The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1895-06-20
BENTON, LOUISIANA,
THURSDAY, ::::::::::::::::::::JUNE 20, 1895.
Moral Obligations.

Moral Obligations.
In the turmoil of business men so
frequently turn to the law to ascer-
tain their obligations and the obliga-
tons of others, as we'll as for the en-
forcements of contracts, that they are
apt to forget that there are other OBJ
legations even more binding, though
there is no organized court in which
they may be enforced. Moral obliga-
tons, apart from those enforced by
the law, are SO various that they can
scarcely be described, but they are
instinctively recognized by what is
known as public opinion and very
frequently enforced by the same agen-
cy. And it is right that it should be
so. The law by itself is too cold and
mechanical to always permit the ad-
ministration of justice. There are
too many Shylocks in the world who
stand upon their bond irrespective of
the inhumanity attending its enforce
ment. The moral obligation, outside
of contracts and of laws and superior
to them, applies with special force to
the relations of the strong to the
weak. It does not matter whether
the strong are the barons of old, cru
ely exacting tasks from their serfs,
or large employers of labor taking
advantage of the different kind of
power put into their hands to grind
down their workmen. The barons
had law, or custom taking the place
of law, to sustain them. There was
no way of calling them to account
except by the force of public opinion,
which, after long ages of suffering,
won the victory, compelling men in
authority by accident of birth or
patent from the King to acknowledge
their ill-de6ned moral Obligations
The character which power assumes
has taken a different shape in recent
times. but it is developing the same
disregard of moral obligations. It
claims the right to do with its own
as it will; it appeals to the law, and
sometimes the law, being an imper-
feet instrument, sustains its claim, so
that no further appeal is to be made
to q constituted authority. But
beyond and above all laws made by
man is that of brotherhood, which
brings with it moral obligations, the
duty of the strong to protect the
weak, of the rich who have been favor
ed by legislation to care for the poor.
These duties are only imperfectly ex-
pressed in laws, but they are recog-
nized in countless charitable institu-
tons voluntarily established by men
to aid them in fulfilling moral obliga-
tions which no court can enforce. The
recognition Of the existence of such
obligations is largely due to the
teachings of Christianity, in whose
books they are set forth with the
utmost simplicity. But mankind is
still far from realizing the ideal of the
Christian character; there is still a
disposition to abuse power and au-
thority while seeking excuse in the
fulfllment of the law, and there is
still need for the pressure of public
opinion to bring such men to true
recognition of their moral obligations.
It is not enough that one shall say
ST have fulfilled the law; my legal
obligations are discharged" Nor is it
enough for him to add: 81 have given
Of my means to support those insti-
tutions which are the expressions Of
Christian care for the poor and un-
fortunate" There are moral obliga-
tons beyond these, fully recognized
by public opinion and recognized by
the individual when his own selfish
interests do not interfere with his
vision. Men are given talents that