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*
INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS
A TREATISE
UPON
MAN's POWERS AND DUTIES
SUGGESTING A
NEW METHOD OF BALLOTING,
PART I. – FREE VVILL.
PART II. – EDUCATION.
PART III. – SOCIETY.
PART IV. — FASHION.
PART V. – GOVERNMENT.
EY
W || | | A M A. S T U R D Y.
PUBLISHED BY
CUP P L E S & H U R D,
B O STON, MASS,
1888.





f

PART I –FREE WILL
º
Every human being is, no doubt, conscious of their º
own sovereignty, and that no other individual, as such,
has any natural authority over another. Society makes
the existence of the State necessary; it should be of the
simplest form, as its very existence depends upon the indi-
vidual, just as land depends upon each grain of sand, or
the ocean upon its minute particles.
It should, therefore, never use its power to promote the
glory of one only, or to support simply a special form of
social organization. In proportion to its care for the indi-
vidual will it prosper. Man will never peaceably submit
to any authority other than his own, except that de-
rived from his self-existence. He is a world of his own,
greater than the State or all societies combined. The free
will with which Nature has endowed him is the cause of
the abuse of that right in a state of society, for, what he
feels to be right for himself he conceives to be equally so
for others, forgetting that others possess the same right.
Thus, after vain attempts, he must be content with the
sovereignty of himself only. Nature evidently reserved
perfection for herself, and man is perfect only when in
harmony with nature, otherwise his free will would be
useless, inasmuch as all our actions would be uniform, and
there would exist no motive to exertion. Hence the
cause of unhappiness is the very foundation of our free
will.
Society introduces the very corruption from which it
claims to protect us, and thereby upholds both right and

4. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
º
wrong to subserve its ends. Yet it exists by virtue of the
individual who takes the head, so that one may wield the
rightful power of the whole for his own interest, depriving
all others of the benefits for which society should be
formed.
One cannot be society; hence alone one can do no
wrong to another. Only when society is established can
wrong exist. From this it follows that society is respon-
sible for the evils that are, rather than the individual, who
can destroy society, so far as he is concerned, by with-
drawing from it at any time—an act over which society
has no authority, and which proves his sovereignty. Man
does not lack wisdom ; he withholds it to disguise his pur-
poses, and when he seeks assistance from either an indi-
vidual or society he generally finds the result against him-
self. Nature acknowledges our sovereignty by the pain it
inflicts upon us, which serves as a warning that her laws
are being defied, and in a similar manner society is dis-
turbed when it becomes irregular or unjust. This con-
fusion, therefore, is in the very constitution of things, and
after the agitation nothing seems truer than the fact that
human beings can never be perfect, for then there would
be no use for free will, and none could exist. Conse-
quently, the fact of man's free will is the very principle
which makes individuality possible, otherwise all would be
perfect, and might then just as well be marble statues.
The fact that Nature withholds perfection from man
should teach every one that they are inferior to her, and
when one would assert authority over another, can he under-
stand their failure by the above fact. There are no human
beings on earth so ignorant, as it is termed, that they are
not aware of their self sovereignty. The very fact of their
wrong doing is proof of it. These are fixed facts to which
every one is compelled to submit, even if unwilling to ac-
knowledge them. They are as fixed as the fact that a

FREE WILL. 5
mere assertion is not a fact, although coming from the
highest human authority.
A restrained free will is just as impossible as to give
a man liberty to go where he likes after chaining him se-
curely to a post, or to bend a straight line without crook-
ing it, or to teach a slave he enjoys a state of liberty. So-
ciety is as much a necessity as the individual, for without
it the earth would have been a lonesome planet performing
its daily revolutions, with one perfect man striding over its
surface constantly surveying his possessions, and wonder-
ing why so vast a territory, capable of sustaining millions,
was given to him alone. We are not obliged to search for
a reason for our possessions before enjoying them, or rat-
tle the dry bones of the past for answers to our question-
ings. For real knowledge is acquired only by experience,
and the individual must accept the earth as he finds it at
his reception. All of the earth over which he has abso-
lute sway is himself; the rest of the planet with whatever
exists thereon is for his amusement and society. To im-
prove one's condition is, no doubt, an inborn propensity,
and when one discovers this vast earth with all its grief
and joy, it is only natural, we think, that the greatest
effort should be made to improve it. This conclusion cer-
tainly comes naturally to one who is aware of his own sov-
ereignty.
Nature forces every one, by desires and pains, to ful-
fill their destinies, and in proportion to their faithful
stewardships every one receives their just reward; but her
control of man is wholly from within, which must be an
absolute fact or free will would be a farce. Besides, she
demonstrates from her own actions that she has no mercy
for man outside of his own organization. The whirlwind
proves this by its terribly destructive force, sparing neither
man nor beast, neither high nor low. Now the disposition
in man to improve everything that comes within his obser-

