The Washington times., 1907-06-16
AHruism Manktnds Salvation
BY MAX NORDAU.

a fragment. a collective organism
Of which you form one cell You
live in and with the grand life Of hui
nsanitv as a whole. its vital energies
produce you, and maintain you until
you die. It's elevation carries you up
ward with Il. its sstisfaetions are your
pleasures"
This tickles mans vanity much less
than when a medicine man says 70
him You are the special favorite Of
an almighty ruler OF the universe
called Cod. you have the highest placs
Of al in the universe. and you can get
stul further privileges II YOU obey ny
commands and pay ne tithes."
But when ne IS old enough 10 appre-
C.ate that his childish delight IN empty
batteries is an inadmisslble weakness,
and when he weighs and compares
more thoroughly the doctrine OF en-
uChtenment and the doctrine Of theol-
ogy. he does not md II difficult TO
realize that the former is the mora
beautiful and comforting
one single fundamental principle
must govern society, and this prtn-
cipie must be either individualism.
that IS. egotism. or the solidarity. the
cohesive fellowship OF mankind, that Is
altruism-
At the present day neither fellowship
nor egotism IS ruling alone, but
combination OF both. which Is as IN
reasonable as II is inconsistent. Pos
session is organized on a personal
basis. and egotism reaches in the
laws governing inheritance the utmost
limits 10 which Il can attain. by not
only stealing By stealth and Violence
everything II can lay hands on, but By
cIinEing to the pIlnder forever. and
excluding the rest 90 mankind from
e. q sharing in its benefits
The man Of property, however. wf1
not allow the man without property to
call that principle to his aid 70 which
the former owes his wealth. Fortunes
are accumulated IN the name OF indi-
viduaIism. but they are defended n
the name OF human solidarity The
rich man enjoys bis disDroporticnats
share OF Efe's blessings. Of which he
has made himself master by unblush-
ing egotism. but when the poor man
helps himself 70 them with some OF
the rich mans egotism and selhshnsss,
he is arrested.
In the form OF usury and speculation
the INSCRIPTIONS furtherance q SELF
interest is allowable. but II Is strictly
forbidden when II takes the torm Of
robbery and theft The same prinoipls
applied in the former case Is q merit,
IN ehe other a crime.
Human reason revolts at such ideas.
II egotism is TO be preached, let It Be
consistent, and assert It's night IN all
cases II Il Is right for the rich man
10 luxuriate in a life OF leisure because
ne has been able to set possession Of
landed estates, or TO take advantage
OF the labor Of others. then 10 must
also be conceded TO be right for the
moo. man 70 strike him dead and take
possession Of his property as the spells
OF victory, II he has the courage and
strength TO carry through such an IN
dertaking.
This is logical. II is true that such
logic would soon bring society 70 de-
struction and our civilization 10 the
dogs. and men would become Ike
beasts OF prey, wandering alone
through the land. and tearing each
OfAeI 10 EAt[EE nut an NA-- VIZ -
not pleased with this abstract aim %
our social development egotism, has
no other alternative before him but 70
accept the sole other principle, fellow
ship.
The motto will no longer be: Every
one for himself" but 'One FOR all, and
all for each"
Solidarity, fellowship with our kind.
must be the foundation not only OF our
morality. but Of our institutions. In
the existing forms egotism finds ex-
pression-the forms which are destined
TO replace them viii be the outcome Of
altruism.
selhshness arouses the desire 20 gov
ern others IL leads 10 despOtism. II
produces kings. conluerors, ambitious
ministers. and political bosses. while
the love OF our kind aTOuseS the desire
10 serve the race. IL leads to self-EoY-
eminent, universal suffrage. IL pro-
duces A legislation inspired alone by
the welfare OF community.
The struggle for existence VIII last
as long as life itself. and be always
the cause Of all development and per
lection but it viii assures milder
phases and he in the same pr1portion
10 IFS fierce warfare OF To-Day - e war
carried on between civilized nabons Is
to a slaughter among cannibelz