Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1898-05-14
THE GREHT6ST BAR
TO PROGRESS.
written for Industrial Freedom. 4

Written for Industrial Freedom.
Perhaps there is no one thing that
stands in the way of progress 50 diff
cult to overcome as the thing we call
custom. / use the word progress to
mean the same thing that the word
reform is generally used for, for
all progress is real reform. There
are certain fields of human activity
in which we enjoy degree of liberty
but it is only, or generally, where we
act in an individual capacity, and
where our acts have no real effect
upon our fellows. We are very fond
of prating about our independence of
character, and of telling that we will
have no one to rule over us, but, as d
matter of fact. there is very little in
dependence in or about us. We are
slaves most abiect and servile.
up. make us gods to go before us
like the other nations of the earth,
for this man Moses that brought us
up out of Egypt. we wot not what
has become of him" was the despair
ing cry of the children of Israel to
Aaron. when their leader had disap-
peared for few hours from their
view. Like the other nations of the
earth" do other people do it," pay
as good wages as other people" We
dress as other people do, we talk as
other people do, we buy and sell and
trade and get gain or "go broke"
generally the latter by the same
rule that other people do, and no
questions are asked as to the moral
quality of the act. Is it sanctioned by
society? Ges.-that is all-sufficient,
we need go no farther. Does ''our
craft" ''our fraternity" "our set.
'our denomination, ''our political
party sanction this. that, or the
other? In other words, does it have
the warrant of custom behind it: If
it does. then we are safe: if not. no
matter how noble our purposes, if our
acts and words and utterances be not
in harmony with the custom of the
community in which we live, anathe-
ma is pronounced upon US.
Benjamin Kidd in his Social Evo-
luton" says that leach generation
if left to itself would not progress.
but on the contrary, would sink to a
lower level than the one that pre-
coded it. Progress is due to an indi-
vidual here and there, who has in him
or her. the elements of superiority
and the opportunity for asserting
them" | believe this is true. and be-
lieving it to be true, am learning to
be patient with society. Growth,
evolution. progress, must be SLOW.
Though the fields are white for the
workers being those upon whom the
truth of the solidarity and social
unity of the race has seized. and who,
therefore, can never know any peace
except the lasting, deep, peace
that comes from making their daily
and hourly life 4 perpetual protest
against a wicked and iniquitous So
cial system that is trying to separate
society into fragments. and turning
men. who ought to be brothers, into
wild beasts seeking to destroy instead
of trying to save each other.
Then let us forswear forever ale
glance to this tyrant, custom. Let
us accept the simple truth so elo-
quently set forth by the teacher of
teachers in this saying, "If any would
be chiefcst among you, let him be the
servant of all" In doing this | am
sure we will find that service brings
its own reward. Those of MS upon
whom the spirit of Truth has fallen
can well afford to ignore custom, fash
ion. practice, and all the other ty-
rants of whatever name or nature,
If we believe in brotherhood, if we
believe in unity, the unity of society,
let MS be ready to proclaim it In sea-
son and out of season. Let us be
ready to live for it, and if we really
believe it, we will be ready to die for
lit. Let us hail the day, tor it is COM
ing, when men to men the world DER
shall brothers be and a that" have
called the day Freedom Day. and
here is an expression of the longing
of my soul for its coming.
FREEDOM DAY.
Haste. oh haste delightful morning
OF that glorious freedom day,
Vixen from earth remotcst border
| Tyrants all have passed away;
when we shall for service render
| Service OF an equal worth;
| Then will all mankind be brothers.
Heaven will then have come To earth.
Very aithfully yours,
SAMUEL NJ. JONES.