Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1919-10-28
THE THINGS THAT ARE OURS


Many persons with fine houses. BIG
automobiles. modish clothes and all
the other badges Of money seem Ia
think that they have some natural
right to the Injuries they enjoy and
that giving TO those that have not Il
charity. They are kidding themselves
and are almost sure TO discover their
error In tears and sorrow. When You
divide the crust OF bread which you
really need yourself with the other
fellow because he needs Il worse than
you do, that is charity. When you give
OF your abundance to those that need
and with no hope OF return. that also
Is charity. Charitable people are few
and far between, for most of us give
because II is easier to give something
than to be bothered by the importuni-
ties Of the needy; or we give because
the act OF giving Is an exercise OF our
money power, pleasing TO our vanity ;
or we give-otthink that we give-be-
cause we have definite hopes OF an
early return with usury. Our Lord
chose the Widows Mite as the true
symbol OF charity, so you don't have
to 20 beyond that for an interpreta.
ton Of the term. In other words. II
you are not giving til II hurts you are
not giving at all.
BY introspection we determine
whether or not we are charitable. II
we are not charitable then we are
selfish and dispicable and the things
that we enjoy are not ours at all, but
belong to the needy OF the world and
will sooner or later be- distributed
among those that have a first claim
ON them. But government has es-
tablished our claim and protects us In
Il up TO certain point. But even our
own liberal and democratic govern
ment has laid down the law that II
has the right to take any and all
things we call our own when II needs
them-the right of eminent domain
Therefore the things we think OF as
ours are only loaned TO us for proper
use. II we don't use them properly
for the good OF all-then we have for
felted our right to them.
How often have you seen the rich
coming out Of their fine houses with
chests inflated like pouter pigeons 10
enter sumptuous automobiles, looking
out upon the world as its lords and
hoping there are plenty Of the com.
mon herd on hand 10 see them fllmt
their fine raiment? Borrowed plu.
mage. Some day they win be willing
TO give all for the mere right To live
and may be denied even that.
Any darn fool can make money, but
I. no
TO Its proper use. Money In itself, or
Its manifestations In ostentatious lux
ury, do not spell success In life. Some
OF the most notable failures In life
are those that have succeeded In gar
nering a goodly amount OF round iron
men and many such are n curse to the
country and community In which they
are tolerated; they are even a burden
to themselves and the worst enemies
Of their immediate families.
Any person, however rich that fails
to contribute something besides money
20 his country and community Is
"cOotie" ON the body poll
tic. ANY lesson that fails to give some
thing to those around him and to
raise up family imbued with unsel-
fish ideals IL an abomination In sight
OF God and every one breathes sigh
Of relief when his worthless carcass Is
thrown into the ditch and his sickly
soul consigned to well-deserved pun
ishment.
Yet we now have the sight Of cap.
Of big business whim-
pering. boasting, contriving by every
trick In turn To make the public sorry
for them at same time worship and
envy them. They deserve nothing
save that their lot Is bound up with
the lot Of common humanity. Because
every man that has established home
and saved enough to insure II Is a
capitalist In small way and needs to
be protected by the government he
maintains. We cannot, unfortunately.
hand the "malefactor OF great wealth
over to deserved punishment, because
his ruin would involve the innocent.
Otherwise we could all join the boil
sheviki with u clear conscience. But
unless we do something for the work
IRIS OF the world---even the most lowly
and most ignorant--revolutiOn will
overthrow the whole system of rights
in property. When we begin by throw
ing the anarchist In Jail we are start
ING with the product Of misfortune and
not with the cause of misfortune. BY
Ill means the anarchist should go To
Jail, but along with him should be in
.arcerated the maker OF anarchists.
lust what are you with education,
money and political influence trying
20 do for the millions In ignorance
md poverty? Precious little are any
II us doing, and yet we rail at the
conditions that seems about TO bring
,ur country to anarchy and ruin. We
could correct the condition, but we
prefer not to. Evidently we intend
% go on in our selfish way and take
he chances Of going down in the gen