- .5?v -. --'-' v".2'?-? vrr
W&SWFWWWW
- . --. st - i
"
-K
IS"
w
1 S
I"
.
r
I1
5
lv
I-
IK
bIBERTY AND EQUAfelTY.
The moat precious of all words to Americans, of course, is liberty.
It represents to us- all the rights and advantages thut we possess,
and we invoke it as a source of inspiration in every emergency.
There is nothing in all of our political literature to which we attach
so much importance as the part of the Declaration of Independence
which proclaims that "all men are created equal,' and endowed by
their Creator with the right to live, to be free and to pursue happi
ness. When the fathers asserted these natural rights, they laid the
foundation for all of our wonderful prosperity, and provided the in
fluence that was to shape the destinies of one of the greatest of
modern nations. They did not invent liberty, to be sure, but they
gave it a new significance and applied it to purposes of surpassing
usefulness. Our Fourth of July orators find the theme an easy one
from which to derive the opportunities of elnquence, so rich is it in
the kind of interest that appeals alike to the head and to the heart.
In all history there is nothing to match it, considering the original
conditions, the details of the story of development, and the nature
and extent of the results that have been achieved, with the possibili
ties of progress yet to be made by the proper use of existing and in
creasing facilities.
As a matter of fact, however, the fathers did not mean exactly
what they said when they declared the natural equality of all men;
or, to state it more accurately, they did not mean what iB implied by
a literal construction of their language. They did not intend to con
vey the idea that all men are equal in the sense of being equipped
with uniform powers, either physical or mental, but only that they
are equal in point of right to the liberty which guarantees a fair
chance to make the bet possible use of their respective capabilities.
Lincoln pointed out in one of his speeches the logic of necessary dis
tinction in the case. "The Declaration of Independence does not
say," he observed, "that all men are 'born equal; but 'created equal
I'de two words are very different, and the fathers used the latter ad
visedly not for a day, but for all the time. With due reverence and
humility, if I may be allowed to compare man's work to God's work,
that clause of the Declaration is to be classed with the passage of
Holy Writ which says, 'Be ye therefore perfect as your Father in
heaven is perfect' meaning not that we are or can be perfect like
the Father, but only in an approximate degree, eaoh according to
his ability and circumstances. That is to say, natural equality does
sot mean identity of individual force, but merely a common right to
the privileges of buccess.
It follows that there must be inequalities in personal fortunes.
The proposition that all men are created equal in the sense of being
naturally entitled to an equal share of the profits of civilization is
inconsistent and indefensible. Some men earn more than others,
not by reason of artificial advantages in their favor, but because of
their superior intelligence and energy; and eertainly such men de
serve more reward than those who are less competent and effective.
It is impossible in the nature of things to establish &. standard of
distribution giving the same measure of recompense to all degrees of
merit. This would be equivalent to diverting a portion of the earn
ings of one class to the benefit of another. -The indcstrious'and
economical would be required to contribute to the prosperity of the
lazy and improvident. Mediocrity would count for as much as the
highest proficiency, and the incentive to exertion and improvement
would be obliterated. That would not be equality in any true and
just meaning of the term. It would be gross injustice, on the con
trary, and its tendency would be to discourage all ambition and to
reduce general prosperity to the level of a contented acceptance of
the necessities of life.
Get our prices before buying elsewhere.
Jeckell Bbos., tailors, 119 north 13 st.
Don't forget Sislek's new quarters when wanting anything in the
Ice Cream line. 133 south 12th street Phone 630.
If you order your ice of the LINCOLN ICE CO., you will get
prompt service, courteous treatment and pure ice. 1010 O Btreet.
Curiously enough, nevertheless, the feeling largely prevails that
such ought to be the situation. There are those acting in the capa
city of public teachers and claiming to be wise in social science and
political philosophy who insist that the inequalities produced by
disparity of personal qualifications are due to influences and arrange
ments which defeat the operation of natural laws and enable favored
classes and individuals to thrive at the expense of those who have
a right to the same rate of gain. They assert the familiar doctrine
that "one man is as good as another, and deducs therefrom the per
nicious sophistry that a wrong is done when the aggregated profits
of commerce and industry are so apportioaed as to make some rich
while others remain poor, or fail to get as much as they crave. This
loose ani demoralizing view of a most important matter is taught in
books, periodicals and public speeches by men of exceptional cun
ning in the art of perverting facts and distorting reasonable con
clusions. The theories that they advocate represent just enough of
truth to sugar-coat their inherent falsehood and make them general
ly mischievous. They profess to be philanthropists of sedition and
enemies of the classes for which they pretend to be laboring.
It is asserted by .these reformers and their followers that liberty
has not made good its promises as expressed in the Declaration of
Independence. Thry charge that it has not kept faith with the peo
ple because it has not banished poverty from the land and made all
men equal in material possessions and boil-cos of happiness. The
statement is boldly put forth that the intentions of tho fathers have
been frustrated by unpatriotic intrigue and conspiracy, and that for
a large proportion of the people liberty has lost its original meaning
and value. But the fact is that more is asked of liberty than it was
ever designed to accomplish. It has served everp legitimate purpose
in an admirable way, dqd can be depended upon to continue such
service for all future timelt we use it wisely; but it is not adapted to
the ends that are sought by those who complain of its alleged short
comings. There was never any pledge of the kind that they attach
to it. They have no right to expect from it what they say it has fail
ed to do. Jt has its limitations, like every other gracious and bene
ficent influence; its power stops short of the working of miracles and
we are bound to judge its results according to the nature of its work
and the necessary restriction of is functions.
There is surely no lack of liberty in this country. It is impossible
to name any relation in which more of it would help to solve a prob
lem or to supply a new chance of happiness. The average citizen is
free to do everything that can in any way promote his welfare and
increase his belongings. He is not forhidden to exert his ability in
any direction. AH the avenues of employment are open to him,
with assurance of reward in proportion to the value of his service.
There axe no barriers of any sort to interfere with the application of
his energy to the pursuit that best pleases him. He is the equal of
any other man so f ar os rights and opportunities are conceened.
There are just as many things in his favor as that of any of his
neighbors, considering what he is permitted to do for the improve
ment ot his condition. The laws do no restrain him, except as they
restrain all other men in the interest of public order, of social safety
of general justice. The measure of his liberty covers every contin
gency of personal endeaqor, and gives him permission to compete
for the best prizes that are offered in any line of industry or enter
prise. He is not condemned to remain in an inferior position by any
prohibition of the privilege of working himself into a higher one.
The matter is in his own hands, the issue depends upon his own
ability and determination. The trouble with those who .maintain
liberty has not redeemed its pledges is that they wish to push it te
an unwarranted and disyBtrous extreme. We see this impressively
illustrated in the strikes inaugurated to compel a different odjust
ment of the relations of capital and labor. The right to tie up the
F. C. Voelker has moved his stock of furs from the Y. M. C. A.
building to the north-east corner of Twelfth and N streets where he'
will be glad to serve all ot his old customers and many new ones.
Have you seen those Hammocks at Hawke's Pharmacy they are
daisies and he is selling them cheap.
E. Sisler. Wholesale Ice Cream and fruit ices. New location, at
133 south 12 St Phone 630.
Where is the best place to buy pure Jersey cream? At Central
Milk Depot, 134 South Eleventh street
We have removed our stock of harness from 1235 to 1218 O street,
where we will be glad to seeall our old customers and many new
WOODWOBTH t MoFALL.
X
w
v
v$
SST
am
rj&Mfce&&& '&&&&&
..-wfefs5