Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-05-19
mlSDIaa ONES OWN BusIsEss.

Professor Summers latest essay treats of
the passion for dealing in social questions,
which is +" one of the marks of the times. "
He asks II - is not true that the amateurs
in social science are not all the time ask
ing, What shall we do with 'neighbor A,
or what shall we make neighbor A do for
neighbor b." There is no other than an
affirmative answer to be made, It is a
meddling age; an era when many make it
their business to attend to the business of
all Others. Not only is this true socially,
but in every political sense, and it finds its
elimination in communion, which, in its
essence, is the art of attending to othsr
peoples affairs, Professor Sumner does
not pursue the argument to that extent,
but it is where the logic of it leads. The
essayist believes the one duty Of every man
is to take care OF his own affairs. This he
does not separate from our duty to society;
the two are one, he holds; the latter is
accomplished when the former is done.
But it is true that the mary hold
the two to be distinct, and the
chief duty to society to consist in direct
ing what other people ought to do.
Prof Sumner is awsre Of this, and some
what disappointingly to the reader leaves
that branch of the subject with his own
assertion. The man fitted to care for a
family still finds others about him having
personal claims upon him. If. says our
essayist, he answers to these, ne has a sur
plus Of wisdom, virtue and energy which
he believes is true Of no man, because S
family charge is capable of infinite develop
ment, and "no man can suffice to the full
measure of duty" for which family may
draw upon him. So, he holds, the best
service man can bestow upon society is
to spend it upon his family. Tie Profess-
or's statement carries him too far. Men
certainly owe something to society distinct
from the debt to the family. Any other
rule will put families into cells, and under
that condition there could be nothing
worthy designation as society. We owe,
for instance, duties to the community in
which we reside; we owe sacrifices to the
institutions of society, and we win rewards
in return for making them. The man of
wealth owes special duty to society. and
none the less does the poor man. Society
is an entity distinct from the family, and
- =. . 1,-k,- T., .,,Ja-a&o15 - 81 -. - -
wemay to add to it's exaltation. There are
duties in society to be performed. and some
one must not only perform them "but lead
IN and direct their performance. If there
is misdirection Of public sentiment it is
duty to declare against it. Ii there is
wrong feeding upon society, come must
be possessed of sufficient "surplus energy,
virtue and wisdom to strapgle it. Every
man will find in just Whist way
he can best discharge his duty
to society. The full discharge of duty to
the family will evolve surplus ability to
respond to the demands society of right
makes upon every man. The danger lies
in the mismeasurement in impoverishiRg
one for the sustenance OF the other.
Aside from this danger, TO return to the
essayist, he points cut another. the danger
of impairment interference in the affairs of
others. Friends of humanity, "a rule,
encounter both. He groups together those
who would require all to observe Sunday
in 8 particular manner compel all to
be teetotalers force all TO eschew
Injuries oblige all by taxstion to con.
form to given manner OF living. aad in
self interest those who would lay taxes to
compel Others to buy their goods. But ad |
uniting the force Of his Illustrations, it is
clear that distinction is TO be made
between such and those who labor for the
well,being Of their fellows, employing