6 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
vation arises from the pride of self possession, but when
he attempts the improvement of others it is a failure as
well as an infringement upon Nature, who reserves that
right for herself, which is just, after giving man every
faculty for improving himself. If by right of free will he
neglects himself and uses his gifts to improve others
equally endowed, according to their capacity, Nature pun-
ishes him in proportion to the injury he has done himself,
regardless of the benefit he may have conferred on others.
That man supposes others to be suffering for improvement
is simply a proof that he is in pain himself, and his great-
est effort should be in that direction which would promote
his own happiness, and also leave others to enjoy a like
privilege. There is evidence sufficient that all do not en-
joy an equal amount of happiness, which would seem an
injustice were not Nature's laws in perfect harmony, which
I endeavor to show by my own free will, and by the right
I have to my own opinion. Not so much to instruct others
who are equally endowed with ownership of themselves,
and perhaps better able to instruct me, as from an inward
hope it may be the means of encouraging some poor mor-
tals enslaved to their own pride to declare their freedom,
and the fact that they belong to themselves. Unhappi-
ness is the price of free will, and, as mankind is organized,
a happy existence can occur only in a normal state of inac-
tion, the taste of food even would become impaired, and
rest be restless in the absence of a tired body. This does
not justify unhappiness, nor make it necessary to one, in
order for them to enjoy happiness, it simply proves the
existence of an unhappy state, and that only by contrast
can anyone appreciate happiness, or realize it in perfection,
just as a white spot needs black for a back-ground.
Nature endows the individual with all necessary
organs, and while in harmony with him, those organs are
in harmony with each other, and thoroughly adapted to the

FREE WILL. 7
use of the one possessing them. If every creature of the
earth possessed organs that were in perfect accord with all
others, a normal condition would be the result, and im-
provement be a myth. Thus Nature betrays her real
design, and employs all creatures to promote this end, the
development of her possessions. To what extent the
future only can unfold. The unequal distribution of tal-
ents also becomes necessary, for the same reason pre-
viously stated, and is one of the causes, if not the principal
one, of a life of unhappiness for some, while others enjoy
a state of happiness. Yet nature is not responsible, and
proves it, by its effort to heal whatever wounds are caused
in the great struggle of life, which goes on for every
conceivable aim and object. The individual is responsible
for the degree of unhappiness he suffers, and is also the
cause, very often, of the unhappiness of others. Moreover,
it is in the power of every one to lessen or enhance the
degree of their own happiness by using the power which
makes unhappiness possible.
Man, as an individual, owns a portion of the earth, and
that portion is himself only, thus being a world of his own,
as I have endeavored to prove by the arguments already
stated.
The earth, as a whole, belongs to society, a state
necessary that every one may be protected in the enjoy-
ment of their own, without infringement upon others.
Society is divided and sub-divided into so many factions
that it becomes corrupt, and its possibility of usefulness
thus impaired. Hence the necessity of State—the highest
form of Society—which for its own existence must protect
equally the low and the high, must shield all minor socie-
ties. What Nature is to man, man is to the State, and its
purity depends upon the individual in proportion to the
disposition of one to acknowledge the same right in others
which he possesses and claims for himself. This may be

8 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
impossible, as a whole, but it is in the power of one to im-
prove the State, and thus add to the general result.
That the earth is a mere location and training school
for mankind is an error, and those who think otherwise
have made the mistake of yielding their free will, and
accepting others for their guide who are ever ready to thus
assume their training. Development is what a child needs
and training is not necessary to accomplish it. What they
want is a chance to use their natural faculties before they
become encased with the ideas of others, who are them-
selves suffering in consequence of like training. Parents
that endeavor to train their children as they themselves
were trained, fondly hoping the children may do credit
to such training by showing an improvement over their
trainers, will look with pride upon the result, and feel, in
declining years, they have done something for the ad-
vancement of mankind. In reality they have only been
less of an obstruction to advancement, from the fact of the
training they have received from their children, who are
Nature's instructors, and are taught by her to laugh at the
follies of their parents. This must be obvious to an ob-
serving mind, but I offer proof of what might otherwise
seem a mere assertion. It is always the children that
occupy the front rank of advancement, while the parents
are behind. Now, everything on this earth is in some way
the result of Nature, but no special method of training
was ever born, and the fact of so many existing in oppo-
sition to each other prove them all to be inventions to
advance particular systems. Beside, the less one has of
the medicine, training, the more successful he is, and thou-
sands of circumstances, under our observation, attest this
fact. Also history records that all the great reformations
were brought about by men untrained by any other man;
in fact, from men they received nothing but persecution,
and whoever possesses the courage to fearlessly express

