The record-union., 1894-10-12
REV. FATHER MOELLER'S LECTURE.
He Deals With the Question of Social
Problems.
Human Rights Defined and the Neces-
sity of Government and Laws
Explained.

SAlDJcCt Vi TSOclal WHICH ne
handled in mastery manner, reasoning
soundly and speaking in manner that
held his audience from beginning to end.
1t is received maxim, lie said, that all
men are equal. In ono sense il is true,
that no TWO men are equal. Ono will be
stronger, or taller, or more active, or
more intellectual than another. One may
be crippled and the other perfect. Two
boys start with the saline advantages ap-
parently, but IN the end one is far ahead
Of the other. One may die a millionaire
and the other pauper.
y man may be fitted to mako a good
lawyer, but will never make n successful
merchant, while the merchant would
never succeed as doctor, lawyer or
soldier. Mental endowments differ rs
we'll as physical. There is large class
Of men who talk loudly of liberty. equal
ity and fraternity, DuJ we very soon be-
gin 10 suspect them.
They talk OF their rights. but never
talk OF the rights of others It IS ovIdent
that what they want is the right TO do
what they please, but want others to 90
as they wish them to. Evolution is q
favorIte doctrine with others. If the
views Of some men were followed to a
conclusion, II one were stronger than an
other, lie would have the rlght to force
him 10 obey; 10 take away his property,
OF even TO kill him.
Ne are all jealous of our rights. We
may work Willingly for another man,
bat If we think he Is in any way infring-
ing on our rights. we rebel immediately !
God made us ana has the right 10 dispose
OF US. The child who Is cared Tor by its
parents should be directed by its parents
The rights given US by God must not be
taken away. We are the children of
God. No matter what men may do TO
Us, though crippled, poor. enslaved or in
prison, we are still the children OF God
still before God equal To them, or even
better, perhaps, ana still doing His will |
lie who injures us must reckon with
Him. We must each render our account
to Him-singly-nota as Il whole but each
one for himself.
God is our Father. He has put us on
this earth TO work out our destiny-to
earn livelihood. From the way He has
put us here il is clear that lie wants US TO
work. Other animals take care of them
selves, but man is the most helpless of
ali. lie must work To keep alive. As he |
works more aud more, he becomes active
and wants 10 work. This is the di!ier-
ence between civilized man and the say
age. who does not work.
AS the infant walks he becomes |
stronger and the mishaps he meets with |
The world he becomes strong and self |
reliant. The world was not made for Que |
man; there are other men in ii, and hence |
arise complications, as men arc selfish |
and want ali they can get. We need Or |
gauiZatlon and government TO hold to- |
gether, and we need something to make !
US respect our neighDors' rights and per- |
form our own duties. Ne must each sac |
rifice some rights. Men do not like to, |
and must be regulated. Laws must be |
made TO restrain them, and must be en- /
forced. They must be punished if they |
do not observe the rights OF others. !
God gives the authority To make laws Tor |
The common good. AS one community |
will encFoach upon another, there must be !
leadership and a combination to resist |
aggression. There must he authority TO |
restrain, TO enforce, 10 make improve !
ments; the Government makes laws and |
they must be obeyed. A country means |
more than the hills and valleys seen in !
it. 1t means law, Government, protec- |
lion 10 LIE, liberty ana happiness. II we |
gather together all of pleasure, comfort, |
happiness aud all they imply, fields OF |
grain, cities and homes-thaL is our coun- |
try. The flag that waves over our land |
the star paDgled banner-means the |
protection OF the law over us.
We see that the principle of country /
and Government comes To us from God |
In the beginning, when mems passions |
were strong aud Development was weak. |
it needed strict Government-a mon |
archy-but times have changed and laws /
must change with them.
Many arc dissatisfied and complain OF |
ineq quality because others do better than |
they. As one gets ahead the other feels /
that he is injured, but he is not neces-
sarily SO. tio should not try to pull |
down his fellow nan, but TO build up: |
should try to catch up instead of holding !
his fellow back. Many so-calicd re- |
formers work on that plan. They are !
dissatisfied because others get ahead.
Injustice does creep III, however, and |
one stands III the way OF another, SO that |
he cannot get the rights God has given
him. The monarchy Is The highest typo
of government iii the abstract because it |
is supposed to typify unity; but when the
people are educated TO govern themselves
the republic Is best, if people work for tie
general good; but il each one is for him
self 1t IS tho worst Legislators are ac-
cused OF corruption, but we should look
! lower. Neeaauot blame the man who
sells his vote Tor Si,U00, if the man who
elects him sells his for glass OF whisky.
The lecturer spoke OF various theories
Of equality-auarchist, commune socjal- |
ism and the Bellamy plan. They might
all lie good if practicable, but they never
will or can be. They take away all am
Dilionand incentive.
Georges sinEle-taX theory will not do
what 1t pretendS 10. Our landed inter-
ests, the foundation Of the country, noed
the most protection. but tho mlnuIact-
urers get it. We should not tax land
alone, but tax liquor and saloons. What
we need is wise legislation. Government
ownership Of railroads looks very nice.
but it will not work. The trouble with
Government ownership is that people
learn TO lean too much on Government
ana lose their selt-reliance. We would
relapse into barbarisin under Govern
ment ownership. 1t puts too much
power into it's hands and would enslave
the people, and be a step backward. The
idea OF our torefathers who drafted the
Constitution of the country was 10 re-
serve their rights and give little power 10
the Government. Now the idea seems TO
be 10 centrai!ze.
AS TO women's rights, he believed
women to be equal to men, but they
make q great mistake when they want to
be like them. In their own sphere they
would be imperial. We want them 10
teach us how TO love, TO be kind. to be
merciful, and then we will respect her.
Her place is in the home; home, the
center Of our best thoughts, hopes and
wishes-the place of safety and happi-