The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-07
TWO CARDINAL PRINCIPLES
Individual Liberty and Human EquaIIt,
~. III. Discussed bv Rev Il M cIo,rx

'''"'S'o"o' IioeIy ana human Equality
Discussed by Rev. J. M. cIeary.
Rev. ]. M. Cleary of st. Charles church
IN his address, says in part:
Two cardina! principles are found in the social
economic creed of every thoughtful and intelli-
gent citizen. These two principles are individual
liberty and human equality. A misconception
OF the practical Significance Of these fundamental
principles occasion most Of the social unrest
that ell friends of humanity deplore.
Shocking deeds of blood have been perpetrated
III the name OF liberty In the name Of huma
equality most outrageous acts Of injustice are
DONE AS people, we feel that we understand
and will interpret the principle of Individual lib
erty better than any other nation in the world s
history. The happiness and prosperity of the land
are In peril unless we understand correctly tile
meaning of human equality. Because we love
liberty we render cheerful submission to lawful
authority. Intelligent obedience to law is an
essential condition of human liberty. The an
archist who rails at all authority, human and
divine, in spite Of all his protests, is lberty's
deadly enemy. Liberty cannot live in the poison
GUS atmosphere of anarchy Liberty does not
iluply that every citizen may act as his selfish.
ness his advantage or his inclinations may
prompt him. The law of liberty demands that nc
mans rights shall be invaded, that no man Il
free to do as he pleases to take what he can
simply because he has the power to crafty his
caprice or ambition. The man who violates the
law and attempts to invade the sacred rights OF
other men. be he rich or poor, weak or power
full, forfeits thereby his own right to liberty. AL
honest friends of liberty submissive to legiti
mate authority, even tho such submission ma,
demand serious sacrifice. All the anarchists ar.
not found among the poor or in the ranks Of tn,
1aboring classes The ricl, and the powerful wht
defy the law and presume to ignore the sacred
rights Of the weak and the poor are the mos
despicable class of anarchists.
Liberty and equality twin sisters, bearing
In their fair hands priceless blessings to human
| ity. The abuse of liberty begets tyranny mis-
understanding of the meaning of human equalit,
begets discomfort and leads to gross injustice
most outrageous acts. of despotism.
] The trainers of our Declaration of independence
did not give encouragement to either despotisn
| or anarchy-for they hated both--when the,
proclaimed boldly that all men had a God-givel
right to the pursuit Of happiness and liberty
dividual merit when they espoused the principl
that equality is a human birthright. They I'M
| derstood liberty to signify obedience to Lawful
authority and resistance to tyranny. They under
stood human equality to signify the peaceful
| reign of justice in human society. 1t was thei
| evident purpose that every man, beneath th
shelter of the American flag should enjoy a fai
and equitable opportunity of receiving the just re
i ward that his personal merit might win
Nothing was further from the mind of th
fathers than the thought Of merging independen
/ and liberty loving American citizens into a CT
operative, socialistic federation under which til
\ strength of the organization may force its d.
i nands where the individual Is lost, individus
/ ambition s blighted and the reign of force II
stead of justice is permitted to prevail.
The principle of human equality implies tha
j every Individual In human society, where equit