The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-07-04

Lney are nam pereQ and restrained IN
a hundred ways from following out
| their own desires. Unfettered more
ment is only . part of liberty, even to
them, and as we go higher in the scale
of being, it becomes smaller part.
Increasing civilization brings with II
Increasing desires, plans and purposes,
and though man learns new ways of
gratifying them, and though no one
may interfere TO thwart him, he vet
| finds too many obstacles and hindrences
in his way to allow him to feel that
he can invariably do as he pleases or
enjoy such liberty as this involves.
Indeed, all idea of perfect liberty is
out of the question for imperfect crea-
lures. Fortunately, it can only be
gained in small degrees, as we become
fitted to use it. We're it otherwise, not
happiness, but ruin, would result, for
unchecked folly would have its way.
Rusldn, indeed, compares liberty and
restraint, to the great Disagreement
of the former, saying: You hear
every day greater numbers of foolish
people speaking about liberty, as if it
were such an honorable thing; so far
from being that, il is, on the whole
and in the broadcast sense, dishonorable
and an attribute Of the lower creatures.
Throughout the world,
OF the two abstract things, liberty and
restraint, restraint is always the more
honorable" But instead Of regarding
these two as antipodal, we should
rather count them friendly allies. Wise
and natural restraints, rightly met,
pave the way and prepare the ground
for liberty; and then they melt away
having fulfilled their mission. Every
faithful parent recognizes this. He
keeps his child from the fire and water
and other dangers. only until he gains
enough experience to protect himself.
So with evil companions, unwholasome
reading, Objectionable practices, his
restraining hand is removed as soon
as the youth acquires a distaste for
them. To give him a liberty by which
Ihe may lose his life, or corrupt his
mind, is cruelty; but when ali such
desires are changed, the restraint, no
longer needed, vanishes, and true lib
Ierty that cannot be abused takes its
place. The same is true in our own
Self-discipline. II we struggle to over
come a fault or to resist temptation,
and succeed, the time comes when we
lose all desire to commit the wrong;
and self-restraint is over. and we enter
into the true freedom, where desire and
duty are one.
The whole idea Of good government
rests upon the same principle. 1t ex-
lists to promote just as much liberty
as the people are able 10 bear. For this
purpose, temporary restraints are
often needful. Those who desire &c
injure their neighbors, in property,
good name. health or life, must be re-
pressed, as invaders of liberty. just
laws never interfere with freedom, ex-
cept to secure more and better freedom;
and such laws lay not feathers weight
upon those who are just, because they
love Justice, and honorable. because
they prize honor. 1t is Justice that
lies at the foundation of all true lib
erty, and we need to realize the truth
in our dealings with our fellow-men
We think that if we remove restraint
and leave them alone we have rendered
them free, but it is not so. By everyun-
Just act we curtail their liberty. Is
that man free who cannot supply the
pressing needs of his family, because
We have not paid him his just dues,
or because we have taken some mean ad.
vantage of him or because in some sore
exigency no helping hand has boon
whom we debar from a sincere utter
ence OF his cherished belief on pain Of
social ostracism or loss of friendship
Is that employer free whose business
is hampered and perhaps ruined by
the faithlessness of his clerk or thu
disioyalty of his agent? Is anyons
free who is defrauded of his money, his !
time. his talents or his good name, or
who Is prevented from using his facul- |
ties or exercising his powers as he NAV
see fit? No; until we pay our just |
debts, whether of money, or time, or
faithful labor, or respect. or goodwill, /
we have DO right to boast of our devo- |
"aoAA ~ hpS4 ", lOI we dIc u4rNCtiy OPP /
posing and crushing it. Matthew Ar |
mold tells Us of a French writer. named /
Joubert, who had lived through the /
French revolution, and who thus /
the modern cry for lib |
erty; let your CRY be for free /
souls, rather than for free men. /
Moral liberty is the one vitality i'm
portant liberty. the one liberty which /
is Indispensable; the other liberty i,
good ard salutary, only so far az IL
favors this. In all things let US have
justice, and then we shall have enough 1
liberty. "-Philadelphia Ledger.
Fow 70 Rnise the Revenuc.