The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-20
THE TRUE ALTRUIST
Scriptures Do Not Condemn the
Social RefOrmers.
REVIEW BY JAMES Q. CLARK.



Present Order 81 Things.
Professor George Howard Fell. lecturer
on Roman law in Boston university, has
recently delivered an address on 1.-THE
Modern Altruist," in which he takes occa-
sion to uphold our present competitive
system and to assail the social reformers
on scriptural grounds. OF course it is not
an unusual thing for the supporters and
champions of error, when their cause has
been condemned by the common instincts
of justice, to defend themselves on purely
biblical premises, and it is always hope
full sign in the career Of great reform
when its enemies retire from secular de-
lenses and seek for help in source they
seldom appeal to save in the last extrem-
fly. Unlike most apologists for IN an
cient wrong Mr.. Fell, in his opposition to
social reform theories, boldly assumes
that the central figure of the New Testa-
ment endorses the methods Of the monop-
olists and usurers.
1t was Hosea Bigelow who said: "You
have got to git up airly to fool God" II
Professor Fell is not attempting TO fool
God, he is at least trying to do the next
most difficult thing, which is to prove that
He whose doctrines and life practice form
the germ and inspiration of genuine social
reform was himself disciple of Mammon.
The title of Professor Fell's address inn
plies distinction where none exists. If
the author of il is as much of an adept in
philosophy as he ought to be in Roman
law, he need not be told that the modern
altruist differs only from the ancient as a
stream near its mouth differs from the
same stream near its source. One is q
natural evolution of the other, but Is
broader, deeper and more comprehensive
in its sweep, according to the tributaries it
has absorbed.
Webster defines an aitruist as lone who
has regard for others" Hence those who
are not altruists, at least in q general sense,
are supposed to have no regard for others.
There are great many people of this
sort, and Cain may be said to have the
honor of being their oldest and most con-
spicuous representative.
Professor Fell suggests no plan what
ever for the remedies which Nationalist,
Christian Socialists and single tax advo-
Gates propose as cure for the admitted
growing evils Of civilization. He simply
opposes all organized effort at better con-
ditions, and wherever he sees a head"
in the reform ranks, aims to shit it.
While his address abounds in criticism
and fauit-hnding generally, his chief
scriptural refuge is the parable of the
talents. which seems to be the one solitary
"riie pit" from whence he fires at the
enemy's advance guard with a GOODNESS
born of settled conclusion that the
n{ 10 ~. IL
This parable is evidently q fayorite with
the advocates of our present system just
now. Even the banking magazines arc
using it for all the high per cent. interest
they can force from it.
They seem to derive more profit from it
than from all the law and the prophets
and the beatitudes combined It is, proyi-
dentially, the only comfort they find in
searching the Scriptures, and is the appar-
ent fountain-head of all their biblical irri-
cation.
The learned Professor Fell draws from
the parable" reservoir as follows: "Chrst
taught that the laborer is worthy of his
hire. and that from him that hath not
shall be taken away even that which he
hath. The parable Of the talents
points in the same direction"
This must be great consolation to men
and corporations doing business on the
instalment plan, where the victims, after
making nearly all the payments due ON
lands and chattels, have the property
taken" from them because they '.have
not" the means for the final payment-as
in the transactions of the infamous Spring
Valley, ILL.,, corporations, to say nothing
of the San Diego Reed and Hubbell addi-
ton swindle. where triangle of three
banks loaned money to purchasers at TX
per cent. a month. and after being exceed
ingly lenient till most of the money was
paid in. suddenly foreclosed, robbed the
original victims and Immediately sold the
same property to new ones. And these
are only a few among many instances
occurring every day under the "law
of contract" where one party is guilty of
premeditated robbery and the other is de-
ceived and robbed by written agreement.
Shylock has become prudent, while grow
ing more depraved, and is now law-abid-
ing creature. He no longer demands q
bond involving the violent death of a Gus
toner, for that would be murder in the
eyes of law. He only robs him by "con-
tract" leaving the responsibility of death
by starvation or suicide with the party of
the second part.
And now We are piously told that all
this is done that it might be fulfilled which
was ordered by Christ, and recorded in a
parable. According to this new rendering
Of the gospel of Him who went about do
ing good, healing those who needed a
physician" and advising rich men to win
the kingdom of heaven by selling all
they had and giving to those
who had not. the author of
the parable of the talents con-
tradicted his own record when he fed
the multitude, an act which these nine
teenth century converts must regret. and
regard as one Of the mistakes" of Jesus.
He might have secured Prof Fell's an
prevail if he had fed only those who han
pened TO have full stomachs and then COM
missioned his disciples to rob the poorer
ones of their sandals and clothing and he
stow the plumber upon those who had
plenty. Would it not be we'll for those
thriftydiseipleswho have found newcharms
in the great Teacher, and who have become
so suddenly and obtusely pious, to allow
the tired parable of the talents 10 rest
awhile and harness into active service the
one in which the eleventh
hour man gets the same
price for an hours work that those
received who had toiled from morning till
night? This would give Professor Fell
and his class a chance to immortaliye
themselves by agitating the ideas of a Zone
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