The Washington herald., 1908-08-17
Bogey OF Socialism.
: = Wa.-l-E.an -.


Edto- The Wasliuzt1n Herald
The boEy Of socialism Is frightening
many people. Some see the specter at
every s1ep Of progress. They are alarmed
at any new measure. even when Il Is the
logical development Of old principles II
they feel a foSgy dislike OF any PROPOSE
fion. against which they can have no
sound reason. they assaH Il as socialistic-
At one time free textbooks for needy
pupils in public schools We're denounced
as socialism SO tght-dsted taxpayers
used 10 Clarnor against free schools such
people. when they are honest IN their
theories and not merely stiugy@ are Ike
the Chinese in sIavishiy copying the past
In their thought the spirit Of progress
which IN past times has Hftsd the world
out Of barbarisn. has now become petri-
fed. They fear any signs OF life and
growth in the social organism, not De-
cause they deem the present condition
perfect. but because they have no healthy
human faith in the future
Most OF the propositions called social
istic involve no new principles OF gov
eminent. but only debatable questions OF
policy. Thus. the decision as 70 govern
mental control Of railroads OF telegrdp pms
OF any other public agency. should be
made according 10 wise practical con-
sidarat;on OF the advantages and disad-
vantazes unvexed by the fear OF social
ism. This would be the same kind Of
socialism that now exists in our POST
Office Department
The danger from socialism IN the United
States would not be worth even passing
thought II there were not so many Of the
ignorant and discontented- To eulighten
the ignorant and 20 remove the causes Of
discomfort VIII destroy any such danger.
But much that passes By the name OF
socialism with many persons IS surely be
coming a part Of our civilization Those
born out of due time. who fear the edu-
cation Of all citizens. and who would
gladly perpetuate a subStratum Of the
ignorant whom they can dominate and by
whom they can measure their own su-
Deriorftv. are destined TO Erieve still fur
ther over the growth Of a socialism which
more fully eaualizes the privileges as vel
as the rights OF men
4 socialism which would destroy per
sonal freedom. independence, and re-
sponsiblIitv will find little favor among
independent Americans But. call It So
ciaIfSn or not the self-governme1t OF a
free and enlightened people VIII steadily
advance in promoting the common inter
est, in fitting the young for citizenship
/ in helping the unfortunate. and In demon
strating more fully that civilization is not
a veneer.
On the other hand the danger OF plutOc-
rary. has upset the equilibrium Of some
( good people Sensational haransues. too
I Iurid for sanity. have been published by
men whose previous writings were re-
! speCtabIe. A believer in the existence Of
I an organized conspiracy OF plutocrats
dominating nations and causing wars in
order to get borrowers OF their money,
| especially one who finds the origin of our
/ late civil war in such a conspiracy. may
not yet need a padded cell, but his mental
| arrangement has begun.
/ One phase Of the cry against plutOcracy
/ is the oft-heard claim that the rich are
getting richer and the poor poorer. Like
many another CRY. recklessly made and
fguOrantIy believed. this is utterly false.
! Hardships still exist; wrongs are not IN
! known: poverty is too prevalent; but the
average comfort % the people OF the
| United States has steadily increased and
] is greater to-day than ever before Con-
/ ditions have changed much IN genera
ton OF two. The increase Of wealth has
| been enormous. Millionaires have multi
pIied. But persons worth s.. 600. s. 900. OF
! $40 oGs each have multiplied a great many
times faster than the millio1aires- The
| scale Of living has wonderfully improved
/ The ordinary wage-earner now lives ir
more comfort. with better clothes, better
| food. and more small luxuries than did
| the people called quite well-to-do a gen
Grafton ago. AIisstatements VIII not rem
/ edy evils. and those who assert that tbs
poor Of this country are getting poorer
must prove it. not by showing thai
poverty still exists. but by showing it:
| increase.
| Real evils exist and need correction
But all that is genuine in proposed re-
forms can be won peacefully and right
eously If their advocates viii avoid ex
travagance. passion. suspicion and injus
tice. There Is no reason 10 fear faiiur'
If they work with fair temper, sounC
Judgment. clear perception Of the facts