Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-22

aim to many a cannon-ball, a stronger
swing to many q bayonet thrust. 1t
makes Cerveras squadron fly and hide,
and will make many q Spanish regi-
ment turn and fly. 1t is the expression
not OF malice but Of justice. 1t calls
for vengeance not for revenge. II the
Maine had not been sunk In friendly
harbor, there would have been NO war.
The desire for justice Is the feeling
that has led to the war; and 1t
strengthens one party and weakens the
other party In the conflict.
So in the contest against public OPP
preston, against plutocracy, against
political evils, the strongest position
that the friends Of reform can occupy
is that Of justice. Philanthropy is a
popgun, justice is thirteen inch
gun, in the fight for the freedom 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"
It 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 measure, socialism or CO.
operation or single tax, will promote
the welfare Of the people. They may
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 he
knows and feels that dram drinking is
sin and shame will he quit It. Just
80 everybody might admit that social
ism Is happier social condition than
the present one (the probabilities are
that they will never generally do it,;
adoption of socialism. But II 1t could
be shown that socialism Is the only
possible way Of securing to men and
women and children the inalienable
rights God has given to them, that the
neglect to introduce socialism was as
great crime and sin as the blowing
up Of the Maine in the harbor Of Ha-
vana, there would be hundreds OF
thousands of volunteers to fight for 1t;
and they would, If necessary, surrender
profit and pleasure 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 produc-
ton Of wealth We should point out
their injustice and iniquity. Instead
of arguing that the free coinage Of sill
yer will be good for debtors and ad-
vantageous to all, we should declare
that the Creator by giving to gold and
silver like qualities decreed that they
should be used alike by men. The argu-
ment of expediency should be merely an
ally in our debate and our main army.
II is probable that what is expedient
is also morally right, and what Is in
expedient is morally wrong. But after
all the argument from expediency is
not strong. We can not know surely
what is expedient 1t sometimes seems
expedient 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 81 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; and when attention is called to
them, they absorb all till they are set
tied. Whether in the twenty-first Gen.
fury all will be equal is philosophical
inquiry which we postpone to our
hours of leisure. But the question
whether slavery is or is not sin alb
sorbed the attention of the American
people, ministers and laymen, politi-
clans and merchants, men and women,
tin It is settled Questions Of expedi-
ency few are able to consider intelli-
gently; but in regard to questions of
right and wrong, all are equal, unless
they have scared their consciences.
Few are masters 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.
JAMES B. CONVERSE.