Omaha daily bee., 1888-04-29
Moral OblIg alton.

Moral Oblig alton.
Philadelphia Ledger: The truth
that every new right secured involves
new obligations and new duties needs
much more emphasis than it at present
receives. The desire to gain rights is
strong enough and sufficiently mani
tested, but the desire to fulfill worthily
the trusts they impose is comparatively
weak. A man chained hand and foot
is certainly deprived OF the right of
free motion, and justly demands re-
lease. But directly he is set free null
titude of duties and obligations spring
up. Where shall he direct his steps?
How shall he use his hands? What
good thing is he to bring out Of his lib
erty that was impossible before? Ii he
uses his newly-found power only to
abuse and maltreat his fellow-men, it
may well be doubted whether, after all,
his former state of restraint were not
preferable. So with all other
rights-free thoughts, free speech,
free press, free labor-they are bless
ings in proportion as they are exercised
for good; when they are used in the in
terests of selfishness and greed, or to
destroy the rights of others, or to break
down law and order, they cease to be
benefactions, and if carried in such di-
rections beyond certain limits, society
Justly retracts the boon. Rights used
in the cause of wrong certainly forfeit
their claim to recognition, and render
their very name an absurdity. 1t is
time that more emphasis were laid upon
moral obligation, both as between man
and his fellow man and between man
and the community. Too many people
are developing a keen insight into
what they suppose others owe them,
I H.. l,,1l <Hf
ception truly alarming as to what
they owe to others. Clamoring loudly
for their own rights, they forget how
many rightful claims of others they are
constantly Withholding. 1t is, of course,
only the few extremely pronounced
cases of this injustice with which the
law can deal. BY far the larger pro-
portion are beyond the reach of law
courts. The father of u family, claim
ing the right to order his own house
hold, robs his children of the most sa-
cred rights, and through avarice, self
lshness, or i'll humor, wrecks their hap
piness and prospects. Or an avaricious
manufacturer, who claims the right to
manage his own business without inter-
ference, so manages it that his work.
men must labor at starvation wages,
and his customers must pay full price
for an adulterated article. Or the Ia
borer eagerly claims his right to labor
at pleasure, and to cease when he will
yet utterly disregards the same right
of his fellow laborer, and compels
him, by threat and penalty, to abstain
from working at his command. Thus,
| in the name of liberty, many an act of
| tyranny flourishes; in the name of free
| dom, many a feeble one becomes en-
| shaved; in the name of human rights
! many man and woman is cruelty
wronged; in the name OF free speech,
| falsehoods disseminated, many errors
| taught. What is needed among us
| more than the insistence of rights is
| the enforcement of duty. 1t should be
| impressed upon the minds and hearts OF
all that right is not something
| merely to secure, to rejoice in, and
! to use at pleasure, but that it is
solemn trust to hold, an obliga.
ton to fulfill, power to WELD, a re,
sponsibility for which each who
| possess it is accountable. The question
SO often asked: "Am 1 receiving all
the rights to which l am entitledY
should be coupled with the more i'm.
portant and searching ones: "Am
which am invested for the best good
of society? Am 1 giving TO others all
the rights which belongs to them, as fal
as my power extends?" 1t is this atti
tude OF mind which gives breath and
dignity to life, and raises justice and
generosity to their rightful places in
society. Only = men live for some
thing higher anu nobler than self car
they attain their true value, and only
as this is done habitually by individuals
can we hope to see an elevated ant
| prosperous community. A movement
in this direction is being made by The
formation of societies, whose object il
said to be ''the dissemination of :
knowledge of the principles Of goot
citizenship and the promotion of the
observance of the duties imposed
thereby" We gladly welcome all sucl
endeavors, hoping that their influence
may be widely ditfused and may help t,
place the whole doctrine of rights upol
the firm and sure basis of righteousness