Natchitoches populist., 1898-08-26
THE BEST ARGUMENT.
JUSTICE IS STRONGER THAN
ExPEDIENCY.
In the Contest Against Oppression,
Against Plutocracy, Against Political
Evils, the Friends Of Reform Should
Rely Upon the Justice Of Their Position

Evils, the Friends Of Reform Should
Rely Upon the Justice of Their Position
Remember the Maine" is the battle
cry OF the war. 1t will give a closer
aim to many cannon-ball, stronger
swing to many a bayonet thrust. 1t
makes Cervera's squadron fly and hide,
and will make many Spanish regi-
rneht turn and fly. 1t is the expression
not Of malice but of justics. 1t calls
for vengeance not for revenge: Ii 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 occupy
Is that OF justice. Philanthropy Is
popgun, justice is a thirteen Inch
| gun, In the light for the freedom 81
political evils. N
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, ana 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
MES were and of right ought to be free
and Independent states.
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 raay
or may not be right. But II they should
prove their point they have gained
nothing practically, and have not ad-
vanced one step forward towards the
realization of their hopes. The drunk
: ard admits that he would be better Of
without his liquor, but not until hi
knows and feels that dram drinking Ii
sin and shame will he quit 1t. Jus
SO everybody might admit that social
ism is happier social condition thar
: the present one (the probabilities ar
. that they will never generally do it,
but we would be no nearer towards tn
adoption of socialism. But II 1t coul'
: be shown that socialism is the onl,
r possible way Of securing to men AM
:, women and children the inalienabl
d rights God has given to them, that tn
: neglect to introduce socialism was a
: great crime and sin as the BLOWN
e up Of the Maine In the harbor OF Ha
6 vana, there would be hundreds c
thousands of volunteers to fight for II
and they would, II necessary, surrende
Q profit and pleasure for the war.
% Instead, therefore, Of debating tn
IT questions OF expediency we should di!
l. cuss the question of right and wron
d Instead of trying to show that certai
taxes are unfavorable to the produ
ton of wealth we should point OF
81 their injustice and iniluity. Instea
Is of arguing that the free coinage Of 81
ID yer win be good for debtors and a.
ID vantageous to all, we should declal
E. that the Creator by giving to gold ar
u silver like qualities decreed that thu
should be used alike by men. The arg
ment of expediency should be merely {
se ally in our debate and our main arm
al It is probable that what Is expedite
SO Is also morally right, and what ID
Us expedient Is morally wrong. But aft
OF all the argument from expediency
G. not strong. We can not know sure
e. what is expedient. 1t sometimes seer
aa expedient to deceive or to defraud; b
n lying and stealing are always wroI
10 This method Of arguing the questi
Ut of reform appeals to all. Practical me
VS. absorbed in the business of today, pa
by dreams of future Utopias; they ha
no time, no strength, no money I
~ them. the present demands all. q
~ questions of right and wrong inter,
70 all; and when attention is called
:. them, they absorb all till they are s.
~ tied. Whether in the twenty-first CT
w. tury all will be equal is philosophy,
= inquiry which we postpone to c
~ hours of leisure. But the questi
oe whether slavery is or is not a sin {
,ls sorbed the attention of the Americ
people, ministers and laymen, poll
az clans and merchants, men and wom
~ till 1t is settled. Questions of expe
ency few are able to consider int
gently; but In regard to questions
right and wrong, all are equal, uni
lat they have scared their consciene
ig- Few are masters of political econor
ms but all have the data OF ethics.
m lave Of wealth are mysterious to mf