FREE WILL. 9
his own opinions, must first break through the crust of
self-appointed advisers and would-be friends. These try
in vain to protect the lines of their own circle, for a na-
tural man lives in a circle that has no diameter. Further-
more, whoever noticed a child under a discipline of training
which would not do, or try to do, the very thing it was
told was wrong, and would not prompt the teacher later
for doing the same thing It may be a stubborn will, and
need breaking, as it is termed, but the fact is, a free will
given to a human being by Nature, will not submit to being
broke without the body is crushed also. Whoever would
attempt to train or direct a child, in any particular direc-
tion, should first be as perfect as Nature itself. And as it
is often remarked, “As the twig is bent, the tree is in-
clined.” But why bend the twig at all Why not let it
grow up straight as Nature designed it to do Only such
can ever reach their natural height, which Nature meant
all to do. One error makes another necessary to counter-
act its evil effect, the same as a lie can only be covered by
another lie, until there is a pile crowned by a lie.
No man was ever born a thief or insane. It was
caused by some error in defiance of Nature, or by the
effort to train him in some special direction, and if this
fact makes good training necessary, it also suggests the
question, What is good training As the microscope of
science has not discovered that “pearl without price,” why
not try the experiment of not training at all in the ab-
sence of positive knowledge. The same as a man would
not train a tree, but leave Nature's laws undisturbed, and
thus attain the greatest results. The child is to the man
what the foundation is to the chimney tower, which will
be defective and fall if the foundation is disturbed. Be-
sides no mason would undertake to top out a chimney be-
fore the structure had reached its height, neither would he
commence to build it at the top. The free will of man

IO INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
will never improve Nature, although he may make a loco-
motive, yet he will fail if he attempts to make a kernel of
corn, which possesses a power, which dwarfs any machine
man has ever made. And just so far as man obeys the
law of Nature, just in the same proportion will he be re-
warded by success. No creature of the earth that creeps,
crawls or flies, but has some superior qualities over the
human race, and can accomplish with ease what man could
never be trained to do. Whoever thinks himself great let
him learn from a bug, that however much he may aspire
to reach aloft and take an upward flight, he cannot fly.
Every variety of degradation is appropriated for the pur-
pose of gain, also for improvement, and flourishes until
they become necessary to each other. Of all nations each
claims to be the most civilized, and points out the barbar-
ism of the others, and tries to teach them to become next
to the only correct one. The same process is adopted by
all societies and systems, until it reaches the individual,
yet the truth is as much a fixed fact as ever, Pure water
cannot be made purer, cream rises to the top as soon as
the agitation with skim milk ceases, and no truth was ever
truer, than that man was born, not made, and of all rights
none are more right than the individual right.

PART II – EDUCATION,
The greatest discovery man ever made was the discov-
ery of himself; thus man becomes independent and pos-
sesses a character that can never be directed by any other
teacher than nature itself. The desire for education is as
natural as the desire for food, and just as necessary.
Whatever human system now existing, emanated from the
individual, and imperfect in the same degree as the indi-
vidual is inferior to nature, who is the only perfect teacher
and deals directly with the individual.
The education of a child commences as soon as it can
distinguish light from darkness, and continues as long as
life exists; also the instinct of danger commences to be
developed at the same time, and like a tender sprout of
vegetable life needs nourishment and protection. This nat-
urally must come from the maturity of age and actual ex-
perience, not so much to direct the tender sprout, as to
develop it, for this gem of nature possesses all the organs
necessary for its own direction besides some special features
that are superior to any other child that was ever born ;
in the sense that no two of any thing can be exactly alike.
This feature is as much hidden from parent as child, but
the parent who is aware of one existing, will watch with
hope and fear and guard this treasure with the greatest
care that the child may discover its own special qualities,
for, they must be discovered first by the child, who can
reveal by act and expression to the parent, thus filling the
heart of both with joy.

