Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-07-25
THE LAW OF RIGHT.

Selr-respect, at least, everybody
should have. and he has none who does
not recognize the law it imposes on all.
| that what is incompatible with self
respect is forbidden. 1 is simple rule:
but it solves most of the problems of
life promptly and correctly. Conscience,
| the respect of other men, right and all
| considerations. except ones own, secret.
personal estimation of himself are
omitted from this standard of conduct:
| ana one is left entirely to bc his own
private judge, not as to his acts, but
as to himself as the actor
III VIII ut once occur to the average
Intelligence that n mans sclf-rcspec;
must have some basis and surety. or
else 1t canno. exist; but while that is
true. the purpose here. as far as pos
siblc. is to put all else out of sight for
the time-right, duty, conscience, the
respect of others ana all the crcum-
stances, motives ana Influences that
should or may contribute to determine
human action: and put 1t To ourselves
alone If we do not owe ourselves each
for himself. II duty in all our acts that
we dare not violate, nor neglect, even
If irresponsible entirely except to self
No matter If one can in any way rise
10 this attitude of sole independence of
everything and everybody else H.
must at last confess allegiance to his
own sovereignty, from which he can
not be absolVed so long as self-con-
sciousncss survives, and which he must
obey in the absence of all other au-
thority.
Whatever opinions. convictions and
desires men havc-though in revolt
against all law. authority and power
exterior To themselves, or having origin
or warrant in anything not themselves
they are compelled to concur in fcalty
to self-respect. or accept self degrade
ton. No man can get away from him
self. or renounce himself or repudiate
what he owes himself: and he must
confess. 10 himself. If no one else, his
obligations to self. In the last recourse,
he must ask himself: Can L. with
due regard and respect TO myself. do
this thing? Or, must | leave it I'M
done?" TO that inquisition the haugh-
tiest. the most powerful and the most
lawless of men must come. and should
come: unless they have become so de-
PRAYED and dissolute as to be resolved
to surpass the Devil in uniqulty.
1t is true that some men cndeavor to
merge and eXtinguish their manhood.
their personality and their individual
responsibility in n corporate body,--an
artificial creation or body,-but they
fail utterly to eXtinguish themselves,
ana thew succeed. at most. only IN
merging their manhood and personality
W hich they may utterly lose in the
corporation; while their individual re-
sponsiblity to themselves. to their fell
low-men and to God remains intact
indiVestible. 1t is Erievous error that
a. corporate body can do no wrong, in
q moral sense. or that a man or set of
men may sin in the name of n cor.
poration, and shift all responsibility
upon il. The real law In such a case
is that the wrong done by the cor
porators as such. Is added to the guilt
of themselves as individuals. and they
must answer for Ii somewhere and
some how. Moral laws are as irrcvcr-
sible and Irresistible as those of ma
ture. and no man can escape them, lei
him dodge as he Will.