The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-31

eral clue to the tone and tenor of the
article. After speaking OF the present as
a period Of transition and progress, Gov.
Rogers writes forcibly Of the leavening
power of truth working in the mass OF
humanity. This he pronounces nature S
mode of progress, and he gives as illustra-
lions of it the American revolution and
the abolition Of slavery in the United
States. For a similar movement which is
TO put an end to the oppression of the poor
by the money power he thinks the time
is now ripe. Today" he says, "a new
conflict appears" a conflict which he
thinks may lead to bloodshed: for while,
he says, wise and determined action Will
prevent all appeal to arms, yet in the
same sentence he writes: The cry of sub
mission TO English money lords, heard
from our modern Tories. If acquiesced in.
will surely bring a bloody struggle when
ever the people fully comprehend the fact
that in this way freedom and Its opportu-
mites have been bartered away"
The conflict between manhood and
Mammon" he continues, which, al
though as old as history, took on more
pronounced phase in 1873, has now IN its
present form been before the people OF
this country for near quarter of cen
fury. The time of decisive action ap-
proaches. and everybody knows IT, Either
the people are to regain the old freedom
of opportunity enjoyed in the earlier years
of the republic. or they are TO sink lower
and lower in the social scale. The strug-
gle is one of moral right and moral worth
against the power of money. II has been
antly described as the fight Of the Al
mighty Dollar against Almighty GOO.
This IS the truth. towards and time-serv-
ers viii deny il, but they cannot prevent
81 Nothing can prevent IL. And the ulti-
mate outcome is not doubtful. The right
viii triumph
The great obstacle 10 progress. the great
want of the time, he thinks, is lack or
agreement among the leaders OF reform.
Pointing out mind and matter as the
two sole factors in human affairs, he
maintains that both work in accordance
with natural laws, violations OF winch
are inevitably punished. First among
these laws the right use OF all natural
rights and powers the proper ex-
ercIse Of which cannot be denied to man
without violence being done TO his ma
.rra" Among such rights Is that 20 life
and 10 natural opportunities. Any trio-
ute or payment for the right to live IS
unnatural. And the exaction or this trio-
ute. contrary 70 The laws OF nature and OK
Cod is the fundamental error In all prog
ress and all so-called civilization" The
idea that society has in some mysterious
ga unknown way acquired the right 10
denrivs men OF that which II Is clearly
seen IS h!rthright and a gift from the
c,~estor 'Is a direct outgrowth OF the
NOW exploded belief In the divine right
OF kings" The rest Of the article Is taken
m with maintaining that man mas nat
ural rirh. to the soil: that this right he
has been deprived Of; and that Il ought
"a and VIII be restored 20 him. The article
concludes as follows:
."The nrst and greatest demand Of mans
nature is 70 be free: the second Is. oppor-
rrnitv 20 better his condition. Freedom
and opportunity make possible the en-
HEhtened pursuit % happiness And hap
plneSs is, after all. the aim and object OF
AZ men one may seek II in one direction
ard another in another, but the end
sought is the same. TIE thief steals in the
belief that he can IN that way add 20 the
e-,n, ~ his enjoyment; the enlightened
nhffanthronsst spends his life in the en-
desvor 70 assist and befrisnd. for the rea-
son chiefly. that otherwise he would he
unhappy. Between these two may - found
everv shade % opinion and manner Of life:
ara vet the motive OF All Is. IN essence the
same To state this proposition Is 20 prove
- 70 the reflective mir5. Man u1ust seek
naonlness. II IS the demand - his nature
s-s thus the command % God.
..Tf this be true-snd no man can deny
it--the essential requisites 70 an enlight-
erla9 and reasonable pursuit must also be
found ready 70 evary mans hard Cod
asks no man 70 DO az impossible thing
and wherever nature commands, she has
rnsaa the way % obedience clear With
freedom and opportunity men are able 70
work out their own salvation; that ts. they
are able 20 follow out The law - Being.
which IS the law Of advance In this both
revelation and evolution agree. Without
e-aag4orr and opportunity man IS made MS
era hle and rendered incapable of following
this law. Re can no longer advance: the
enlightened pursuit OF happiness Is irnpos-
sfhis. n slavery o. under 6espotlsus me-.
are degraded IN freedom alone IS there
couortunity for that general Improvement
which : the manifest design Of rsryra
Thus. 4 must hs clear. sii men have from
uathre-fr0-a God-an absolute natural
right 20 freedom ar3 opportunity. Free
dom necessftatss The absence az calling
ard INJURIOUS control. & establtshes sn,7-,y
uen an equality Of natural right - .ha
gifts Of a common Father. And by ne
Iaw o. freedom. whatever g1tcs q sxtar-
nal nature have been provided for me rise
az man. descend. ike the rain ara sl7D-
sht-e. upon al alike. To hold he con-
irSry = % contend that some are brourb.
into the world oehoi5ea 10 their bro, bers
for ths right 70 i've.
The right % the SOL IS mans frs. s,s
greatest e3soxiGaisy. B.. Ihe.s = az