Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-04-28
Two Kinds of Equality.

Two A10Ub OF hNQuhAltys
DIR. Felix Adler opened the new year
with characteristic talk upon the
American ideal of equality and boldly
sounded the call for a new alignment
OF the social and moral forces of the
republic to redeem the hopes of the IA
theirs. To quote:
There has never been a time when ma
terialism was so widespread. In the day
" the classes the masses were saved
from the diseases OF the wealthy by the
very suppression OF the masses. Today
the masses are admitted to a share of the
competitive struggle for money and to
share, as well, of the evils resultant from
moneys misuse.
The shade Of Thomas Jefferson would
find the grave anything but a peaceful
abode If doomed to hear an American
teacher declaring that there could be
any kind OF salvation in the suppress
sion of the masses. And Dr. Adler's
explanation of this startling view does
not make the pin easier to swallow He
continued;
What we most need is to disabuse our
minds of the error that all men are
equally developed and realize instead that
the more developed have a duty to per
form in assisting the less developed. We
need leaders to bring about the realiza-
ton of the truth Political leaders won't
do TO take up the work. for they are dis
trusted Society leaders are both incom-
petent and unwilling. 1t therefore de.
wolves upon the educated class to keep
the masses sane. Editors and preachers
cannot do the work unaided. They speak
only as individuals. We must have
groups to act as NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of
men and women who stand together and
speak with one voice. 1t Is not enough
to denounce the wrong.
Specifically, the lecturer cited the in
surance scandals and the ever fruitful
matter of divorce, closing with an ap-
peal which at least has note of hope
In it, since it implies that some of the
equals have the virtue and courage to
stand for the greater and grander
and purer and better" ideals that
should justify the thesis "all men are
created free and equal" He said:
All of us-writers and DOCTORS preach
ers and teachers-must have done with
the negative and in our churches and
clinics and literary societies and ethical
culture organizations stand as q unit to
attain the ends we seek. Unless we take
a positive stand, and take 1t as body,
our efforts will be wasted.
Political equality, the shibboleth of
our democratic forefathers, was looked
upon as a means, not an end. The
suppressed masses had no chance to
nourish ideals, let alone do battle for
them. The emancipation of the masses,
including that of the sexes, which, by
the way, the doctor thinks is being
overdone, was done to set free the
latent moral power of individuals and
give it a chance to organize and take
a positive stand" for noble ends. In
cidentally the emancipation of the
masses helped to stay the tide of dis
eases of the wealthy" resulting from
moneys abuse" Human slavery in
any form and the degradation flowing
from it are more demoralizing to the
masters than to the slaves. Howev-
er, the world has no pity to waste on
the wealthy. 1t will go on emancipat-
ing until every class and sex has an
equal chance to develop the best there
is in them Even though the thought
less few emulate the vices of the
shameless rich, the many must have
chance to share the virtues with the
noble rich.