The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-07-22
JUSTICE THE BEST ARGUMENT
(By Rev. James B. Conversely

SOoIlSE TIE 6e9l AHOO EN-
(By Rev. James B. Conversely
Remember the Maine," is the battle
cry of the war. 1t will give a closer
aim to many a cannon ball, a stronger
swing to many a bayonSt thrust. 1t
makes Cervera's squadron fly and hide,
and will make many a Spanish regi-
ment turn and fly. 1t is the expression
not of malice but of justice. 1t calls
for vengeance n not for evenge.
If the Maine had not been sunk in a
friendly harbor there would have been
no war. The desire for justice is the
feeling that has led to the war; and it
strengthens one party and weakens
the other party in the conflict.
So in the contest against public op-
preston, against plutocracy, against
political evils, the strongest position
that the friends of reform can oc-
cupy is that of justice. Philanthropy is
a popgun, justice a thirteen inch gun,
in the fight for the reform of political
evils.
Thrice is he armed that hath his quar-
rel just;
And he but naked though locked up in
steel,
Whose conscience with injustice is cor
rupted.
So says Shakespeare, and Addison
writes:
Justice discards party, friendship,
kindred, and is always, therefore, rep
resented as blind"
1t was on justice that our revolu-
tiOnary sires placed their quarrel with
England. They affirmed that govern
ments are established among men to
secure to them the inalienable rights
with which men are endowed by the
creator. They asserted that the colo
YioS Woro or6 Of riohf n11uht To no froo
and independent states.
On the same ground the United States
waged their war with the southern con
federacy and freed the slaves. They as
serted that the states had no right to
secede n that in passing ordinances
of secession they had done wrong.
1t would follow from the principle
that many reformers are making a
great mistake. They argue that such
or such a measure, socialism or CO.
operation or single tax, will promote
the welfare of the people. They may
or they may not be right. But if they
should prove their point they lave
gained nothing practically, and have
not advanced n step forward towards
the realization of their hopes. The
drunkard admits that he would be bet
ter off without his liquor, blu not until
he knows and feels that dram drinking
is a sin and a shame will he quit it.
Just so everybody might admit that
socialism is a happier social condition
than the present one (the probabilities
are that they will never generally do
it); but we would be no nearer toward
the adoption Of socialism. But if it
could be shown that socialism is the
only possible way of securing to men
and women the inalienable rights God
has given to them, that the neglect to
introduce socialism vas as great a
crime and sin as the blowing up of the
Maine in the harbor of Havana there
would be hundreds of thousands of VOL
unteers to fight for it; and they would.
If necessary, surrender profit and pleas
ure for the war.
Instead, therefore, of debating the
questions Of expediency we should dis
cuss the question of right and wrong.
Instead of trying to show that certain
taxes are ~unfavorable to the production
of wealth we should point out their in
justice and %iniquity. Instead of arguing
that the free coinage of silver will be
good for debtors and advantageous to
all, we should declare that the creator
by giving to gold and silver like quail
tiles, decreed that they should be used
alike by men. The argument of ex-
p~ediency should be merely an ally in
our debate and our main army. 1t is
probable that what is e%xpedient is also
morally WTlSnC, ana what is
ent is morally ron But after all
he argument from expediency is not
strong. We can not know surely what
is expedient. 1t sometimes seems ex-
pedient to deceive or to defraud; but
lying and stealing are always wrong.
This method of arguing the question
of reform appeals to all. Practical
men, absorbed in the business Of today.
pass by dreams of future Utopias; they
have no time, no strength, no money
for them; the present demands all. But
questions of right and wrong interest
all; n when attention is called to
them, they absorb all till they are set
tied. Whether in the t~wenty-frst cen-
fury all will be equal is a philosophical
inquiry which we postpone to our hours
of leisure. But the question whether
slavery is or is not a sin absorbed the
attention of the American people, min
listers and laymen, politicians and mer-
chants, men and women, till it was
abolished. Questions of expediency
few are able to consider intelligently;
but in regard to questions of right and
wrong, all are equal, unless they have
scared their co~nsciences. Few are mas
ters of political economy, but all have
the data of ethics. The laws of wealth
are mysterious to most, but the moral
law of God is written on the hearts of
all.
Sacred Baboon.