Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-05-30
RoUSSEAU's HALF TRUTH.

The discomfort of the masses OF
American workingrnen suggests the be-
lief that the half-truths once enunciat-
ed by Rousseau arc having their effect
upon the common people" just as they
have had their effect upon the more
highly educated classes of society
In regard to the teachings OF the
| French philosopher. they contain go
much that is true that It Ia difficult
TO combat the errors they inculcate.
"A lie that is lie
| May be met and fought outright;
But a lie that Is in part n truth
Is a harder matter to fight"
We remarked on a previous occa-
sion that according to Rousseaus the
| DRY of the social contract religious
creeds. with their preaching of sym
patty and remuneration, the curbing
laws OF the state, are merely an or
ganized hypocrisy by which the few
strong are held In subsection 10 the
many weak.
This idea, we believe. constitutes
the basis OF some socialist systems.
even as II forms almost tho entire
| justification, so far as they have any
| Justification, for modern theories of an
archy.
II has often been claimed that the
worship OF humanity--the absolute de-
| pendepce upon the divine elements in
human nature-can take the place of the
fear of God in holding the evil-disposed
In check and In elevating society to the
|
destiny.
This theory derives its strength from
the natural and praIseworthy tendency
to believe In the basic rightness of hui
man instincts. which would therefore
need freedom merely, In order to de-
velop into perfect system of human as
ISOLATION.
The thing is so simple that it may
readily he believed. but also so inno-
cent as to excite suspicion and provoke
a Jest in answer to 1t.
Exponents of this creed (Rousseau
Karl Marx regard society and human
government as now organized, In the
light of a conspiracy against the in
| dvidual--a despotism that keeps him
down. stiles his divine impulses, and
prevents his material progress.
Nletasche, however. who also accepts
this vie W goes on TO maintain unabash-
ed that tho stronger and ADLER OF man
| kind-the so-called supermAn. II you
please freed from all restraints will
soon. as they are entitled by nature
to do, ride upon the simpler masses &c
upon beasts of burden. In time. he
thinks. the will to Power. as he names
the natural superiority Of the strong.
will become conscious and assert itself,
then the instincts of the strong will
break from pusilnnlmous control. and
We shall have an harmonious civiliza-
ton in which the few, following their
unhampered desires. Will rise on the
labors OF the submissive many. as now
man makes use Of a beast of burden.
To Karl Marx and the modern social
lists, however, mankind is divided be-
tween the great mass of workers and
| the few capitalists who by the iron
law of wages exploit them ruthlessly,
such a condition they suppose to he
the result OF economic evolution; and
they think It will be cured when tho
workers, through the growth OF class
consciousness, learn their sovereign
power. and take full possession OF the
sources of production and wealth. Com
petition and all It's consequent suffer-
ing VIII thus cease whom the people
are welded into a unit by sympathy,
The argument supposes that workers
are, In the solidarity OF their interests,
kind of individual who Is oppressed
and corrupted 10y the privileged class
who represent the traditional insttu-
tiops OF the state.
Here. then. we have precisely oppo-
site theories resulting from the same
basic doctrine OF Rousseau. Which Is
right? Who shall decide when such
doctors disagree? is It not evident
that the beautiful theory Of Rousseau.
the battle cry OF the French revolutions
lists, and the primer OF many modern
social reformer's gospel is only a magic
glamor of the private emotions of q
single abnormal individual Some IN
explicable force. due in part 10 Phrases
beautiful and intense, but more os-
peclaly to the fact that Rousseau had
graspcd a part Of the truth I'm as
sorting the divinity OF human nature
J without admitting anything Of its sim
full predictions these facts have caus-
ed the Authorizations Of this man,
IN be imposed upon much Of our modern
progressive thought
Christianity came 10 tho medieval
world all tinotured by tho intense self
absorption and selt-abnegation OF St
Augustlnes' Confessions" and that
, View OF the Christian creed led to mon
, asticlsm self-ronuneiation, and the her
! init life OF the middle ages. The other
extreme new faith I'm man, self
J suffcienoy. egolsnl--coming from cor
, responding Confessions" OF Rousseau