The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-03-22
TESTING THE
BEATITUDES

James Schermerhorn. who Is dem
onstrating In practical way,
through the management OF his pa
per. the Detroit Times. that the
teachings OF Jesus In the first cen
tury are worthy OF practice In tn
twentieth century. refuses TO BE- d's
eemfited by the challenge that b.
apply the teachings OF the Grea
Master TO modern property right
There r. no desire upon his part.
SAYS. to stop. short OF preaching u
whole gospel. AS q matter OF fac
he adds. "the esrousal OF progrc
siveness all the way from direct 10
islation 10 Slngletax has been
vital and az times a costly part Q
our process OF testing the Beat
tudes." That other reforms hav'
been emphasized more than the Ian
question IL due 10 local exegeucieo
and in no way 10 a desire TO shir
responsibility or neglect an o.
portunity. This IL but another lln'
tratlon OF how much wider are ~
ramincations OF the land questior
than those IN the movement Their
selves suspect. There sis note y
Mr.. Schermerhorn's letter that
heard now and again from those WI
have found realization fall short
anticipation. The disappointment q
primary elections and OF tariff e
vision downward. tend he says.
make him less cooksure Of reFul
than he was in the earlier days. "
wonders II "the tar system tn
seems everlsstingly Just and logic
and workable will bring in entirely
the happy day we love to depict In
our rhapsodIc foretellings." And he
closes thus:
| While the deairability % hoiains
| compa ni0nShlp with the Hcatfudes
continues you may nut Ihe M"
/ down for the eiugietax Hrm In the
i falth that 10 will give average fo'k'
n better chance 20 reap whe~e IRE
| have sown. but not convinced tha'
1 with its advent the sermon on thf
4 Mount
ana perfect work In the social realm
The land question sometimes fails
OF ending It's proper place In thu
sum OF human knowledge through
generalization by those who consider
~ alone. and by differentiation b.
those who consider II In connection
with many other reforms. The
student who comes suddenly upor
the land question. and grasps it'
enormous portent, II he be new IN
the study OF sociology, and imper
fectIy acquainted with the myriad
interests Of man. may be tempted q
think that the disposal OF this cues
tion win be the solution OF the socfa
problem. On the other hand, the
student who has delyed into man'
phases OF sociology. and who ap
precIates the r1ultltudlnous wants o.
man. his apparently conflicting mo
ives. and his seemingly incorrigfbfI
cnpidlty. II apt. when he comes upor
the land question to think OF i
merely as one OF great number o.
things that may be done for the pos
si,le betterment OF society. but a
by no means indispensable. Eact
OF these students is in error. Th'
solution OF the land question vii
not cure all the Ills that flesh Is heii
TO. Human nature will remain. And
Il may be doubted II this earth vii
last long enough 10 see the compile
ton of human progress. But while
the land question II not the whole
problem. Il is an indispensable par
OF the problem: and unless II IL dis
posed OF. the solution-no mattel
how attempted---wiil be incomplete
Tarin reform. free trade. scientific
currency, cooperative banking. an'
all the multitude OF social reforms
each has It's place in the achieve
ment OF human progress. The lant
question II not only basic and funda
mental. but II In so close TO US, ant
IN so subtly interviewer in oul
thought and practice with presen
methods that II Is dInlcult for sons
20 realize that II Is a problem at all
The Public.