The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1923-01-04
WHAT EQUALITY MEANS

A clergyman found it necessary to cui
short religious discussion which threat
ened considerable unpleasantness, and adj
dressing the disputants, said: "You car
prove almost anything you want to by the
Bible" The same is to certain extent
true of the Declaration of Independence
and the constitution of the United States
The Declaration of Independence asserts
that all men are created equal, that they
are endowed by the Creator with certain
inalienable rights, that among these are
life, liberty and the pursuit Of happiness. y
The demagogues read no further, though
what follows interprets this statement SO
plainly that mistake regarding its meaning
is impossible. Neither do they take into
consideration the conditions obtaining
when this statement was made.
The colonists were subjects of the Brit
ish king, and under monarchial govern
ment there were classes Men were born
subjects in certain class. The trainers
of the Declaration of Independence had to
deny these existing conditions as basis
for the proposition they made. The colon
lists did not propose to be subjects and to
be divided into classes. They were born
equal under the law, all exercising the in
alienable right to life, liberty and pursuit
of happiness,
The colonists were not FOOLS They knew
that men differed physically, mentally and
otherwise-that they always had and al
ways would. They lived too close to ma
ture not to have observed that man is no
exception to natural laws of whatever kind.
What they believed was that though men
might be strong or weak in body or mind,
or both, they were created with equal
rights, and proposed to make this belief
fundamental to self-government and to fu-
ture independence. What they believed
they established nothing more because
impossible, nothing less because undemo-
cratic.
At the recent session of the Associated
Industries of Massachusetts, Wentworth
Stuart discussed the misinterpretation of
equality. In the course of his remarks he
said: "Clear up this misinterpretation of
equality which has misled, and has estab-
lished notion that this is a land where
one man is as good as another even though
he is good for nothing" Continuing, he
added: eve recognize no equality except
equality of opportunity to make possible
equality of being" Neither did the franz
ers of the Declaration of Independence or
of the constitution.
We recognize no other equality because
there is none. Pretense that there is is
deception possible Of mischievous results.
It is mischievous because it robs men of
ambition to make the most of opportunity,
for if they are equal why strive for equal
ity? AS cold matter of fact such reason
ing has put men out of the race in such
numbers that the country today has thou
sands who do not try to better themselves,
and consequently become burden to So
ciety. These at least are the nucleus of
the great army of observation-disclosures will
ing to raise themselves they drag others
down, for misery loves company
There is need of education that will help
men to think nationally. Illogical reason
ing has sent too many off on tangents, and
they do not know how to get back. They
will illustrate the Bible observation about
those who have not losing what little they
have. They need help that will not only
but the prospect that to what they may
gain more shall be added.
Finally, equality not earned is not
gained whether it involves social standing,
political place, or wealth. 1t can be earned
only by making the most of opportunity,
which is equally the right of the strong
or the weak, the rich or the poor.
Greater conceit has no man than he
uuho I'M n oin oc ho understands q woman