I 2 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
Whatever error or prejudice exist in the parent will
naturally have an influence upon the child, and the mere
hope for its success in life is not sufficient proof that the
parent's influence is always the best, as the intention to do
right does not make it right, or prevent the evil effect of
doing wrong.
Nature is stubborn and persistent as well as perfect,
and will not yield its gems wholly to the whims and no-
tions of the parents, who are just a little in advance of
their own parents; and in the same degree they must
yield their prejudice to their children, who, under nature's
laws will turn the wheels of progress regardless of the in-
structions of their parents. -
Education is not training in a strict sense for the in-
dividual living entirely by himself, never having seen an-
other being, would educate himself. The word training
suggests a special direction, but education is a general de-
sire both natural and necessary and training may be
accomplished by imparting education to another, which re-
sults in directing or bending and can be wrong as well as
right. Nature educates but never trains, thus it is, that
the closer one observes the Great Teacher the more suc-
cessful he becomes, and whoever observes this fact, even
if they have become so severely bent or trained as to im-
pair their vision, would become astonished how readily
nature would repair a wrong if not obstructed by the free
will of the individual. Thus she shows to every one who
discover themselves that they are in possession of organs
better adopted to the accomplishment of an object, then
the organs of others which convey a system of training.
All were given eyes for their own use, otherwise only
a few would possess them, and no system of education or
training will ever reach the degree of perfection that one
can see through the eyes of another, or even be able to
direct their vision.

EDUCATION. I3
Schools and books are inventions to hasten the educa-
tion of mankind, they are the product of the human mind
which must have been guided by nature at first, for, from
whatever source sprung man it must be admitted that he
made books, and in no sense are they the product of na-
ture; their use, appropriated in establishing a system of
training was also invented ; hence, they may become an
instrument of wrong training as well as right. So one can
readily see their main dependence, because correct educa-
tion depends upon the individual brain, for all books and
systems of training came from this source. No one can
dispute this fact but may claim that some brains are
greater and more comprehensive, thus enabling them to
make books and convey better knowledge to lessor lights.
This introduces power of one brain to direct another and
also creates a superior attitude of one person over another.
Whether this is a fact or not, it still remains to thoughtful
minds that nature gave them a brain better suited to their
bodies than those of any others; and the effort to crowd
the possessions of one brain into all others, would, if it was
possible, cause the same normal condition, perfection, that
nature stubbornly repels. That it is accomplished to some
extent all will admit, but must also admit that it never
occurs except at a sacrifice of health, a warning from na-
ture that her laws are being defied. Willing victims are
readily found for this sacrifice, which is the result of their
observation of others, who, as it no doubt seems to them,
possess greater ability; and thus they are encouraged to
think they can become the same by submitting to any sys-
tem of training that offers such a prize.
Parents permit their children to study as hard as
possible, and will often point to some successful man to
encourage greater effort regardless of aches, which it is the
doctors' special privilege to care for. Thus a system of ed-
ucation becomes no better than a race course, in fact worse,

I4. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
for human beings are of vastly more consequence than
horses, besides every vice and evil is warranted to be cured
by it, therefor it also becomes a competitor with the
patent medicine man. No one supposes that any ill re-
sults are intended by whatever system public education is
administered, but the facts must determine the matter and
can best be obtained by watching closely the results.
The present system of education, supported by the
State, is no doubt being improved in one particular, and
that is in greater effort being made to encourage the child
to think for itself, which will accomplish in the end other
desirable reforms, which are no doubt obvious now to the
observing mind. My ideas are offered as mere suggestion
and may be very faulty, but the results of the system, as a
whole, no thinking man can claim to be good; for instance,
the child who becomes very efficient in book knowledge is
never heard from in mature years, and the reason of this
is obvious ; the child's natural faculties have become en-
tirely hidden from itself by the husk of acquirement which
seemed at first to offer the most attraction; besides he be-
comes broken down in physical health, and the praise and
flattery bestowed upon him lead him to feel he is a man
before the years have made him such ; in fact he will never
develop into a successful man. In proof of this, one has
only to observe the fact that the successful men and women
are self educated, and besides, the neglected child of the
family is generally the most successful, for it has a better
opportunity to develop its own nature, which is a better
guide than any system ever invented. Of all the various
systems which are adopted for the purpose of education,
none are more injurious than such as has for its object the
maintaining of itself regardless of the individual need. It
is the worst form of monopoly existing, and will disguise
its purpose so as to deceive the unwary with the belief
that greater happiness is to be had by adopting their sys-

