Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03
BY AsHMUN BROWN.

BY ASHMUN BROWN.
"A better social and economic order is
kna avowed objective of all schools o.
political thought. The Socialists and
the Progressives, in which latter cate
: sory may be numbered a'large proper
ton of the Democratic votes In Con-
AreSs which were afiliated with the
= coalition In the recent sessions. would
eliminate the so-called business cycle,
insure continuous employment or sub
: stitute therefor, and abolish poverty by
trusting all the economic powers OF the
people to highly centralized govern
f1ent which would constitute super
state: thus relieving the masses from
ali responsibility for their own welfare.
On the other hand, the advocates OF
the continuance OF what mas oeen
termed the system Of American tndivid-
llalism resist these proposals on the
ground that centralized government Is
4 bureaucratic government that inevi-
tably must be despotic in character; that
the establishment in the hands OF the
overlordS of government at washington
Of the absolute control OF business, IN
dustry, trade. commerce and hnance
sets up governing aristocracy; tnat II
destroys initiative and ambition ana
reduces the people to common Level
Of dependence on the edicts OF the over
lords and that 1t closes the door OF OPP
portunity to the Individual
Ideal Of Equal Opportunity.
The emancipation Of the individual
and political equality, it Is commended
are the ideals upon which this Govern
pnent was founded. And" to quote
President Hoover, since these begin
r1irgs. slowly, surely and almost imper-
ceptibly, this Nation has added third
ideal almost unique to Amer1ca-tne
ideal of equal opportunity. This Is the
SaSec,1ard Of the individual. The simple
life Of early days In our Republic found
but few limitations upon equal oppor-
tunity. BY the crowding OF our people
and the intensity and completely OF
their activities, it takes today a new
3The ideal of individualism based
upon equal opportunity to every citlz zen
is the negation of socialism. 1t is the
negation of anarchy. 1t Is the mega
ton of despotism. 1t Is as II we set
oace. We, through free and universal
education provide for training OF the
runners; we give to them an equal
start; we provide in the government the
umpire Of fairness in the race. Inc
winner is he who shows the most con-
scientious training, the greatest ability
and the greatest character. Socialism
bids all to end the race equally. It holds
hack the speedy to the pace Of the
Elowest. Anarchy would provide neither
training nor umpire. Despotism picks
those who should run and those VINO
should WIN"
Depends on Team Play.
As opposed 10 the socialistic or pa
ternalistic theory, the theory Of indi-
vidualism and open opportunity COM
prehends relatively small dependence on
the government as an instrument OF
aocial and economic advancement, but
major dependence on cooperative ef-
fort. non-poIitical in character, among
the individuals; team play, In other
words. -
AS the business commerce, transpor-
tation and nnAnce Of the nation have
developed toward corporate form OF
organization that disregards state boun-
daries-the excuse offered by the So
cialists for an adaptation Of the cor
porate form Of organization for the pro-
posed Superstate-the individual1stS adj
vocate cooperation outside the govern
n1ent to md and develop remedy Tor
existing Ills. Cooperation, although
vastly different In operation, Is twin
brother to corporation in origin.
To put the matter In briefer form, the
Socialists would rely on government
ownership and operation OF the ma
chinery Of production and distribution
to obtain for the masses social justice
and economic equality. The individual
list, on the other hand, would rely
chiefly on cooperative effort outside
the government to produce not only
social justice but broader and richer
life.
Socialists Materialistic.
The Socialists speak OF the existing
system as mere capitalism, with greed
and avarice the prevailing motives OF
those who advocate 1t. They md a
measure of evidence to support their
contention that the capitalistic system
is an unjust system in certain phases
Of American history where corporate
greed Stalked abroad. But theirs, after
all, Is a materialistic philosophy which
deals with an equal division Of wealth
among all the people and presupposes
an altruiSm In those intrusted with the
governing power beyond that which has
existed long among those who have
governed in any nation.
The socialistic idea, as manifest in
the preachmentS and the agitation OF
the so-called progressives of today and
in the demands that they have made
and are making on Congress. seems not
TO concern itself with the things Of the
soul. but merely with materials
On the other hand, the individualiStic
idea of social regeneration places its
dependence in development Of human
character and the habit Of self-reliance,
holding that the keen edge Of character
Is best acquired through being whette0
by fair competition. 1ndividualistS
hold that over government not only is
destructive Of human freedom, but pro-
duces a race of dependents, its vitality
Slapped by assurances that sloth and
tdleneSS VIII obtain the same physical
rewards as thrift and enterprise.
Selifshness Recognized.
The individualist. like Thomas JEFF
ferson. diStrusting the capacity of any
governor or group Of governors sub
serv1ent to political system to regu-
late the lives and activities of the
people better than they can regulate
themselves, frankly recognizes the self
ish human instinct to advance in the
world and obtain the finer and better
things Of life by individual effort. The
individualist reasons that controlled and
enlightened selhShneSs after all, offers
far greater promise OF making the world
a better place ia which to live than
does the rigidity OF the Socialist sys-
TEN.
with the growth Of ideals through
education" says President Hoover in
his own dissertation on American In
dividualiSm' with the higher resliza-
ton of freedom. of justice. OF humanity,
Of service, the selfish impulses become
less and less dominant; and II We ever
reach the millennium they viii disap-
pear in the aspirations and satisfac-
tons Of pure altruism. But for the
next several generations we dare not
abandon Self-intereSt as q motive force
to leadership and to production, lest
we die.
THE will-o'-the- wisp of all breeds of
Socialism Is that they contemplate a