The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-08-11
,sECRETs--HHH.

sion We have arrived. We have seen that no
just ground exists in nature or 10 natural
law for the present distorted and unnatural
society. That a few thousands should reveI
in luxury, and that the millions should be
pinSAed with cold and hunger, and often
die from starvation and despair, is a greViOas
Erong upon the rights Of man; and We have
represented it as such, and shown how ii
was wrong originating in Fraud and Ra-
pine. We endeavored to show further that,
If the original fountain was corrupt that its
waters must be tainted as well; that is, If
those who claim the right to exclude others
from their possessions can show no better
title than ore originating in violence and
oppression, that II is invalid, and existing
laws in protecting them in these assump-
tons are mere engines Of power aud are an
outrage upon justice, that is, land this un-
derlies the whole argument), If there be such
thing as justice in iae absfrdct.
We quoted the observations Of Mr.. Justice
Blackstone, not SO much for any additional
weight that his sanction might give to this
doctrine, az for the pUrpose Of showing that,
while tie doctrine was true, still in bis
opinion Il was best II the people-the mass
of the pSople-were not let into the secret.
This wss forbidden learning-the tree OF
knowledge of good and evii-of whose fruit
humanity was net permitted to partaks.
FOR this reason we have headed this series
of articles Secrets" and have already said
enough to set that man TO reflection, who
has any capacity for thought and any human
sympathy to inspire him. We quote from
Blackstone again
"These researches, it must be owned,
would be useless and troublesome in COM
mon life. 1t is well if the mass Of mankind
will obey the laws when made, without scrut-
inning too closely into the rea sons for max
ing them. But where law is to be consider
ed not Only as matter Of practice, but as .
rationaI science, II cannot be improper or
useless to- examine more deeply 4hesr4eE
mems and groundsof these positive c6nstf.
tutions Of society"
The lectures from which the above extract
is taken, weie delivered at an English Uni
versity where only those youths meet to
study whose means are sufficient to allow
them this advantage, or who, if poor,
are expected to support church and state
with all their corruptions, in return for the
education which they there receive. Such
remarks made before such an assembly as
= a. her,
spoken before q Manchester or Sheffield
audience. In the Est case, it is called pure
abstract science in TIE latter, it is dema-
gogusm and Fourierle /.
Ii only requires a glance at the quotation
to show that the spirit Of English sbsolutism
gives il tone and character. 1t is the old
doctrine Of despotism and retrogression. II
is an illustration Of he very worst Phaze Of
Romanism in its most unfavorable aspect.
The people should be kept in ignorance for
fear that they will find out their true condi-
ton and no longer allow themselves to be
made the blind tools Of their taskmasters.
This is what it amounts 70, nothing more or
nothing less. at is well enough if the
masses ot mankind will obey the laws when
made" Certainly, says Divine Right, the
people were made to obey, we were made to
rule. A little Knowledge is a dangerous
thing and only produces discomfort and
trouble. Romish Austria echoes back the
same cry with approval; French imperial
ism sends it forward with shout English
aristocracy, with the sword in enc hand and
It's foot upon the necks of the people, pro-
claims it for a watchwoTd, and the Ameri-
can capitalist, the mesnest Of all expressions
enthusiasm. Guard this secret with fam
ing swords OF fire, exclaims the whole broth
erhood Of oppression Our ruin is sealed
and our glory has departed for ever should
men learn that all that is sacred is man him
self, and that the circumstances of birth,
wealth and position are merely accidents,
and that all the trappings with which they
are surrounded is merely a species Of char
latanism resorted to for the purpose Of over
awiEg the weak-minded.
We are in the habit of saying in America
that, any one who would now oppose human
culture would be looked upon as mailman
or fool. We arc further in the habit of
remal king that, :. was only in an age Of
barbarism and superstition that the priests
taught the people more zealously the duties
they owed to their snperiors than the duties
they owed to God and themselves. Il was
only then, observes learned Professor
ODD, that the priests lent their whole in
Auence to the support of despotism, and
despotism filled the pockets Of the priests
with money in return. Now how changed
The schoolmaster is abroad and we are pro-
crossing at a double-quick
Such an outburst has Q wonderful effect
upon the female portion Of the community,
and upon graduating seniors. It is pity
that this rs all blast. 1t is pity that the
Intellectual freedom and capacity Of our
learned Professors are usually in an inverse
ratio to the size Of their telescopes and the