Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-02-01
MPRAcTIcABLE SOCIALISM.

OOclAllbJb WHO are uOucbSiy anu vi
seIfishly trying to better the condi-
ton OF the world argue that all nat
ural resources and all machinery for
the production of wealth should be
owned by the government, and that
a government controlled by Socialists
would not permit the few to become
rich from the earnings of the many.
In order to establish their posi-
ton, the Socialists, must as an ele-
mentary proposition, demonstrate
that the few became rich without
any benefit accruing to the many,
or, in other words, that the money
OF the rich is unrighteously seized
from the earnings of the poor, and
that II the rich did not seize 1t the
poor would have 1t.
The next assumption Of socialism
is that government control of the
sources of wealth would result in
a righteous exchange of labor for
the products Of labor between man
and man, and that human happiness
and progress would thereby be pro-
NOTED.
These elementary assumptions of
Socialists are assumptions only.
There was a period in the worlds
history when its greatest scholars
and philosophers assumed that the
earth was flht--but that did not
make 1t so.
Between the foundations Of So
cialism and the cloud palace which
It's dreamers propose to erect, there
stands the immovable and insur-
mountable obstacle of human In
equality. No two human beings are
constituted exactly alike, or suffi-
GENTLY alike for them to abide con-
tentedly by the motto of call for
each and each for ALL" Men do not
think the same thoughts. They are
affected differently by the same en-
vironment. Their mental capacities
are unequal, their physical strength
is not the same. Even IL socialism
could. perform the miracle OF al
fording equal opportunities to all,
II could not equalize their ability
to take advantage Of those oppor-
tunities, and no system of economic
government or OF apportionment Of
labor or the rewards OF labor could
be devised that would prevent some
men from being wiser than others,
and some richer than others.
This says Prof. Wiley, "is in
perfect accord with natural law. The
difference in the results we behold
are based upon the difference in con-
stituti0ns. TO change this basic prin-
ciple, or the results that flow from
it, would destroy human happiness,
since we know and appreciate only
through contrasts" II all were as
taIl as. the tallest there would be
no tall people; II all were as short
as the shortest there would be no
short people: II al were as wise
as the wisest there would be mol
wise people; IL al we're as happy as
the happiest there would be no hap
py people. II there were no differ
ence in color we would know mo-
color; II there were none Of that
which we call evil we could not APP
preciate the good. II differences
were stricken out, greatness, good
ness, variety, indeed all that we adj
mire, appreciate and love would be
gone, and a monotony would reign
a million times more cruel to beings
constituted as we are than any diff
ferences we have ever known In the
conditions of life that now environ
us"
As q rule--the anathemas Of So
cialist orators to the country not
withstanding-the great success Of
one man in accommodating wealth
does not mean che infliction Of pow
erty upon others. Some time pr
other, somehow or other, somewhere
or other. accumulated wealth must
be distributed. II ID like knowledge.
Some men are mere successful than
Others ii gaining t. But after they
have gained Il their very ssliishnesa
compels them to distribute Il.
one must benefit others by accu-
mulnting wealth Il be aecumulatea
Il n commerce or manufactures, 10
betQus richer fhan others he must
AZ ra hrFlness than eshers, and
- rs mngs empaev more
a a eftF be. l'c
M h|1 o ~