most and the best. Activity is so much
, part of US that, though hardly aware
without it. 1t is like Il human heart.
Not one of US is often conscious of the
constant beating o: his heart. vet as
long as his life lasts, that heart must
ever be on duty. 1t would be rather
difficult to exist without it. Just so is
activity indispensable to social life.
But we do not propose doing away
with activity, the Socialist says. We
are merely going to supplant individ-
ual incentive by Il broader and nobler
incentive-activity not so much for self
or family, or college or country, but
activity for the whole world-foreign-
ers, criminals, trampS or stranger
equal activity for all human brothers.
But is it reasonable to suppose that
the human beings, even the best OF
much for foreigners, criminals and
tramps they have never even seen,
as they will for their own beloved fam
jly and friends? The Socialist en-
braces the London tramp, and Gener-
ously empties his pockets to him, while
his wife and children remain at home
starving. The Socialist puts on the
roof of the building before he even
starts the first story. Instead of start
ing with the activity for self. and fam
lily and friends, and community as a
and on this cornerstone en-
deavoring to build broader ana wld-
err incentive to human activity, Social
ism says: Get away from your family,
leave your community, get into the
world and help your brothers. In 9TH
er words, do not start your DulidlhS
from the foundation. but go up In q
balloon and start at the 10th story to
build down toward the ground.
Individual activity and struggle-the
sociaI struggle. we all see it
even though we might wish
TO rid ourselves of it. is WIN
us to stay. AS long as the BODY
lives. it must have its beating heart
To he sure we can add to this founda-
tion. we can build upon and out or our
life for family, community and country
a love for other families. other com
munities. other countries-we can 90
this. we ought to do this, and we are
doing il more and more every day
but lust as sure rs we knock out me
OF our activity ana struS-
gle. the upper stories are bound 10 IAN
Socialism, then. in hoping TO 90 away
with the existence of struggle IN III,
is oyerthrown by the great bioiogioal
law of progress through natural Sc
lection. In aiming to do away WIN 1he
sociaI struggle in life, Socialism must
AGAIN go down. this time before
great physiological law-the law OF IN.
nrogress of the human race throus'
their freedom for competition.
Not the suspension of compet't'on
brt rather it's fuller development Is
,,.h.t we want. it's even freer play OIL
FORCE so that every young man start
ine, ont into life, whether rich or poor
.trong or weak. black or white. may
have equal advantage for the develop
mont of his individual personality ant
,aturaI ability. Not the perfect equal
NV nj all alluring though this souhus
~. rather the sentiment of the motto
~ Jcfo nH-fIir DlaN