EDUCATION. I 5
tem, while results show that the victims have become
mere tools for the use of others and thus lost sight of the
gem of their own existence. Besides they become so crushed
as to be unable to offer a protest, and the system continues,
but its power will decline by the very means taken to up-
hold it, for education is a two edged sword, and when man-
kind understands its simplicity the follies of the past will
be thoroughly understood, then the individual will realize
how he has been duped.
Another feature of this same system is to humble the
individual who becomes educated to always look to some
other person for a guide and thus become so exalted them-
selves by the attention they receive that they endeavor to
lead others in the same direction, thus destroying the free
will of both.
For any to lean on another for support when better
able to support themselves is like begging for food when
one possesses natural means of obtaining it, or placing
acquired knowledge as superior to the real, which has the
effect to lessen the effort to develop what all possess—
natural talent.
No system of education will ever produce the greatest
results that neglects the individual, for, as I have shown,
they have the power of self-education; hence the question
would naturally arise, What education is necessary for one
to impart to another Only such as is necessary to pre-
serve the social relation of mankind, all other education
should be left entirely to the free will of every one, and
thus become a personal privilege.
The effort to train children to submit to authority
will never be accomplished without injury to the body so
long as the earth continues its revolutions, and only those
advocate the system who have been bent and twisted by the
same process. No progress can take place inside of the
circle that this system prescribes, and, but for liberal gov-

I6 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
ernment which endeavors to protect the individual as best
it can, no progress would be made in improving the un-
happy condition of mankind; greed and power would guard
every system and such a thing as an invention would never
be heard of.
Great improvements have been made under a more
liberal government in all kinds of machinery, but in every
case it was the result of some self-educated individual,
and no record can be found of any trained person ever
discovering anything that was any great benefit to man-
kind, while it is a recorded fact that some of the greatest
inventors have died in poverty, robbed of their honors in
consequence of their inability to protect themselves
against the duplicity of book education, administered by
men for the purpose of reaping the harvest where others
had sown. -
The very fact that improvement in the different sys-
tems of book education is so slow is because its principal
supporters are victims themselves. Their natural faculties
are entirely hidden by the surface cover of acquirements,
so much so that their own ability remains undiscovered by
themselves even. Acquirements are like fashionable
clothes that give appearance only, and increase the vanity
of whoever posesses them. It is methods that should be
taught, for knowledge can only be had by experience.
As well might one try to teach the feeling of pain to
another, for that also can only be known by experience.
The more simple a machine is the more effective it
becomes, and such would be the case with a system of
education that had for its real object the greatest good for
every individual. Society demands some general system
of education both simple and effective, that an interchange
of thought may be had without any injustice to the
individual, and to that end the State should direct its
efforts. The language of the country would answer every

EDUCATION. I7
need of society, that, every child should be taught at the
expense of the State; no other education is necessary for
anyone to reach the greatest possible height they have a
capacity for, and whatever else might be desired should be
the personal privilege of the individual, the same as learn-
ing any trade or profession.
Language now consists of so many varied forms that
the State should adopt some form of the simplest character
as a standard. Thus education could be obtained very
readily, when the student could branch out in any direction
without being burdened by a mass of superfluous words,
that were originally invented to mystify rather than assist
one in the search for knowledge.
To learn the English language according to the pres-
ent standard and become thoroughly acquainted with
the meaning of all the words, would exhaust the average
brain, and what is really very simple becomes lost in the
great display of words. It needs only one word to express
a single article but when several are used it creates confu-
sion, hence the necessity of a simple language that all might
understand each others thoughts quickly and the mere
playing with words to mystify the judgemnt would become
a lost art, or only adopted as a fashion.
The improvement in language is far behind mechanical
inventions, which would never have taken place if the
inventor had been obliged to learn the English language ;
besides all machines become perfected when the simplest
forms are adopted, and there is no reason why mankind
should not possess a simple standard that could be quickly
comprehended.
Education is supposed to cure ignorance, yet after it
is acquired the possessor is still ignorant, the same as a
man may possess tools and imitate the carpenter by
carrying them round but would know nothing about
building a house, however well he may be able to name

