West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-12-03
Natural and Nominal Rights.
Written specially for The Argus.


Nature gives creatures natural rights,
while the laws Of the land often give but a
nominal right
Natural rights are infalllbe because there
are no mistakes Ia nature, and sIuce The
laws Of the land are often created for selfish
interests. they often create only mere
nominal right.
When Esau sold his bir,hriehi to Jacob,
he was cheating his posierliy, aud the Ia.
heritance really belonged to the descendants
of Esau, and they had right 10 reclaim Ii.
Cain and Abel were allowed equal rights.
yet Cain misused his rights and slew Abel
and caused curse for sequel. It looks
like Cain, the elder son, has never los, his
power, and Is continually killing of the
Abel class, who have raised the flock.
All nature tells US that the things VIC
possess are only in,rusted to our care, and
II we possess that which we cannot utilize.
We have but nominal right 10 il. For an
example, the Indians possessed America
and II was rightly taken from them the
filipinos possess the Philippine Islands and
their rights are partly taken from them
the Prophe, told the children OF Israel 10
borrow or buy Of the Egyptians with the
intention of never repsyine, because the
labor Of the Jews created the articles.
Later those articles were used TO adosn the
Holy Of Holes, the Ark Of The covenan.
and Aaron's Robe, and should repetition
OF the last years coal famine occur, the
poor people should have fuel II II is at the
expense of the Egyptians.
When after a long journey the Jews
reached the Land of Promise, they found a
class Of people who were not rendering
good stewardship and they were permitted
70 destroy the inmates and 10 possess their
Substance. which we fear will be the
fate Of few American people before
the close of many decades.
Someone may ask whs, righ, has poor
man 10 a rich mans wealth to which we
answer. possession itself creates duty 10
help the needy" All nature abhors the eve
that will not feed her offspring. The mother
is duty bound to care for her child because
II Is helpless Mature seems to say, s.eivc.
give to the needy bat we have so many
who pray, pray and pray for their daily
bread and In return they fall to show their
appreciation Of natural gifts by giving
mite 20 the needy in return. have lived
By ministers who would never tire Of telling
how we'll they loved the people and often
tines they would set Ia the shade and watch
an old crippled mother chop wood TO cook
= fowl for their dinners, or they would
drive along the road in spIendor. while some
invalid was toiliog along IN their presence
and not offer a helping hand.
If there was forest In the land that was
worthless, the cry would be, "cut IL do~n
and till the soil;' or II there was q tree in
an orchard that Yielded no fruit, we would
say, 'cat !, down. II there was nation Of
people possessing good continent end
they were worthless, the cry would be,
exiefminate them or govern them" These
end many other things have strong ten.
dency 10 teach as that We have but = nomi
pal right to such things that We may possess
Il we do not utilize them - the benefit Of
mankind Some lazy men may say II have
nothing IN this world and am The one 10
receive the ovepIus Of the rich. F" but II he
ls an able bodied person, We would say 10
hiro, ''you have no iigh, 70 your easy
couch; exchanges those corns on your elbows
for those on she hands Of some old feeble
person.
II Rev Doolifile Is a minister, he has no
right to wear out the knees of bis pants
while his wife is ioiling 70 earn his bread.
= druukard may say, II earn my money
honestly aud have right TO DO as please
with ~ bot NC say hold sp; you have no
right 70 squander an,ii your family is well
cared for, If, YOU arc q married man and II.
you are single you should fccollcct that At
sometime you may have family that viii
need yoor present earnings
In conclusion would assert wiihoni fear
Of logical contradiction that no one has
righifol ownership 70 anything that he can
not utilize to the interest Of the creatures Of
creation
sALLls MANDrp.