Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-03-22

Much is daily said in the papers and other
wise against the anarchists. Such structures
nre Just, but of little account. Men like the
valiant who threw the bomb into the
French Chamber of Deputies, are past rea
son themselves and can have TO wide intlu-
cncc. In one point TRADES against these
violent anarchists are worse than useless
They withdraw attention from the anarch-
ism that is really dangerous. The anarch
ism which in fact threatens society is not
tina, of our ignorant immigrants: it consists
in the apathy which our best people, social
ri display in view Of their social and politi-
ral obligations.
There are many reasons for this apathy
Most of us have been religiously trained to
distinguish sharply between the sacred and
the secular portions of our conduct, and to
place political and social affairs in the secll
lar class This teaching was wrong and has
produced most unfortunate results. We
have derived from it the habit OF thinking
that as care for public concerns is merely
secular ii is hardly duty AT ali and may rs
we'll be neglected as not.
Equally common and equally pernicious Is
The thought that the existence OF human be
mgs on this earth has meaning only in view
of a higher form of existence to como after
DEATH II certainly ennobles our conception
of human nature to think of it a. destined
for fuller being than is possible here but
it is extremely misleading TO regard men :
earthly experience "a destitute of value on
it, own account. Viewing it SO, Wa inevi-
tai,r come to consider it as OF little import
an, Q how the affairs of this world go on. Is
not an unscliish life here and now as beauti-
full thing as any other sphere of existence
car bring it to nothing like ideal perfec
ton right here in this actual earth, will not
the heaven thus begun have a valuable char
artcr OF its own
DANGEROUS IDEAS.
Queerlv enough contempt for civil affairs
has been extended and intensified by certain
notions intimately associated with free in
stitutionS One of these is the representa-
ton of society and the State rs arbitrary
reactions: devices. necessary evils, to which
men resorted simply for the sake of con
vcuiencc: whereas both have in some form
always existed, and both are absolutely in
dispcnsable to any worthy development on
the part of individuals. However, ii will
not do to think of the state simply as a
means to an end, as existing merely in order
that fine individuals may be produced: for
II
and above the individuals whom it helps up
ward.
Another dangerous idea which the pioneer
friends of free institutions have sent dow
to us is the belief that social and politica
affairs will take care of themselves. Th
mode of viewing the state makes il an auto
maton, needing only to be set going, whel
I'll the good with which it is capable o
blessing the citizens will be evolved withou
the slightest attention from them. Som
may suppose that history favors this view
because in mems political development hith
erto individuals have figured mostly as iii
struments rather than conscious agent
with clear purposes touching the ends whic
have been actually wrought out.
NEW PROBLEMS BEFORE SOCIETY.
But this suppose it true till now, canno
continue to he the case That society ha
thus far been mechanically evolved, as
We're, does not imply that it is always t
grow that way. As the rise of man powe
to think abstractly was turning point /
evolution in general, so now, in social evou
ton, we are at a turning point, which
characterized by the necessity for applyin
humanity's purpOsive thought to the gud
ance of society The world S population ca
no longer spread out into new territory, q
has always been so easy heretofore; it
compelled to grow by greater and create
condensation We must perforce learn hoy
to live together. Mere trust in the social
ed laws of social evolution was once not 5
unsafe, but it is no longer efficient. As TIL
world wakes older, the Power above MOI
and more takes man into his counsel in d
recting it, Problems of the gravest SCI
now confront society which few years ag
..,1,-
we are lost, and they will not solve then
selves.
Proper political education of the youn
involves the eradication of the above fall
ideas, and the substitution therefor of II
corresponding truths. There can be L
hemispheres, one sacred. the other secula
to a really good mans life. Nothing in
is secular in the sense that duty and relisic
do not extend thither. In nothing are v
under more solemn obligation than is upC
us to exert our largest and best influence f
the veal of the State. Mans life now
important, infinitely so, and partly.
least, on its own score Society Is not
artificial affair, mere convenience, II
indispensable to perfect individuality; and
is thus necessary not as an evil but as
good. Nor is it an automaton, which God h
wound up and so set going that it will r.
equally well whether we care Tor IL or nC
Perpetual vigilance for its welfare is d
mandcd from us all.
THE CHILDREN MUST BE TAUGHT,
Efficiently to inculcate these lessons
mnst begin with the young when they a
very young. Mothers and other prima
teachers, all the Kindergarten influences,
n word, need to he enlisted in the work
is a sad fact that women, who are the chi
companions and teachers of children dur
all the years when our fundamental a
strongest moral convictions are formed,
the most part feel no responsibility touchi
public matters Let a strong sense of su
responsibility become theirs, and the dut
of citizenship will be talked over, as
elements Of morality now are, in the M
sery, at the table, 10y the tireSide, in scho
children thus coming early to feel it TIN
duty necessarily to consider political II
social interests, and to treat them as I
most precious and important ON earth,
Schools can do much for Young pcrso