Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-08-08

as in other and more worldly matters.
lThe differences which divide each
from each are much exaggerated by
party spirit. Most of them can be re-
solved into mere disputes about terms,
and the company, that if the men on a
strike would return to work all prose-
cutions for rioting would be dropped
and the militia withdrawn. made
personal visit some time ago, accompa-
MED by the secretary and president
of the Valleyfield federal labor union,
and asked the Labor Bureau to insist
upon the cotton company carrying out
the agreement, but up to date, nothing
has been done.
A most lucid and entertaining treat
Use on a subject akin to the ideas here
in set forth, written by Benjamin Con-
slant, French orator and author, ear
ly in the last century, is so full of sug-
gestiveness, as applicable to his time
and the time before him-and proba-
bly, to all time to come-that the writ.
err hopes to be pardoned for attempt
ing to elucidate some of the thoughts
therein given.
Among the different systems, which
have been followed, combated and
modified. one alone appears to explain
the enigma of our individual and So
cial existence, one alone seems adapt
ed to give an object to our labors and
a motive to our researches, to sustain
us in our uncertainty and to relieve
us in our encouragement This is the
system of the perfectibility of the hui
man race. For him who does not
adopt this opinion, like everything
which belongs, not only to man, but to
the universe, is merely one of the thou
sand forms, more or less transitory
which must perpetually destroy and re-
place each other without leaving any
permanent amelioration as the result
The system of perfectibility alone
guarantees us against the infallible
perspective of complete destruction,
: which leaves no remembrance of our
efforts, no trace of our success. A
, physical calamity, a new religion, an
invasion of an overpowering foe. or
some other uninterrupted oppression.
might deprive race of people of eve
| rything which elevates and ennobles
! it, everything which renders it, at
once, more moral, more enlightened
and more happy. 1t is in vain that we
are told of intelligence, of liberty, of
5 philosophy; an abyss may open under
5 our feet savage hordes may rush into
the midst of us, impostors may spring
from our own bosom, and still more
easily, our governments may be chang
ed into tyrannies. If ideas do not pos
sess deviation Independent of men,
we may close our books. renounce our
speculations, free ourselves from un-
: fruitful sacrifices, and at the utmost
confine ourselves to those useful or
agreeable arts which will give less in
] sipidity, to a life without hope and a
t momentary establishment to the pres.
: ent without future. The progressive
. advancement of our species alone es
: tablishes certain communication be-
e tween different generations. They en-
3 rich one another without mutual &C
S Quaintance; and this consoling opin
e ion is so deeply engraved on the in
: stincts of man, that each of these fleet
t ing generations expects to find it's rec
Il ompense in the esteem Of distant gen
9 erations which must one day tread up
= on its insenslble ashes.
S In this system of perfectibility, hui
l. man acquisitions form an everlasting
s. mass, to which each individual con
g tributes his peculiar share, assured
k that no power can take away the
e slightest portion of this imperishablt
It treasure. Thus, the friend of libert,
and justice leaves to future ages thu
most precious part of HIMSELF HI
:, places it beyond the reach of the ig
). norance which aoes not understand it
!. and of the oppression which menace
q it; he deposits it in sanctuary which
= degrading and ferocious passions cal
y never approach. He who has discov
:. cred single principle in. the solitude
II of meditation he whose hand ha
y traced a single line of truth, may yielt
= his life to be disposed of by nations o
y. tyrants: he will not have existed il
u vain, and, If time effaces even tn
u name which designated his transitor
d existence his thought will still cor
II tinue imprinted on the indestructibl
d aggregate, to the formation of whicl
nothing can do away the fact that h
has contributed
ID The destruction of slavery-thec
IS cratic slavery THAT claimed as of d
n vine righD,) of civil slavery. of feut
Of alism, of a privileged nobility, of
- privileged class of any lind-are S
VI many steps toward the re-establisl
If ment of natural equality. The perfec
10 Utility of the human race is nothin
in but the tendency toward equality. Thi
IN tendency proceeds from the fact tina
u equality alone is conformable to truth
re that is, to say, to the mutual relation
il. of Things, and to the mutual relation
to of men. Inequality is that alone whic
as constitutes Injustice. If we analze a
ne the general or particular forms of il
ne Justice, we shall find that they all hav
TO their foundation in inequality.
he The largest woodworking plant |
,lf the state of California has been cree
N. ed by the unions of San Francisco an
I'd is now running out material as fast q
10 1000, union carpenters can place it C
IN the buildings in two cities: 1t give
an employment to $50 union mill men.
m Oragnize!
&c. All intelligent persons have Ion
ID since learned that the only way
~ (which the worlingman may secul
-. fair treatment, fair conditions and ia
= wages is by and through Organization
If The wealthy class caught the idea ar
-, organized their forces, and such mi