El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-03-04
Inequalities Amongst Men
EVIL OF Equalised Property Illus
rnted BY American Indianst
Health II Only Real
Wealth.
nv EAnrrn-- r, .,r,--r.-,o
BY MADIsOE c. PETERS.

| 4 GREAT crowd was gathered
! ~ about an earnest speaker. hat
off, without an overcoat, on an
unusually cold winters day. Curiosity
| prompted me to stop and listen to a
| talk on the inequalities amongst men
| as TO outward condition and the speak
er expressed the hope that the HUI
time be prepared for an equal distri-
button of wealth.
-, The increasing attention paid to po-
ntlcai economy is a hopeful sign OF
our times. look forward to a state
OF society in which a man will be
called poor. not because he is desti-
tute OF the means of a comfortable
Subsistance for his wife and children,
Dut poor simply by contrast with his
nelghbor who has been endowed with
1lrmer health or a more active body,
ana more enterprising mind. or who
mas enjoyed more favorable Opportuni-
Ies Tor the exercise of his powers, or
because these blessings have been be-
slowed upon him by his parents and
ne has justly inherited the fruits of
theE successful labors.
constituted as the world is a social
relation OF equality amongst men as
70 outward condition, would not only
De impracticable, but not conductive
to the virtue, the happiness and sue
cess OF men as individuals, or to the
progress OF society at large.
Illustrated by Indians.
The system of equalized property
among men has nearly always existed
amongst the native tribes of our coun-
try and who to purchase his freedom
would assume the manifold evils of
their conditiOn-look at their want of
enterprise, industry and self-deniali
The most enlightened state in which
Jhe principle of equalization was ever
deliberately tried and for any con-
tInued period of time, was the republic
OF Lacedaemon.
But who would .pIace himself updar
the laws Of Lycurgus and for the sake
OF equal distribution of property ex-
pose himself and his children to a
restitution of domestic comforts, and
all the things that gladden. and dignity
lie such as Sparta was subject to al
Its best estate?
The Spartans were brave men and
Tor time nObly maintained the free
dom Of their land, but it was only
freedom from foreign yoke that they
enjoyed; their internal bondage was
cruel in the extreme.
me leveIing process might add q
very small amount TO your income, yet,
even this could not last for the in
centive to individual accumulation
taken away, the capital Of a community |
could not grow, but must diminish and !
eery mans share be less.
Equalize wealth and you Oblige every /
man to be his own mechanic, farmer !
and manufacturer, and the knowledge !
ana dexterity which men now posses .
in their various caliings would rap /
idly diminish
Would Remove Stimulus.
What stimulus WOU'd there be to !
activity, ingenuity and enterprise in !
the hope of lettering our condition
II all were equal.
The hope Of advancing ourselves is
the exciting principle that overcomes
our natural ease and sharpens all the
human faculties.
Strike this incentive out Of the So
ctal state and we should deteriorate
till we dropped down to the level of
DUN North American indians.
Give US the opportunity Of lettering
our condition and we cheerfully take
With 1t all the hazards of failure
The universal impulse is to go for
ward and those who would throw down
the distinctions created by brains or
even wealth are the deadly foe OF prog
ress.
We're It not for the present division
of labor. we could make no future ad-
Vances In the arts and sciences and we
should very rapidly lose what we
possess.
We have the best advantages over
men In an unciTiliZed state because
re have never adopted their principle /
II the division OF labor
Who that has experienced the ami |
mating impulse OF successful enter !
rise and has toiled under the bright !
md encouraging hope of being richer. |
wiser and happier. would give up this
yakeful and exciting life for one of {
'nchanging, sleepy mediocrity?