The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-09-15

;inually aeitated and made to commit infrac- o.
ions of the principle Of equal liberty. Indi- NJ
viduals and parties, aotuated really by de- h
,ire to enjoy more than their share, and seek
ing to impose . subserviency to their own p
pleasure and ambition ON their fellow-citizens, d
arc all the time claiming and obtaining, in the O
name Of Society and the Public Good, some
shocking privilege or exemption, some vexa- U
tious or rapacious encroachment on the equali- t
ty and happiness of others. Well might We
exclaim, even here and now, with Made. u
Roland: ooh Liberty! what crimes are COM t
mitted in thy name"
Hence, for the sake of defniteness and clear
ness of expression and thought, when discus I
sing questions of public interest, in their re-
lation to Liberty, should rather use the {
phrase Equal Liberty. instead of Civil Liberty. I
This would serve to keep the true and primary
idea of q just and legitimate government be-
fore our minds.
EQUAL Rights would not be good an OK
preston as Equal Liberty, because what are
rights and what are wrongs might be disput-
cd on many points, while it is clear and I'M
questionable that Equal Liberty is itself a
right from which all other rights are deduct
bic and auxiliary.
Now, then, how does the Public School Sys-
tenn briefly exposited at the head of this num-
Der, stand the test of the principle of Equal
Libertyf
Just here the story of what once happened
in q comnunistic society may be appropriately
related.
They had put all their goods and cash into
common stockhold. With this they bought
large farm, and built a roomy house, with az
partments for every domestic and social con-
venience. Aku everything necessary for the
. efficient and profitable cultivation of their
farm. All they had in the world was invested
4 in it, and none of them could leave it without
: great loss. They moved there with their fami-
o lies. For q while the experiment prospered ;
r but by and by it's peace was disturbed by the
3 formation of two parties who disagreed upon
l. what kind of fare was best for the human
J. stomach and health. One party, the omnivori'
ans, held that flesh, fish, fruit, and vegetables
N were very good and salubrious when properly
10 cooked. The other party, the Vegetarians
W held that fruit and vegetables only, whether
I'd cooked or raw, were adapted by nature II
u, mans masticating and digesting organs
~ Strange to say, the Omnivorians were all de
It cidedly opposed to strong drink, whether dis
titled or fermented, while the Vegetarians ad
is vocated its consumption, for the reason that
ic- is produced from vegetables-corn, grapes
le- apples, ETC. The dispute waxed hot, and part
of spirit ran high, and each party determined
cir impose its opinion of what was good and rigi
nd upon the other. A general meeting was bel
er- motions and speeches made, when, after ca
ion ing the previous question, the Vegetarla
lire carried the day by o clear majority, siienc
ore their CONTRADICTIONS, and passed resolutio
.em prohibiting all animal food and requlrl
lib every member to drink small beer. LII
ris- called it reform.
the Now, I will not discuss whether these veg
ing tarians were right or wrong in their notion
wer the proper requirements Of the human cons
, of tuition, but what contend for is that they
ice, priyed their brethren of Equal Liberty
IN usurped over the minority power or hbe
ton of dictation which, if it had been exerci'
man towards themselves, they would nave mo
tion nantly reprobated. The principle OF Eq
can Liberty suggests that they should have &C
? at ON the Christian maxim to do unto Others
dis thew would that others should do unto the
,pul. Ina left free to choose and regulate their
o the diet. In order that each ana al misn' O.
,anic cise this liberty, there no necessity of
body ercing or depriving any one. Afrahge"'
II to, snabling each to have what he liked We
, not have been easy Groups of diners might b
TO as been formed according to taste, and proven
This for each set procured. Each one could
coer- been served in due proportion, without abb
Q any euce or waste. Above all, liberty and equi
,ition would have been saved; aud precedent
efini- other and worse usurpations and dictat
hat q would not have been set. Thus at the lar
acct, question, one abuse of power brought on
alton, other; the majority ruled without charity
on of the minority struggled without humility
ohbor the whole concern fell into confusion ana
berty; The application of this example OF COM
y, and istic absolutism to our Common o.uo , =.
ON the TEN, is palpable One is, in the physical
traint, what the other is, in the intellectual
nature moral order. Inc 4'""' VA W
nd 80 definitely, the CIVIL so'eie's''
as ne arch, aristocracy OF PoP"
ons or more rIght 10 lorce u po. a"1 N
It, and one particular course .. .ou'
clash. are several courses, either of which M
,resent pursued without detrimept to the equa
- ia neaceful liberty of others.