The Washington herald., 1906-10-14
A Pc SSIMIST
ON SOCIALISM
RY AMnRosE RIERCE.

BY AMBROSE BIERCE.
The strong trend of political thought
and action in all civilized countries to-
ward socialism is so conspicuous a phe-
nomenon that it not only impresses that
rare and execrated intelligence. the i'm
partial observer. "the iooker-on al the
game bur is seen with greater OF less
distinctness by the innumcrable company
Of players. A political faith is a Kind
Of mental disability; the patient can dim
~ discern some Of the more salient of
the opposing facts" while those CRATE
ful 20 his disorder loom large indeed
The proposition that the established or
der or things is IN some peril OF being
cast as rubbish TO the void" has. there
fore. both stammering and Il stentorian
assent and needs no proof Whether that
is for better or for worse Il not 10 be
answered IN an eDigram. nor in a para
graph, but from the viewpoint or the
loOker-On at the game with no more than
an observers interest in the matter lit
tie is seen TO encourage the optimist-
little even OF the little that he requires.
Down TO date the world never has had
good government For forms Of govern
ment fools have contested from the dawn
OF history. but no form has given good
and wise administration Government Is
like medicine; those who administer Il
are, as rule, wiser than those 20 whom
u IS administered, though not much. IT.
point Of conscience there f. little 20
choose between them, and politics Is
strife, not Of principles, but OF interests.
There are two forms Of real govern
ment; absolute monarchy and absolute
democracy; all others are bastard forms
attesting the failure of these. and them
selves doomed 10 fail The cause of fail
uTe Is not far 20 seek: Il lies I'm the
essential folly and badness Of human
Eatare. From stupid and selfish peo-
pie there IS no certainty Of getting
wise and conscientious sovereign Even
when that miracle has been wrought.
good government has not resulted. for
the sovereign. however absolute In theory.
however good and wise On fact. is COM
PEELED 70 work through shallow and self
ish officials. Absolute democracy suffers
The same disability. with the added dis
advantage OF sovereign that Is never
wise and never just
As 70 limited monarchies and coustitu-
tionaI demOcracies they are similarly
and equally futile Divided authority is
divided responsibility Restraint Of the
power TO do evil is restraint OF the power
% do good. Under the "0ue-man p0wer''
a name, by The way, that oar good fore
fathers siuguldrly chose 20 give 10 the
rule OF the British ministry and uarlia-
meup. IL Is at least known who is 10
blame for Sins Of administration. and 10
whom is due the credit for what is
creditable.
In All the various and vain experiments
90 government the one cause of failure
IS etern7liy manifest. The general moral
1ud intellectual delinquency that makes
government necessary-thc folly and de-
pravity Of human nature.
DO the socialists think that they can
alter that2-0T do they believe that after
OH these centuries Of thought and expert
mcnl in government in an possible cUrdi-
tons, It has remained for them 20 de-
wise system powerful to chain or per-
suasive 10 charm The hitherto iud0mitable
and vlgilant selnshness 10 which. despite
its CHASTITY peTVeTsions. the race owes its
continued existence DO they reflect That
under socialism, As under The system
l1af We have. the laws viii not execute
themselves without human agency. that
Quire "a vast and complex administration
with the same and greater temptations
and opportunities 90 ambition and cupid
iJy2
Under any conceivable system the
cleverest most enterprising. and least
scrupul0us men will be aJ the head of
affairs. and they viii not be there for
their health" You cannot keen them
down. and you cannot keep the others
up. II the socialist thinks that can be-
done. Doe must have ir hope "a better
kind ~ ballot than the kind thae works
him present woe, gr q bTdud-ucw iufdIli-
b.ity for its casting.
II today We cannot choose our public
servants intelIiEcujIy-canu elect men
who VIII give rs good government
making wise avs and enforcing them,
whence Is To- come "a clearer light to-
morrow From education? As 20 the
eiHc3cy 81 that ia discerument OF the
right and avoidance Of the wrong. per-
wtt ms to conclude with quotation.
What then. One way or tuo fool nrst vote
And either way with gentlemen OF note
Whose villain feuds The fact attest too usu
Ibat pedsg0sUcs nor vice nor error queu.
The h,rces- controversies ever 1aEe
Where Milton and Sllmasii Cugs-c.
No p.oicet vide attention ever drew
But it disIarJed an the learned crew.
As through their gr0uD tile ciCavrg lines prolonged
With fiery cJmbatauts each field is thronced
u battleruyal to engage az once
For guidance Of the bs>itating Ounce.
The Iitans on the heights contend full soon
on this side Webster and on that Calhoun
The moustrous coufasratiou Of their delt
Startling The dag and speudoring the might,
BolA aLe ulc-nalerahl.-aa- Ls neLL