The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-10-10
OUR FIRST DUTY.
FALLS CITY, Oct. 9Th, 1879.

EsD. kLLlJ shS~SAAs69 W
the natural moral law, mans first duty
is to the race a. large. next to his coun-
try. then hi, family. and lastly self In
these days of supreme selishness it is
we'll TO teach these things TO the rising
generation, in the hope that morality
may be more in vogue in future than at
present Some pretended philanthrc.
pists endeavor to pervert this sublime
doctrine to their own evil use by in
porting the descendants of Chinese
criminals, who have swarmed outside
the walls OF Chin, for centuries These
impostors claim the protection Of the
Fourteenth Amendment for their human
machines, ignoring the fact that the
amendment was adopted simply and
solely for the protection Of our own
colored fellow citizons. have u ither
time nor patience to waste on this Chi
rese question. 1t has been conclusive'y
shown that charity should begin at
home, for the reason that We Cahn0t
teach what we d. not know, nor give
what we do not possess. When our
people become models e true learning
and greatness will be the proper time TO
reform the heather. TIC benefit the race
requires teachers who can instruct by
example as well as precept. Americans
stand 10 more need Of missionary labor
than any other class under tne sun. be-
cause OF their self conceit and bigotry.
Our present system Of education. though
laLded to the skies for its perfection, is
sadly defective; our youth sp-nd the
bright morning of life following sounds.
Close examination proves, with too
many OF them, common sense to be
very scarce. At the noon of life they
are thrown upon the world with minds
expert in trifies. having yet everything
10 learn that can make them wise, or
useful. Or happy. l challenge those
learned fools who scorn all suggestions
for progression (as their ancestors al ways
did, to explain the present demorallza-
ton of society without admitting these
facts. "A tree is known by its fruit. :"
Though We cannot reasonably expect to
reform the outside would until we have
perfection at home. we may. for instrUc.
ton, by comparison take birdscye
view Of tho universe. If our object be
to benefit our race. we will naturally
glance first at the poor aud oppressed.
and, if our hearts are in the right place.
We can look no further until we have
vowed that. in 30 far as our voice can
be heard or our pen convey our
thoughts, we will cry aloud and spare
not in view Of 8" Mans inLumanity to
man"
The workingmen. composing the
great mass Of suffering humanity. de-
mand our best thoughts and most
practical aid. "Givc every man eve :
rywhere an equal chance" was Lin
coins noble sentiment. and he who will
help others TO help themselves is true
benefsctor.
It is worse than useless to argue with
many "hewers Of wood aud drawers Of
water" bnt for the benefit Of those few
who are amenable to reason. and in
hopes of those who are yet to launch
their frail barks on life's tempestuous
ocean, our duty is plain.
Those having families, who are too
selfish to undergo the privations and
hardships incident to pioneer life in
making homes for their children, de
serve the severest censure. What if
our revolutionary fathers and mothers
had shrunk from their duty and said as
these do, "Our children can look out
for themselves 20 They will hang
around town. because the land which
they crossed the continent to possess is
found in its natural state, instead of
being fenced ana plowed up! They
will take ranch as soon as they have
money enough to buy four cows. three
horses and . small flock Of sheep. Be.
fore tho desired amount is raised. they
will be gone where the woodbine
twineth. Our people have 80 little Ct
the genuine home sent :ment that they
are Indifferent to the conf Of fixed
abode.
The homestead law is comparatively
q dead letter. and railroad monopelies
have in their hands tho best part Of the
peoples lands. Oar section was forci-
bly, reminded Of this fact when. q few
days since. an agent of the N P r II
Land Department appeared in our midst.
After years Of privation and suffering,
hoping against hope, our mis- represcn-
tatives in Congress have turned us poor
colonial subjects of treacherous Gov
eminent over to the tender mercies of q
giant monopoly. Here it is proper to
state that never did q railroad company
offer easier terms to settlers. 1t is not
the company against whom We feel
such bitterness. but the Government
"of the people for tho people," &c.
At the present rate Of increase in
population and settlement, the home
seeker City years hence will have t. GO
to Alaska or Il Hollow Globe. Had
l thousand tongues. and each were
gifted as that Of Clay or Webster,
would cheerfully spend my life in per-
suading the landless poor. in the name
of God and suffering humanity. 20 &C.
cupy the land. l consider the great
apathy Of workingmen. as t, the Ques,
ton Of proprietorship Of the land. to be
yery iuexcusab!c, And can assure them