Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-16

convention of that society held here last
week, and his principal speech was re-
garded as one of the features of the gath
ering. In discussing THE Universities
and the Social Conscience" he pointed
out that the recognition by peop.e that
they are not living simply for themselves,
but as a part of human family. is the
most significant discovery of the age. He
said:
THE most characteristic and signif-
cant discovery OF the present age is the
discovery of the social cOnscience-the
recognition, in degree unprecedented
in history, of social responsibility; the
demand, with an unprecedented 1mpera-
tiveness, for social justice: the substftu-
ton, on an unprecedented scale, of soclai
morality for the creed of 1ndlVldualsm.
Never in human history were so many
people, rich and poor. learned and ig-
norant wise and otherwise. concerning
themselves with social amelioration. dedi-
eating themselves to philanthropy, organ
izing for Industrial change. or applying
the motives of religion to the problems OF
modern life. 1t is the age of the soclal
question. A new phrase. the soclaLorgan-
ism, becomes the description of human
society. 1t is a transition in human his
tory which can be compared with nothing
less than the transition from the astron-
omy of Ptolemy to the astronomy or
Copernicus. Instead of a center of in
which, as a satellite. the social order
moves, the problem of the individual Is
now seen to lie within vastly greater
system, to whose laws its orbit must con-
form, and as part of which his own LIE
must be fulfilled. How to adjust ones
personal aims within the organism OF The
common good: how to realize ones SELF as
q member of the social body; how TO secure
the stability of the social order by the CO.
operative conservation of the individual
that is the essence of the modern SoclaI
question. and it delivers one from the
Ptolemaic ethics of self-centered morality
and sets one in Copernlcan universe Oh
social unity and service. 1t Is not only
new social science. but a new social I'M
perative; not only a social CONSCIOUSNESS.
but a social conscience; a categorical sum-
mons to the person to fulfill his junction
within the social whole.
IF, then, this sense of social RESPONSE
bility marks so Enthusiastically the thought
and conduct of the present age; II the
problems most Immediately pressing upon
civilization are the social problems OF the
family, the state, the Industrial order.
and the church; if we must thus think of
people as living together, working to-
gether and determining their duty within
the organism of the common good; then
1t becomes of peculiar interest to observe
how far this transition in thought has
proceeded, and at what point In its evolu-
ton the social conscience has arrived
What form of reinforcement Is Tor the
moment most important in this worldwide
movement of social service? What new
demand does this development of social
sensitiveness make upon the present age?
The answer to these questions appears to
be plain. The age of the social question
has brought with it a vast expansion OF
certain sentiments which are among the
most precious of human possessions and
which give TO the present time a peculiar
dignity and promise. Compassion, frater-
nifty generosity loyalty, the passion for
justice. the demand for conditions con-
sistent with decency and self-respect-all
these effects of the social conscience are
operating with unprecedented force.
Never was there such generous giving,
such willing enlistment in philanthropy,
such varied legislation for social reform.
If the better world could come through
expenditure of money time, through
legislation or organization. through
prodigal charity or loyal trade unionism
militant socialism, then the devotion
and self-sacrifice dedicated to these ends
would have their immediate reward. The
heart of the time is soft; the conscience
of the time is quick. The social question
Will not be settled until somehow each
life, however helpless or inefficient 1t
may be, finds its appropriate place in the
vast organism of social efficiency.
And yet. while this expansion of social
feeling may be viewed with much salts
faction as a definite step in the moral
education of the human race, the moral
has plainly come when the new movement
of altruiSm is in special need of direction
and control 1t is like electric current
of high power, which has in II extraordi-
nary capacity for social utility, but at
the same time carries extraordinary risk.
The first problem of the engineer is 10
develop such current, but his next and
not less essential problem is to safeguard
and govern it. An unregulated supply of
power may not only bring disaster to the
unwary paSser-by, but may even wreck
the mechanism designed for its Trans
mission. new force OF enthusiasm and
responsibility is let loose IN the modern
world, and in any enterprise of social sew
ice one may count on high-power current
of generous emotion. Is this force how
ever. sufficiently insulated and safely dis
tributed? Is social energy safeguarded
by social wisdom? No thoughtful OBJ
server can fail TO see that the social ques-
tion of the present time has just reached
the point where emotional power needs
new degree of intellectual direction and
disciplined control. The administration of
charity. for example. has passed beyond
its sentimental period, and in the complex
life of our great cities the call for SYM
patty is succeeded by the call for expert
knowledge SentimentaliSm in relief may
easily propagate more poverty than 1t
cures; scientific relief has set before il
the much more difficult problem of har-
Messing the forces of compassion within
the mechanism of economic laws, so as
Labor organization has had dramatic
success in promoting loyalty and sacri-
fees, but now that IL has become an eco
nomic force of high power the time has
arrived TO determine whether it's reckless
use shall become a social menace, or its
scientific insulation a social service. What
q pOrtentOuS series Of hasty experiments
we are making with all manner of legis-
lation concerning the family. the drink
traffic. child labor, unemployment, univer-
sal pensions and hundred other propo-
sitions of the time, What is there heard
in all these well-intended enterprises but
call for leadership. a demand for ex-
perts. the necessity that sympathy should
equip itself with wisdom. Not less Of
heart is needed to meet the increased
completely OF social life. but more of
head; not less sentiment but more
science; not less passion. but more pa
il in their power to wreck the very frame
work of American democracy. unless they
be directed by disciplined minds.
There is q further aspect Of the same
demand of the present time. The social
philosophy. II must be not only ap-
preached by the scientific habit of mind
but IL must be defined as a movement of
ethical idealsm. On its face the present
agitation is an economic question. con-
cerned with conditions of life and in
dustry, with food and drink. housing and
rent, wages and hours. work and leisure;
and many observers Of the time have con-
cluded that the key of the social question
Is to be found in some form OF economic
nf a