The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-09-17

W. A0NO AOO4ASA4y 60N0O AOAAy w
folly, until of National, State and mu,
nicipal man made laws, we have a
monstrous and chaotic Collection, In
congruous, unfathomable and unintel-
ligent to the most skilled student OF
the law"
Wise men of the law have long since
discovered that cunning, unscrupulous
lawyers can outgeneral and defeat
them, for the cunning lawyer can
and will unearth from the mass OF
laws a law to fit any injustice or TO
de'eat any virtue.
The nearly universal confidence IN
the power of man-made laws to cure
all the evils of society and of the State
is a sufficient explanation for the IacC
that all individuals and classes, when
driven by personal hardshlps TO see
and to feel the outrages and SUFFERING
which society is visiting upon them,
fly first and promptly to 1.-The law" for
redress; with demands that the gov
eminent" shall do for them that which
intelligent thought and right reason
would make plain they can better do
for themselves.
What man really lacks at the present
time is freedom. What he really needs
at all times, is not more government,
but less government, liberty unhinder
ed by laundering legislative enact,
ments, misnamed laws.
That the great mass of hum unity
should persist in this fundamental
error of the centuries" and expect
everything from government, is only
explicable as the logical CO.'S quence of
ages of teaching and custom. But
that earnest, thinkers who sincerely
desire to uplif6 humanity should admit
a willingness to surrender everything
to government, and become, individu
ally, a simple cog in a great, unnatural
governmental machine, is O matter Of
surprise.
1t is obvious to this writer that rights
which are peculiar to the individual
and which are Justly ~inaiienable, should
not be invaded by society, by govern
ment.
1t is equally obvious that rights
which came into existence with, and
are founded upon the ,cial organism,
rights peculiar to society, common
rights, must be respected and main
tanned.
The line of distinction between per
sonal rights and Common rights is per-
fectly clear, and the only obstacle to
their equitable and harmonious adjust
ment is due to O confusion of thought
as to personal rights, q confusion which
has been wrought into the popular
mind through long-continued invasion
of personal liberty by the improper use
of the powers of government.
The proper business of government
is that of securing to each and every
citizen equal right and opportunity to
use the natural provision for maintain
ing life; and to limit his personal li0-
erty only by so much as is necessary to
prevent his invasion of the equal rights
of every other citizen. Until such
time as mankind shall know, and be
guided by, the truth that IAN injury
to n is an injury to all" so much of
government as l have described is IN
~qlestiOnably necessary, despite the
contrary belief of the philosophical
Anarchists.
The philosophical Anarchist, in his
proper hatred of unjust laws and op
pressive government, would destroy
all law and annihilate all government.
In his zeal for personal liberty he would
not tolerate even SO much Of restraint
as would prevent his invasion Of the
individual rights and liberties of others.
Though his honest earnestnegs blinds
him to the fact, it is evident to others,
that his proposition, safe enough, vice
enough, if men were morally good.
would, in the present state of morality,
set each at the thr lat OF every other
individual.
Our friend, the State Social 81, in his
oVerweening confidence in the power
Of government to enforce good order,
to make men be good, would seize the
rights of the individual and turn all
over to arbi .rary government, conf
IDENTIFY hoping and expecting TO enforce
unwilling co operation.
L submit that no government has q
right OF existence which is not. in ca
sence and fact the expression of the
choice and will of the governed. Gov
ernments have always failed and fallen
that have not rested upon that funda-
mental equity. Willing CO operation
Of the individual members Of society is
i NhuinI1olu thu nnnnr dnninnh ln nnninl "a