The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-08-14

lesson for reformers.
Among class of social theories much
rent this day will discover basic idea the
theory that lift the submerged the oppressed and the
otherwise unfit classes the level OF health and
efficiency need only surround them with adequacy
of material things and conditions. Give them enough
wealth. tools, and food and they will RISE like to
the top We call this, if must it, the theory
of social determinsm. Summed that theory
this, man is made by his conditions.
This theory, said, is widely current and exercises
potent influence the reform literature of day.
but it is complete fallacy crept be-
fudded mind Nothing the truth,
either human history, that will
somehow be automatically ramade if necessary
vantages are placed abon him In Francis Bacons day
little nations and prncpaties would the
after they had been beaten at that they had
enough of the Munitions of that trade and. would have
turned the scale the other side had charios
spears, swords, etc. been their disposal which
founder of modern science in the following
pthy sentences Walled towns arsenals
cries goody of horses, chariot elephants
ordnance artillery the like; all this sheep
lions skin the breed and disposition the people
be stout and warlike; number itself in armies i'm
porteh not much where the people is weak courage
for Virgil saith, 1T troubles wolf many
sheep be-" In other words great deal depends the
breed and disposition that is the equation
One might have at hand all the necessary equipment
booming nation with nincompoops
for citizens.
According to this theory of social determination, it
goes without saying that all vice, SIM wickedness
crime is to be explained by lack of opportunity
the necessary materials From this is
that to give all sufficient clothing food shelter would
transform the into congregation of angels. I'm
der such conditions education teaching
lgion would be superfuous everybody good be-
cause society would be perfect! But along
Peabody and the right all this mo arrange
ment of industry be devised which beyond pos
sibty of being utilized for evil by INSCRIPTIONS
signing THE devil according to Milton born
Heaven and hazard the guess he the
last of his breed to the light of day there.
All theories of reform which the supposition that
to have the material conditions right to determine that
everything else will be right leave consideration
personal equation, those disturbing elements
which the individual takes with him wherever he
goes and which he found goodness knows where. And it
it also to forget that baby can't typewriter
There many proofs illustrations of the pow
of the personal equation to be found in the story
that is at loss to what choose
much light to be had the from the history
scientific discoveries. But example will
flee here for lack of When ]. R. Mayer
ticing in he noticed that blood which
from ncsion much darker than he had observed
in Europe blood in had dark for nobody
knows how long and nobody knows many had seen
it but until that time person able in
it what Mayer 1t led him formulation the
scientific principle of the conservation of energy He
brought something the which nobody be-
fore had been able to therefore something it
not before discovered The personal equation again!
cordng social determinsts. your scien-
tific discovery need only let it be that blood is
dark in Java but they leave Hamlet of the play in
forgetting that also have your Mayer there at
the time.
may the crop out in the history of
Inventions The Chinese discovered printing gun
powder long before hill in
Scandinavia but what did they make Moth
ing. They did not take to it intelligence and skill and
experience sufficient make anything out
| if it. Hero built steam engine hundred thirty
years before Christ, but nothing it be-
cause the people of his day unable anything
in it.
The gift Of machinery and material advantages
people, either from chance superior nation,
is unable to make use of the is futile trying
to carry on conversation with babe Our American
Indians have had to all the appliances of civz
ed society for hundred years what have
they made of their opportunity? Nothing They cling
to the wfgwam through thick and thin
to the woods after in college. They
given for their uprising and advancement
most thoroughgoing social determinst could ask
has avaed them whit Plainly the personal equa
ton plays large part in these matters.
This is to say that machinery and the parapher
MALTA Of society of the very Importance
and moment it only to that can't society
to advance on one leg only 1t has to the steep
all along the line In other words, is the complete
veopment people that needed the DEVELOPMENT
OF their body, their mind and their morals.
We will deceive lapse into the dream of
the social determinst and fondly hope
along the way merely from the proper distribution
material facility and advantages easy climb
into the kingdom of heaven is possible The ind-
vldua must be developed well the conditions
him And civilization which we are hoping for In
these modern days he needs than complete
development.
Because of the extreme compexity civilization
every individual is than in thorough
intellectual training There is difference
tween present state of affairs Middle Age
village between the steam engine and hoe and as
much knowledge and skill is required to live now
the hoe
And moral development is more than needed.
steal in community may much if food be