The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1895-08-29

SoA OASNt NSo y S~
fallacy, which is that the word
nothing is used in two different
senses.
Many men obtain a reputation
for invincibility in argument on no
better grounds than the above.
The utopian dreamer persistent
ly refuses to argue from human
nature, as it exists. He ignores
the known constitution of the hu-
man mind. He is, to paraphrase
the utterance of President Cleve-
land, confronted by a theory and
not a condition. He revels in the
theory, and declines to recognize
the condition. He gives you a
proposition, based on the constitu-
tion of things at present. He fol-
lows that with another, based on
the const tuition of tn human mind
as it might, could, would or should
be. His terms are not susceptible
of exactly the same meaning in the
two premises. He draws a con-
clusion which is apparently ire
sistible.
The success Of this class of So
called reasoners is entirely due to
the fact that many men are not
always capable of detecting where
the fallacy lies. Any man of good,
strong common sense, however,
viii reject the argument. although
he may not be able to give a rea-
son for the rejection.
*~
The foundation Of the entire SUI
| perstructure of these dreamers.
enthusiasts, or whatever else they
may be called, is the statement
that no one should be called upon
to surrender any of his rights
Tha. statement, although plausi'
BILE in sound, cannot be en- .ertain
ed for an instant by any logica
mind.
If each individual were the sole
inhabitant of world, his natura
rights could have undisputed sway
but not otherwise. The momen
that he comes in contact with an
other individual, each one mus
surrender some right, or society
Icanaot exist.
To illustrate: | have a natura
right to go where l please, unfet
tered and unrestrained. But il
under color of that right, I intrud'
upon your privacy, it is eviden
that there will be a collision.
have a natural right to appropriate
the products of nature wherever
may find them. But, if you have
already appropriated that product
there will be another collision.
1t is, therefore, evident tina
each individual must surrende
one or more natural rights, in orde
that society may exist; and tha
social intercourse cannot be main
tanned unless this be done.
!, The individual who wishes to d.
away with all law and all restric
tion, is not friend of the human
race. He is it's enemy. In tn
makeup of the human mind is to b
found all of those elements whicl
belong to the lower animals. A
mohg the beasts of the field, nigh
makes right. With man, whe'
unrestrained by law, might als'
makes right. If all laws were t.
, be annulled, the strong would pre-
upon the weak, among men, pre-
cisely the same as among animals
5 though perhaps not in the sam
, manner.
The utopian, of whatever degre
, or under whatever name, argue
falsely because he takes it for gran
ted that human nature is differen
S from what everyone knows it t
t be.
Z When human nature is changed
e radically and completely, then, an
t not until then, will utopian scheme
7 be realized.
t The propensity to lie, steal, an
d murder, is a part of the huma
e mind.
v When each and every ind
vidual becomes ''law unto hin
n SELF" we may dispense with leg