The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1892-01-07
Equal Rights VS.. Equal Opportunities.


was that of Equal Opportunities for alp
and not merely equal rights for all.
A study of the laws and institutions of
our own country reveals to us the fact that
Americans as people enjoy equal rights
under our republican form of government
to greater extent than any other nation.
The vast growth of Democracy through
out the world is therefore due more to the
increasing demands of the people to be af-
forded equality of opportunities in the vari-
Gus avenues of life. rather than to de-
mand for CAPABILITIES of civic rights. No
where in our statutes can we find the line
of distinction drawn between rich and poor,
black and white. foreign and native born;
but we are all sensible of the fact that such
line of distinction is continually drawn in
one way or another by those to whom is,
entrusted the power of administering these
laws unto the people. We see the line even
more rigidly drawn by society. and it is
grave question as to which of the twO-sO-
ciety or the administrators and guardians of
| the laW-StandS in most need of thorough
reform. The question is the most prOmi-
nent one with which the whole civilized
pick up volume or periodical of our cur
rent literature without meeting the views of
some student of sOcolOgic or political ques-
tons. the keynote of which is reform; and
reform in the sense implied is but another
term for equality of opportunities.
The distinction between equal rights and
equal opportunities is however. so grossly
misinterpreted by most people that it is
very common thing to see man or woman
sacrificing REAL opportunity for fam
cied RIGHT.
When one sees skilled workman on
whom is dependent the support of wife
aud family. lay down his tools and quit
work at the beheSt of walking dele
gate, !" we have an illustration of the throw
ing aside of his opportunity to support his
family and sustain his house. for the desire
to enforce what seems to him to be Ibis
rights" Granting that Ibis rights are
legitimate, does he really become a gamer
by such course of action?
When a man refuses to work for 81 or
ST.. SO per diem, and in order to demonstrate
his right to higher wages and more advanc-
ed employment commits crime and comes
to prison to work twice as hard and under
conditions thousand fold more humili-
ating for 10 cts per diem. he not only sac
rifces a real opportunity but he is an ar
rant fool in the bargain; and when you see
man who is willing to acknowledge the
fact, you generally find him the first one to
call himself fool. The question therefore
presents itself in different phase-DO we
strive to grasp the real opportunities of life
while we are striving to gain what we are
pleased to term equality of rights? In other
words, do we not create more real Unequal
ity by ignoring the God given opportunities
that daily come to us? Study the history
of the lives of men and women who have
become famous in their different vacations
ask the prosperous merchant. the banker,
the artisan, or the common labOrer who
possesses little home and happy family,
for the secret of their success in life and
you will find it to be the result of embrace
ing the trivial opportunities that have came
to them from time to time during life, and
not. as many misguided persons suppose.
the outcome of some great chance that
comes but once in life time.
What are you doing towards the improve
ment of your opportunities while an inmate
of this institution? Are you sensible of the
fact that you need to learn how to write
letter, work problem in mathematics. or
learn to spell correctly? You have an Op-
pOrtunity of doing so. Are you blessed with
fair education and wish that you could
learn more of the practical lessons of life?
The Chautauqua circle will help you gain
this. Are you honest in your desire to be-
come useful member of society upon your
release? Take advantage of the real OPP
pOrtunities that are constantly presented to
you, and bring yourself to the.point where
you cease to rail against all society and face
the facts that will surely be forced upon
you the moment you begin in earnest an
honest inquiry into your past failures.
We all know that society and the admin
istratOrs and guardians of the law work
considerable injustice to many deserving
people. but in all my observations / have
yet to find single instance of failure on the
part of those who have seized and made the
most of the small opportunities of life. and
this rule is applicable to life in prison as
we'll as to life in the busy world outside.
SCRUTATOR.
''There is one great satisfaction have"
remarked the tortoise. as he drew in his
head and closed his house for the night:
'hOw ever much my social rivals may hate
me because l am in the swim. they can't
stab me in the back."-Puck.