There is a very powerful current of public opinion setting in the direction of state monopoly of many social functions, and there is another current opposed to such extension of political agency. These two tendencies will not suppress each other but will correct each other. Even when the city or state has undertaken a social function it is found that vigilant citizens must unite to watch the administration of a law. No popular government has yet solved the problem of perpetual motion. No people can have a pure, strong and effective government where there are no societies or parties to instruct the public, to expose corruption, and to investigate the manner in which officers treat the trusts committed to their care.
It may be thought that these voluntary associations are impertinent and pretentious. They seem to imply that their members profess to be more pious, intelligent and patriotic than their neighbors. The danger is real but it must be risked, and most of us can admit without jealousy the merits of any body of persons who will make life and property more secure and who lower our taxes.
It is said that these societies dissipate social energy, rival the home, sap the resources of the church and multiply like a plague of locusts. Unquestionably the objection is partly justified by facts. There are too many societies, especially too many bad ones. They overlap, duplicate and interfere with each other. Some of them seem to be organized simply to advertise the benevolence of the executive committee or furnish a stipend for a secretary. The business man is vexed and preplexed to know which society is worthy of his gifts and which deserves his curses.
But the severest judgment of an abuse leaves the normal use untouched. The voluntary associations require criticism and regulation, but the principle of their life is legitimate. In their best estate they are the indispensable means of innocent and wholesome gratifications, the pioneers of progress, the guardians of dearly-bought agencies of research and culture.
The University of Chicago.
