The Irish standard., 1913-11-22

luxuries. They are bad things for the
human stomach. they are physiolog-
ical poisons, and tho rich man who
indulges in them finds himself, after
q few years. unable to indulge in
the healthy food which nourishes arr:
gives pleasure to Syens the poorest>o
his fellow citizens. What Is our com.
plant then in this respect! Do we
grudge the rich man q full share and
amplitude Of healthtul food? Or, is
our complaint that come of our fellow
citisens do not get enough food? How
about raiment7 It3sArv@ two purpos.
es. - protection and adornment. Do
we object to q reasonable measure
of protection and iAdornment for the
rich man? Do wsg ourselves want
more than a reasonable measure of
protection and ad6rnment? Or, is our
complaint In this respect only that
some of our fellow citizens lack
sufficient clothing for their proper
protection and adornment? On the
whole. is not the problem one of a
lack of things of5sYalue7 Is not the
ideal such a distribution of value as
shall give to all ofsus the comforts
and luxuries which the reasonable
rich man enjoys9 Is there any one
Of US who, reflecting upon this quest
ion, desires to lessen the productive
activity of the race. and to lessen the
value Of its product! Is not the plain
need of the hour the production of
more things of value?
Suppose now that we take this eco.
nomic system which with all its de.
fects does do servioe In the produc-
tion and distribution OF real wealth,
and seek to replace It with a system
radically different. Suppose that we
do away with efficient Industrial
activity in the hands Of the people
themselves. I do NOS mean the ulti-
mate control, becluse that is there
already. mean the intimate direct
ion of details which you'd be the nee.
essary result of stEte ownership Of
all the means of production. Nee,
essary, I said, but Ismean necessary
only If Socialism sSsto be democrat
ically managed. There is an altern.
ative which some thinkers have con.
sidered inevitable ana which all will
consider inevitable yins time If the Soc.
ialistic program !iss ever put into
effect. That alternative is a govern
ment by experts" That alternative
will result in slavery. Human nature
being what human nature is, there
must always be leAdership, there
must !1.' always be- ss er proficiency
ficiency is backed by political power
the mass of the people will be en-.
slaved.
Our Socialistic friends are. found Of
pointing to the Post Office system as
an example of what government own.
ership may do. On the whole the
Post Office system works we'll, but
there is one significant feature which
is often overlooked. What is the capi.
tai crime Of an employee of the Post
Office? He must not be perniciously
active in politics, he cannot. express
too loudly his political preference,
he cannot urge upon his fellow
citizens his political views. He still
has a vote but 1t has been seriously
proposed to deprive his OF this. There.
fore, he has obviously been deprived
Of one Of the political rights Of a
free man in q republic such as this.
But the slavery will come later,
If 1t comes at all. The first step will
be a characterization Of industry, be.
cause that is what the demagogue is
preaching and that is what will make
votes for his party.
And the democratixation Of indust.
~ means, If it means anything, that
the ordinary business questions must
be submitted to vote, that each of
these details must be determined not
by the wisdom of the wisest, not by
the judgment Of the most skilful. but
by the temporary interest of the
mass Of the workers and by the
inclination which at the moment may
be their inclination. What are the
popular cries now? What Is the natur.
al human desire? Is It not greater
leisure? Is 1t not less work? When
men can fix their own compensations
and the duration of their hours Of
labor, how will the vote stand on
these questions? And is it possible
that under such conditions produc.
tion will be stimulated? Is 1t possible
that under such conditions there will
be greater output Of values than
we now have? Is it not the necessary
consequence of such a situation that
there shall be an immediate slacken.
ing In the processes of production
and an immediate decrease in the
output.
We who believe in the Christian
faith and In the divinity of it's foun.
der and his beneficience, know that
he Is the inexhaustible source of the
impulses Of civilization. We know
that this civilization of ours cannot
Ole; but for time 1t may be check.
ed, for a time 1t may be turned back.
ward. for time folly and ignorance
and hatred may in this land or the
other check the process of the human
race. Scarcity Of food. scarcity of
raiment due to the reak down of the
industrial system, will urge men to
those Wild extremes which In France
resulted in the "reign Of terror" Car
lyle says Victorious analyses bakes