The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-02-26
CHICAGO AND PHILADELPHIA,
sArUHDAT. FEB g. 1870.
ERCRRTs TIT

have seen that no just ground exists in
nature or in natural law tor the pre-
rent distorted and unnatural society.
That a few thousands. should revel in
luxury, and that the millions should be
punched with cold and hunger, and
often die from starvation and despair,
IL a grevSouS aOrong upon the rights of
man; and we have represented it as
such, and shown how it was a wrong
originating in Fraud and Rapine. We
cndeavored to show further that, If the
original fountain was corrupt that its
waters must be tainted rs well; that is,
if those who claim the right to exclude
others from their possessions can show
10 better title than one originating in
violence and oppression, that it is in
valid, and existing laws in protecting
them in these assumptions are mere en-
gines ofpower and are an outrage upon
Justice, that IL, (snd this underlies the
whole argument), If there Be s~ch thing
as justice ip The abstract. ...
We quoted the observations of Mr..
Justice Blackstone, not so much for any
additional weight that his sanction
might give to this doctrine, as for the
purpose Of showing that, while the doc
trine was true, still in his opinion it was
best if the people-the mass of the
people-were not let into the secret.
This was forbidden learning-the tree
Of knowledge of good and evil-of
whose fruit humanity was not permit
ted to partake. For this reason we
have headed this series Of articles I" Sc
crets," and have already said enough
10 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 common life It
is well IL the mass OF mankind will obey the
lsws when made, without scrutiuizng too
closlely into tile reasons for making them. But
Shene Law 10 70 be considered not only as a
matter OF practice, but as rational science, IL
cannot be improper or useless TO examine more
deeply the rudiments and grounds Of these posi-
tive constitutions Of society"
The lectures from which the above
extract is taken, were delivered at an
English University where only those
youths meet to study whose means are
sufficient to allow them this advan-
tage, 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 this
produce a very different effect when
spoken before Manchester or Sheffield
audience. In the first case, it is called
pure abstract science in the latter, it
is demagoguism and T ,urierism.
It only requires a Glance at the quo
tation to show that the spirit Of English
absolutism gives its tone and character.
1t is the old doctrine Of despotism and
retrogression. 1t is an illustration Of
the very worst phase of Romanism in
its most unfavorable aspect. The PEG
pie 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 task
masters This is what it amounts to,
nothing more or nothing less at is
well enough if the masses of mankind
will obey the laws when made" Ger
tainly, says Divine Right, the people
were made to obey. we were made to
rule. A little knowledge is a danger
GUS thing and only produces discomfort
and trouble. Romish Austria echoes
back the same cry with approval /;
French Imperialism sends it forward
with n shout; English aristocraCy,
with the sword in one hand and its foot
upon the necks Of the people, proclaims
1t for a watchword, and the American
capitalist, the meanest Of all expressions
Of Feudalism, endorses the sentiment
with enthusiasm. Guard this secret
with flaming swords Of fire, exclaims
the whole brotherhood Of oppression
Our ruin is sealed and our glory has
departed for ever should men learn III at
all that is sacred is man himself and
that the circumstances Of birth, wealth
and position are merely accidents, and
that all the trappings with which they
are surrounded is merely species of
charlatanism resorted to fol the pur-
pose of OVer-awing the weak-minded.
We are IN the habit of saying in
America that, any one who would now
oppose human culture won d be looked
upon as a mailman or a fool We are
further in the habit of remarking that,
II was only in an age of barbarism and
superstition th@t the priest taught the
people more zealously the duties they
owed to their superiors than the duties
they owed to God and themselves Il
was only then, observes learned Profes.
sor Cd. d., that the priest lent their
whole influence to the support of des-
pOtism, and despotism filled the pockets
Of the priests with money in return.
Now how changed! The schoolmaster
is abroad and we are progressing at a
double-quick
Such an outburst has q wonderful