Socialism.

Progress, Volume IV, Issue 5, 1 March 1909, Page 170

Socialism.

(By Peter Ellis.)

A millennium to some, a nightmare to others, Socialism is in the air, but if by Socialism we mean the distinction of the vital principle of competition, it spells failure, for whether we like it or not, competition is the basic principle of existence, which none but the Creator can change. The elements compete, and we have life; and no fact is more self-evident, if we look for it, than that competition, or the warring of the elements, gives birth to being, and but for this mysterious and paradoxical operation everything would be involved in a onesided chaos. Nothing is so thin as to have but one side, opposition and competition lie at the foundation of all things. True Socialism cannot be an exception; it must allow a community of differences, different minds, different aims, different status, a living series of levels, not a uniform dead one ; there must be room upward for the forest giant, while scrubby trailing plants nourish below. Nature is built that way, and society must follow suit, or fall into ruin. To stultify the element of healthy rivalry in social life is to dwarf its magnificence. The essence of true socialism is in a combination of the opposing elements of co-operation and competition, which is no more a paradox than that everything solid has opposite sides. A stable Parliament must include a strong opposition, too much one-sidedness is lopsidedness, with a centre of gravity tending towards instability. In law, in science, in art, in everything pertaining to this mundane existence, the unerring principle of opposition applies. Why, then, ignore it in social life ? Let us accept human nature as it is and not as we Avould have it. It embraces selfishness and unselfishness, two opposites ; take away either, and the whole fabric falls to pieces. Mysterious as it appears, it is in the regulation and due proportion of these opposing elements that true progress obtains. Facts are "stubborn things," but facts remain, in spite of specious arguments. What, then, is the ideal socialism? Plainly a brotherhood of inequality with a due regard for merit, an encouragement of thrift, a healthy competition working together in a happy combination to secure the elevation of humanity, a discouragement of idleness, status above status, according to the vigor, the industry, the ability of the individual (society must necessarily consist of individuals) ; any attempt to climb by unworthy means must be condemned, and all attempts to excel by true merit rewarded. Then, and only then, can we have an ideal socialism, a series of living steps, one above the other, leading upward and onward. This ideal may be unattainable in perfection, but Aye may shape our course thitherward and escape many of the pitfalls whereby rogues are banquetted and honest men go hungry. Jack may be as good as his master, though their status may be widely different. A human family may work amicably together, though its members range from philosophers to fools throughout the whole gamut of kinship.