Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-04-24
H ARE MANS H

It is somewhat significant that those who have talked
most loudly about their own rights in connection with
the war are the people who have counseled the following
Of methods which would inevitably destroy all human
rights. What are a mans rights, anyway? What may
he demand of the government under which he lives:
What duties does the government owe to him, and,
though this feature is often overlooked, what duty does
he owe to his government? .. ... "
Men have talked of liberty Of speech. They have
urged perfect liberty of action. That is, the nation being
at war, they have taken the position that it was for them
to choose whether they would serve it in that war or not
either in person in the field, or with their energy, their
goods and their money at home. Has the individual the
right to this freedom of choice. or is his liberty in some
way restricted
In an earlier and simpler state Of society each man
asserted his own rights, and defended them If he could.
Might ruled, and the lack of physical proves meant
slavery or dispossession. We have created social organ
izations through which the individual is relieved of the
necessity of protecting himself, except in rare cases of
emergency. A man is secure in the possession of his life
and his property. His family relations are held sacred.
He goes about his affairs unmolested. He is free to think.
to speak and to act as he will, subject to the equal rights
Of others, and being accountable to the social organiza-
ton for his exercise of these rights in such a manner
as will not be destructive to the social order under which
he lives.
There comes the test Of his rights. The things which
he enjoys, while many Of them may be the direct result
Of his own industry, are his to enjoy because society
makes it possible for him to possess them. He has a
right to their enjoyment only in so far as the exercise
Of that right is compatible with the existence of the or
Derby government which makes them possible
The government which through all his life has pro.
tected him, has a right to demand of him whatever serv'
ice may be necessary for its own perpetuity. He can
not deny that service and remain an honest man. Or
Derby government without which NE would be in a state
of savagery, depends for its existence and its operation
on the moral support, the good will, and, in the last an
alyLs, on the physical force Of the members whom i
serves.
Ordinarily the citizen has full liberty Of action, AM
~ ~ Is free to express himself with reference to the wis
dom or unwisdon Of the acts OF his government. He ha
ii right to seek, in orderly ways, to change the form o
government II he. believes that improvements can b
made. But when that government is struggling for It
very existence many of the things which are permissibl
md proper under other circumstances becomes treason
ssAbies
S##9ssThe citizen Of the United States 1t this time owe
his government everything that he 10 and %everythin
@#atlfa1s Ne has. Nothing can be held In reserve. He mu.
ssai prepared 70 meet every demand, and to meet
a6MaSItpSSanSally ssand wiuinslyy
Thsrs - - no rsason other than political ones &
GA& GMss