The Labor enquirer., 1884-10-04
Sorting Apples.
For The Enquirer.

Sorting Apples. F.,
For The Enquirer. .'-.-.
Allow me space for few words regard
ing ''confusions" found by Mrs, Parsons
in my criticism of W.T.. D. I still be-
lieve thoughtful people will avoid terms
which do not contain the ideas they wish
to express. The statement, this world
is,governed too much, must mean that
the worlds is not rightly governed, or
that natural laws are ignored by statute
laws. Then why not say so?
To say the world shall not be governed
is as foolish as to say it shall not turn on
its axis. The man who says "too many
laws" should state whether he refers to
the civil enactments which agree with
natural laws, or to those which oppose
them. Too many laws" is too general !;
it may refer to any kind OF laws, there
fore am not confused when agree that
there are too many bad laws. Mrs. Par
sons is welcome to the benefit derived
from my announcement that the world
is governed by natural law. Perhaps l
should have said that was not the first
to discern the fact. She thinks the state
ment is "profundity," but it is real easy
after you learn it.
This matter of bad laws reminds me
of rotten apples. Once I lived on farm,
and all the trifing work was assigned to
me because was good for nothing else.
1t was often my duty to sort the rotten,
apples from the sound ones. Now, the
decayed portion was useless; they were
ap Piles which l did not want, but would
l clearly describe the condition of my
fruit by saying had "too many apples ?"
A lazy small boy might say so, and
offer motion that the whole batch be
made into cider to sell, but he would be
ruled out of order (as was) and be COM
PEELED to 60 on with the revision. Per
haps W. 7. D. never sorted apples, and
having no discrimination to apply to
laws, he wearily labels them ''too many"
He would abolish large portion without
examination 80 that the number of laws
would be reduced to 'just enough" He
would also promiscuously dunno half his
barrel of apples into the ditch and eatthe
remainder, good and bad. E,
af 70 tha Of
my confusion"
According to Zeno's statement there
was no proposition upon the part of W.
7. D. to abolish natural laws. 1t was the
complaint of w. I. D., to use his own
words, that laws (man-made) make
slavery possible since they violate the
natural law Of liberty"
1twas pure charity on my part to con-
cede that he meant legal enactments."
He made no distinctions The mistake
made by W, T. D. and Mrs. Parsons is,
they assume that civil laws need to be
enforced, while natural laws need only
to be let alone. took the position, and
it has not been assailed, that true liberty
consists in obeying natural laws that we
must know them, and establish proper
conditions before we can benefit by them
and enjoy real freedom. =.
l mentioned evolution because belieyr
ers in that doctrine must believe in law.
1t is the doctrine which explains crea-
ton better than any other. This. part of,
my argument is useless. Mrs. Parsons
thinks, unless can describe the relation
of the first animal with one faculty, to
man with 10S. Excuse me, please, can
not write book this afternoon. 1 was
not there when the first signs of man
appeared. Had 1 known IN which of the
sixteen periods the change would be
made, should have been ON hand, or
told an ENQUIRERreportert to be there. +.
But surely Mrs. Parsons cannot want
so much proof, for after demanding evil
dence from me she most heartily SUBJ
scribes" to the theory Of, evolution.
If she would but accept my statements
with equal faith, 1 should not need to be
criticised.
1 did not say man developed from the
first animal at one ''evolute" or single
step, as my critic seems to infer.
Yes / think itswould be ga very de-
sirable order of things if man could
finally reach that condition where he
would need only to understand and obey
natures laws" / believe he will reach.
that condition, therefore am not an
Anarchist, for the laws of association are
natural laws. To obey them is to be
governed by them, and govern is q
word full of terror to the Anarchist.
ZENo.