The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-07-17
LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR


Fairmont. July I7.-[Editor West
virg!nianl From time immemortal,
or as far back as man has lived in
organized society. there have been
certain laws regarding the conduct.
rights. privileges and duties OF the
people who formed that society, The
nature OF these laws hare been de-
ternined by the prevailing opinion
OF right and wrong IL the time OF
their institution. bur in the course OF
evolutionary events these laws have
been changed 10 meet the changed
condition, provided the sentiment
has been backed by the necessary
power 10 effect the change.
Thus. Cor Instance. the Vikings
and other people o. bye gone days
considered Il perfectly right TO desert
children which we're physically in
:erior. because it tended TO preserve
the strength OF the race. When a
child vas born. the head Of the fam
liz, guided by his Judgment Of ph=si-
cal illness. decided whether a child
should live or be ieir 70 die from lack
Of food and shelter. At that time
%A4AS -4AEb+@bAA Va RASACENAA a. I'LL
sidered morally right. while in our
time it would be punishable crime.
The aim OF The Law, written or IN
written. generally speaking. Is TO
promote the welfare and progress OF
the human family as a whole. The
more Law is addressed 70 this prin-
ciple the better that Law is. likewise
the less il conforms TO this tunda-
mental maxim. the more of menace
and calamity 10 society 1t becomes.
In the times mentioned above, It
vas necessary to possess the maxi
mum physical strength in order TO be
useful 10 society. hence the custom
OF doing a*a= with all who ranked
below the standard. In the present.
great physical strength Is not neces-
sar- n the struggle for existence;
man has employed other means, both
IN times OF var and peace. means
that require mental instead OF ph:si-
cal strength. This change gave birth
to ! new mora! standard and has
caused US 10 realize that even per-
sons Of less physica! strength may be
useful 10 the common good. hence
to change in our opinion OF right and
wrong which Is aow expressed IN our
supposed duty as society TO protect
all. both weak and strong alike. a
higher conception OF social morality
has OF course contributed 10 this
change which in turn had its origin
in Economic Determ,aism.
In the C1Ited States this idea OF
the protection OF all was entertained
al least as early as the time of the
Declaration OF Independence. and as
evidenced in the enactment OF Article
" OF the amendment TO the Const!-
tuition, where II says the right Of the
people 10 be secure in their person,
ETC., shall not be violated"
In the mental field practically the
same changes are in evidence; while
formerly person was burned at the
stake, or his body otherwise violated,
for expressing an opinion OF his own.
that did not conform TO the estah-
ushed thought-uo-be facts. our ume
has acknowledged the right Of the
people TO think and reason as they
choose, for evolution AND progress
can not 1ourish an old out of date
thought or idea: new thoughts, new
ideas are Indispensable 70 continued
life.
The first article Of the amendment
to the Constitution vouches the priyi-
lege Of free speech and press and the
right OF peaceful resemblance for a
redress or grievance. Happenings of
late, however. have caused rtghttul
and liberty loving citizens 10 ask
themselves II the Constitution OF
these United States Is still In force.
and Il West Virginia and Fairmont
in particular are under its turisdic-
ton. Attempts, not only to control
the bodies. but also the minds OF the
people are occurring almost every
day, and those who can not be die
tated TO or who refuse to yieId to the
attacks on their rights as citizens of
a Republic. are constantly erdanger-
ed as 70 life and limb.
Private corporations are allowed
70 employ thugs and bandits TO spy
upon peaceful citizens and interfere
with their private affairs, and II
deemed profitable to the interest Of
the corporation, beat, cripple or even
kill them.
Columns Of records of instances