New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-05
ZEALAND FANCIED EQUALITY
,o,,v GRAHAM BROOKS LECTURES TO
THE LEAGUE FOR POLITICAL
EDUCATION.
HE REJECTS THE THEORY OF ACTUAL EQUALITY
,,,ru,rrx MEN Rt,T SAYS ARTIFICIAL IN

nm nr,r,-rs THE THEORY OF ACTUAL EQUALITY
BETWEEN MEN. But SAYS ARTIFICIAL IN
rorALrrIEs CAN DE LEssENED.
rhe first of John Graham Brooks's lectures, s.,e"
Under the auspices OF the League for Pohtcai Eau
- 90. delivered in the theatre OF the Berkeley
.,,r, Yesterday morning. Mrs. c. A. Ruhhie'
IN. leagues ylce-presldent. introduced the sFe"Ao
whose topic was 1.-The Dream and the He'ii" "
Social Equality" Mr. Brooks rejected mrs. .N
foremost, the theory that actual equahly "e'm.
man and man had any existence i"ea""''"
hovs ALWAYS existed. and will continue 10 eA'''
said the lecturer. There Is no wip'hs 'ne'. ou'
bu, the Inequalities arising from ar'"'''a "
d,,,onal conditions can be lessened. and 'hihH'is
.on,. IRE Wondering on this problem and trying u
n,ts no.sble greater equality OF opportunity TOT
IN. ,ess fortunate to cope with those born IN happy
Influences. f.,
on.rcer san Mr.. Brooks held that II was fai-
lacious To argue from the family 10 society 'na'
what held good In the one relation ala not appS III
m. other but ne believed that, inashuc" "s '
d,c,ou. parent or guardian treated each chiid !"
tho household with reference to his or her peculiar
Its and needs SO was IL advisable TO accord 10
.rr,nx mon and women Of the community such
,srencv or sternness as suited each indivdual case
81 know a New England girl" added tAe iec.u'e'
..who has become a successful ana popular s'"se'
I know the sacrifice made by her parents 10 pr"''oe
the opportunity for her TO gain access 10 the "or"
Of music No one Of that girls sisters coud sing
note that ANYBODY wanted 10 hear. ana the! hau
no money lavished on them yet all thought II rea-
o,ah,. md nreferable that they should be denied
comforts and small luxures. In order thar the
gifted one might be trained Just 30. In dealing
with the deserving and undeserving tramp wv
have I'm Boston what We term a work test. peio'e
the candidate for help receives aid he IL SET 10 "oN
at something tangible and real. that VIII sho"
yhether or not he has energy and an honest pur-
no.. to be self disappearing" The speaker told OF
~, who refused work because he could get
meals by begging them. while on the same DAY
another man sat patiently and willingly performing
the work the other scorned. II was NOT risn' "
Judge these men by the same standard Tic 'o''
too OF proposed law In MASSACHUSETTS, "n'ch
would reduce the imprisonment OF CRIMINALS tor
whom there extenuating circumstances Ihey
were also to be allowed to make articles to be sold
for their benefit.
TIL. practical aide OF the problem OF equality was
In the speakers opinion to consider how to use
organized strength for the attainment OF ia'rer
human society THE ugliest fact That conirohts
authorities to-day" declared Mr.. Brooks. lis tho
growing suspicion. hatred and contempt with which
what are called the masses regard law ana order
There Is a rising passion for more social equality
and there Ia no tendency more dangerous society
l have been much among the working people, the
poorer and dissatisfied classes and ! have neara
the problem with which we have to deal. What peo-
pie with phllsnthropcal impulses should DO 10 to
soften the st solid cake Of custom into more hope
full opportunity for the poor and the Ignorant show
them that more prosperous people are willing to
give them a chance to use the mind and character
which most OF them possess.
III one-haf Of the corruption that is said to exist
in Official circles In NewYork City does exist, what
must the criminals themselves think about the law
II one half only be true Of the corruption that It
Ii claimed exists In a great corporation In Call
fornia, how can the masses be expected to respect
law? Are they idiots?"
1t seemed an appalling fact, he thought to realize
that there exists a million families whose income
to Justify the temper of mind which Graves So
called social equality. Mr. Brooks though, the
tive countries. where they did not take the per-
nicious color Of the politics which surrounded them
an excellent example Of the good that could be done
by associated effort I'VE can't have equality In
any mechanical sense II we would have liberty. "
he stated. 1.-THE two are not consonant." He gave
examples showing that the authorities Of the Gen.