The San Francisco call., 1896-05-05


permanent government is high order of life:
to be capable of participating in free govern
ment is a power which makes for right
eousness.
nation ungoverned is no nation at all. and
makes mere raw material to be eaten up by
better organized communities The intenss
personal appetites and passions we inherit in
long straight lines from our bestial ancestors
were forced, constrained and made to bend to
the common good by government Even in
the dim beginning the fierce captain learned
10 depend upon mis- soldiers and to love what
o.ip ne 9iepeefnded e. on-the king. TO care for his
people, II only because they fed him; the SUBJ
ordinate to think somewhat of the spreading
lnoe5eSts h 8 lntrusted to him; the soul of man to
mutual lie, which is humanity.
The paper was applauded to the echo.
ana several floral tributes were taken to
the stage. These Mrs. Krebs took charge
OF, saying:
They're Mrs. Stetson's. not mine"
Inc discussion was opened by Miss Sarah
M severance. She contended that when
men and women should fix proper stand
ara OF night and wrong the need of govern
ment would be at an end.
Yes, answered Miss Agnes Manning:
out while things are as they are we want
to have little to say in regard to the laws
which are to govern US"
The Cabbala says" remarked Naph-
taly Herr lmber, that man can never
rise unless he lifts woman with him. Man
alone is only half of humanity, ana one
udI1 cannot rise alone.
II am mem Der of the Liberty Branch
OF the San Francisco Soealistic Societv.''
SAID John Lee rising to the floor. "As
socialist would like to give my opinion
OF the woman suffrage agitation un-
derstand that government is for the pro-
tectlon OF mankind against the baser de-
.slres OF anlmalism. When man attains as
nearly perfect a state as his nature will
permit We shall have little or no need of
government.
II conceive you not only to be ladies'
but intelligent minds. Now, / wish to
outline what women can do in the work
OF reform. They can point at least to the
abuses OF government and the imperfec-
lions existing in the present form. The
time has now come when women shall
soon cast off the shackles of servitude.
Ihey may take their place where they
can do much toward the uplifting of the
race. l am glad that it is So
). ID. Barnard said: 81 rejoice in this
movement. l think it portends purity in
government and the uplifting of the Ma
ton. We should all be glad that women
are In a fair way to enjoy the fruits of their
long and arduous labor
The ten minutes allotted for the
discussion being over President Kellogg
OF the University of California then read
an essay on the Functions of Govern
ment." He said IN substance:
The state is Goods method of helping men
toward perfect hfe." 1t is founded on "the
nature ana destination OF men," So wrote one
OF our most thoughtful publicists. Govern
ment is designed to care for the widest inter-
ests of man He is the precious thing in
p this workman supreme and man immortal.
IL Is his best interests for which human gov
ernment must care. This is the test of its
proper functions.
Government must guard human rights
Within proper limits it must give wise direc-
uon to human activities II must exercise a
certain measure of control over its subjects.
This is partly negative, partly positive "Or-
hPANpnfE frhara g faof
order IN the celestial universe. In the moral
world order is equally necessary. Without it
there Will be collision and ruin.
Negative control is first in order OF time be-
cause the evils of disorder are so great. This
must be reduced to a minimum. Some dis
order must be expected, for the world of hu-
man spirits has not the perfection of the starry
orbits. There have been collision, injustice,
Some things interfere directly others indi-
Tectly with the free and rightful activity of
men. To meet attacks on persons and prop
erty the Government must take precautions
q against crime. 1t must punish murder and
robbery and fraud. 1t must also check indi-
rect injury to the community, such as comes
from undue temptation to evil, from hurtful
business, from reasonable utterances.
Free activity is the blrthright OF man, the
priceless jewel OF life in ali inter-human rela-
TONS Man is made lord over the world he
lives in. and claims the freedom due to this
IordShip. Government must hearken to this
claim. Therefore it may interfere to protect
employees against heartless employers; and
also to curb the vengeance OF the irritated
laborer. 1t may check the eorrupting infiu-
ences of the open saloon, OF pernicious litera.
'ture, of the indecent stage.
But these negative repressiYe functions of
government are not enough TO round out its
duty. Equally imperative are its positive func-
tons IL must often step in to do for the indi-
vidual what he cannot do for himself. 1t may
step in to do for him whatIt can do much bet
ter than he. Individual action is not ade-
quate to all needful ends.
A nation must preserve its existence by
armies and navies and Notifications. 1t must
@, keep out infection and prevent smuggling. 1t
channels and MIC wa
must build lighthouses and life-saylng sta
uons and enforce sanitary regulations within
It's borders. To do all this requires taxation of
its subjects.
Some things. are so important as to be al
most necessity for governmental action: for
example, the mail service, the responsibility of
common carriers, laws against libel and SIAN
der.
Less necessary but very important are pub
lie works, such as the old Roman roads and
aqueducts, the Mississippi jetties, the Erie
and Welle nd canals and the still tantalizing
Nicaragua canal. Subsidies TO ocean steam
ships have been common. The telegraph may
easily follow the mail service into govern
mental ontroL. Government ownership of
railways is no experiment in Europe. In our
country they are subject to State and inter-
state laws.
There are pensions for soldierIy service, pat
ent laws for inventors, copyright for authors.
Public lands have been given to pioneer set
tiers. New questions have sprung up about the
holding OF land-should it all be owned by the
Government? should private ownership, at any
rate, be limited or at least discouraged by the
OF great importance is governmental aid in
education. All agree that it must be given to
the common school; not ALL that fl should ex-
tend through the high school and the univer-
sity. California like most of the newer States
believes in the more generous policy.
Other points are still undecided-as for in
stance. governmental protection, or even en-
ployment, for all laborers Some advocate q
full community of interests according to So
cialistic principles
Many less radical points are in dispute-for
instance, help 10 local communities or to spe-
cial classes OF men, and the whole scheme of
public charities Profuse charity is hurtfuI;
more so when given by an impersonal bene-
factor. The poor laws OF England have fos-
tered idleness 1t is easy to run into an exces-
siYe paternaliEn, undermining wholesome in
divldual activity. Unwise beneyolence leads
10 vice, not to virtue.
There is favorite motto, "The best govern
ment is that which governs least 1t is only
half truth. The best government is that
which is most helpful to its subjects The
ways of being most helpful must be left to the
judgment of the best men. These Will Ger.