The Washington herald., 1921-04-06
InaEenable Rights.

a MERfCANS fond of claiming what
~ called "inalienable rights" The fountain
head of Americas distinctive pride is the
Declaration of independence, which enumerates
these inaenable rights '1ife. liberty and the pur
suit of happiness" coming all men as possession
from their Creator
But the following clauses at qualify this
initial declaration by stating that to secure these
rights governments instituted deriving their
just powers from the consent of the governed"
and right there is set up majority rule and that
these rights not alone in their security but in their
final definition, depend upon majority opinion.
1t also declares that dominant opinion of the
people may at any time change the form Of govern
ment ito effect their safety and happiness" while
the caution is added that long established govern
ments should not be changed for light and tran
sient causes, and accordingly all experience hath
shown that mankind more disposed to suffer,
while evils suferable, that to right themselves
by abolishing the forms to which they arc accus-
toned" By plain inference this disposition is
commended.
So it is that this government, based upon ma
jority rule, takes into its keeping these nalen-
able rights which longer remain with individuals
Inevitably soon individuals associate them
selves as a government their personal judg-
ment of these rights, along with their actual pos
session is alienated
They pass from the individual to the govern
ment. 1t is then for the government to interpret
and preserve them; to define and secure them; to
preserve them for the good of all and not as merely
claimed by each individual. A citizens life becomes
pledged to uphold the government. His liberty is
at the governments disposal. His happiness is m
terpreted for him related to the happiness Of
others.
But any government such as ours, that cannot
make plain and acceptable that all restrictions
placed the 'nalienabe rights of its individual
citizens are the will of a preponderant majority
and for the common good, has day of sad reck-
oaing coming. These rights with which it is
not safe to trife.
They are distinctly the primary trust A
government based upon them falls when it does
not teach its people their exact meaning and this
IS the corner stone of Americanization 1t fails il
it does not make all citizens fully realize their
Limitations and that trust always carries re-
eiproeal obligation on the part of those for whom
the trust is held
1t also fails if it does not recognize that the
very fundamental of these three rights is that oil
beng born to decent conditions in an environment
which gives an equality of respectability, which will
conserve self-respect and equal chance of self.
development in those right capacities which are
every human beings endowment.
S1ums direct contradiction of the Declara
ton of Independence So, too, are overcrowded
schools with half-time periods and dilapidated
housing and equipment So is any form of peonage
and is a wage scale under any economic con
ditions, which does not provide respectable Twins
conditions.
- All Americans ALLEVIATE their inaenable rights
They give them trust to their government
They pledge them their obligation in supper
of that government But the other side thei
goyernmentNis to appreciate its obligation to ad
minister its trust as "of, for and by the people
who place this trust in its hands