The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-20

oPinaoHS VI CnAtdCteIS mtIO0uCSu 70 pO1us
q moral.
Imam sufficiently intelligent to occupy
Professor Fell's position in Boston univer.
sity, ought to know that the parallels Of
Christ were simply the necessary, but in
cidentai and perishable vehicles for the
conveyance of living and essential truths,
and that the characters and objects referred
to in them are such as were most expedi-
emit and most familiar to pupils who, as
Jesus expressly stated, were not prepared
to receive and understand the principle
involved except through parallels or object
lessons.
To hold the teacher responsible for the
opinions of his dramatic characters, and
to represent him as approving of customs
and institutions referred TO for purposes of
illustration, is absurd, and the wayfaring
man though college professor ought to be
aware of it.
It is equivalent to warm-hearted young
medical student falling in love with and
proposing TO marry the handsome mani
kin used by his teacher to illustrate the
human form divine.
Professor Fell, in the same lecture, says:
'sThe crushing refutation of both Nation
alism and Christian Socialism lies in the
fact that under both systems the individ-
ual is to have his wants supplied without
regard to his productive capacity or exer-
ton. The grand motive of improvement
and of effort is thus destroyed. The two
systems demand the repeal of human
nature in order to carry them into effect. -.
The foregoing proves that Professor Fell
has not studied these questions candidly
and intelligently.
Eirsf-Srcinxv I. .Yraadv sv,rror<;ra Sc
paupers and criminals without regard to
their productive energy and capacity. be
cause It is neither merciful nor legal to
starve or murder them.
Second-Socialists, nationalists and even
anarchists, all insist with the apostle that
those who have productive energy and
other creatures who are at present unpro-
ductive-shall work or 60 unfed.
But to claim that the grand motive of
struggle for physical life and surplus gold
is to degrade and brutalize human nature.
The men and women who have done any
thing for the worlds uplifting have not
occupied this plane, and if Professor Fell
finds there his s.grand motive of improve
ment and of effort, - he is not fitted for the
VI
In all ages those who nave wrought the
most for their kind, and hence forathe
world, through inventions, literature and
reform have been preyed upon, crippled,
prosecuted and unappreciated by that sor-
did class who have found in the faculty,
disposition and ambition to accumulate
wealth at any cost and in the struggle for
physical existence the grand motive of inn
e - = =. 4
men that they succeed because they 'shave
the brains to acquire wealth." But the
fact is, q majority OF them lack brains in
the high sense of the term. They more
frequently succeed because they possess
the taste and the craftiness to steal oppor-
tunities opened up by better and wiser
men. who have the genius to create and
invent, and because they are permitted by
law to fatten on the necessities and Gala
mites OF Others. ps.ead of brains they
more frequently represent overbalanced
stomachs, grown big and unwieldIy on
diet of chattel and land mortgages.
widows houses" high interest rates,
and s'brains" stolen from wiser
heads. And worst of all, their whole am
bition and aspiration seem localized in
the supreme desire to increase the size
of their stomach and pockets through
additional instaliments. They waddle
around over constantly diminishing moral
pedals searching and begging for more
unconscious of their own deformity and
! ignorant of the growing contempt of the.
people who, instead of fearing and respect
ing them as they once have done, are
beginning to regard them with suspicion
and to mentally ask how much piracy and
suffering their riches represent.
Where would civilization have been to-
day, including the Stree Libraries" which
the Andrew Carnegies dribble out from
vast fortunes contributed by the sinews
and agonies of half-paid wage-serfs who
will never get a peep at the books or even
the buildings. had souls like Bruno, Calico,
Newton, Franklin, Watt. Fulton, Morse,
Edison and the moral and spiritual refor-
mers-including the Great Teacher-found
their general motive of improvement and
of effort" in the ideal assumed for human.
ity by Professor Fell? And how are these
benefactors of their race-these lovers and
inspirers of the worlds progress-usually
paid for their priceless services, especially
if they fail to make money!" which Aga
zie said he had not ''time for?"
They are frequently rewarded by social
ostracism on the part Of brainless aristo-
cratic upstairs, and, if inventors and au-
thors, by having their pockets picked by
commercial experts while they themselves
are doing their utmost to save from strang-
ulation and extinction in the dirty waters
of animalism and Mammonism . society
that is not worthy of them.
Professor Fell, after paying his respects
or disrespects-to the single-tax theory,
says: 1.-THE two Observation-Disclosures
and Christian northumberland q repeal
of human nature"
First-The efforts which Professor Fell
assails in bulk are not confined to any
''two systems" Different social reforms
are moving along somewhat divergent
lines, like so many streams, toward COM
mon end. And their ideals do not in
volve nor contemplate the repeal. but the
improvement and regeneration of human
nature.
To say that we demand the repeal of
human nature is identical with saving
that the worlds great inventors demand
the repeal of physical nature, because they
insist upon newer and higher use of nat
ural forces--the more perfect conservation
and utilization of energy. Just now a
large proportion OF the human family are
engaged in bounding and devouring those
who are slower, weaker and less crafty than
themselves.
Another portion are saying "Sick 'em"
and urging the aggressive ones on in their
purSuit heaause-like certain other can