I8 - INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
each tool correctly; and the more he becomes interested
in the study of tools the less liable he will be to ever learn
the art of building anything. Also the present tendency
to teach all the arts and sciences to every child is a posi-
tive injury, for it creates an indecision in the mind and any
special talent the child naturally possesses becomes so
befogged as to be useless. As well it might be claimed
that a blacksmith should learn to make a watch before he
could shoe a horse correctly; therefore with a simple lan-
guage which could easily be learned, the theory of any art
or science could be readily obtained at the pleasure of the
individual by means of the many books written upon the
subject.
The base use of language prevents the individual from
asserting his rights, it has also become so massive, and
still so growing, that the ordinary mortal cannot compre-
hend the simplest subject when conveyed in language of
the latest style. No improvement will ever be suggested
by those who have acquired the extravagance, from the
fact of its great power to awe those who mistake it for real
knowledge. Its fate will only become sealed when it
becomes so top heavy as to tip over from its own weight.
Individual grievances are now generally drowned in
massive words if one undertakes their own defence and if
he has the means to employ defence he meets the same
difficulty; thus the individual may possess rights but his
inability to cope with language deprives him of enjoying
them.
Some of the brightest intellects are withered from the
lack of courage to express their thoughts for fear the style
would be considered poor; and thus the very purpose of
language is destroyed, while on the other hand the dim-
mest lights are encouraged to come to the front because
of their acquired style, and real thoughts are smothered.
A man may become intoxicated with too much educa-

EDUCATION. - I9
tion as well as anything else taken to excess and thus
become an instrument of positive evil, while in appearance
he affects the air of a reformer and denounces the vices of
others, hoping thus to disguise his own errors. But Nature
treats all wrong doers in proportion to the disregard of her
laws and the individual must always weigh the words of
others in his own mind, which is the only means to deter-
mine justice.
Acquirements such as are obtained from books may
be ornamental and enable the possessor to repeat fluently
what others have written and thus appear very pretty, but
are no more real than the painted rose. They bear the
same relation to the brain that dress does to the body, just
enough is correct, but the ability of the brain to acquire
is as extensive as the universe and becomes a mere fashion
beyond the actual needs, and like the trimming of a dress
may be carried to any extent until the very trimming itself
be trimmed. This is no doubt an individual right, but for
a person to pose as the real article only increases their
natural vanity and encourages those who depend upon
dress only for a position in society to think that they also
are a marvellous success; but their ignorance will pre-
vent them from ever becoming unhappy. Besides to them
the imitation is just as real as the reality, and they should
feel kindly toward Nature that had so arranged the human
organs that one could not see through the eyes of another.
That a child needs book learning to attain the great-
est height of usefulness and happiness, is as absurd as to
plant with corn printed directions how it should germinate
and in what direction to grow. Corn will grow if the ker-
nel is accidently dropped in a favorable locality, and
mature untouched by human hand or the assistance of any
other stock. Is the human being less endowed by Nature?
Its nature even will struggle to overcome the bruises of its
would be trainer, and like the injured corn stalk will mature

2O INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
in less degree according to the injury received. Besides,
the man who feels himself superior to any other man in
consequence of book acquirements or the surface cover of
better clothes deserves the contempt of the lowest creature
of the earth, who would be really his superior. Nature
endowed him with free will but if he hide himself inside of
superficial acquirements and depends on them for his glory,
he will return again to atoms of the earth forgotten, in
utter ignorance of the natural powers that lie latent in his
own brain, which were as much superior to the acquired,
as the clear Sunbeam is superior to that veiled by a cloud.
Also the effort to lift mankind to a common level by
means of education is as hopeless as to instruct Nature
herself and it can only be accomplished by artificial sup-
port, for the law of gravity is as relentless as the movements
of the earth, and all things whatever man endeavers to up-
hold must have the earth for support. The flimsy device
to improve on the workings of Nature has always some
motive for its object and when a system of education
becomes a mere instructor of fashion it does a great injus-
tice to the individual, besides it encourages a class of
beings to believe they were born to a life of idleness, and
what is merely superficial they parade as the real article.
The increase of pauperism among the finished book
graduates, should alarm all lovers of liberty that such a
state of things cannot continue, for no individual has the
right by reason of accomplishments to claim the labor of
another for support; value for value, is the principle that
would bring the greatest amount of happiness to mankind,
and nothing less will satisfy the individual who demands
that man stands up for just what he is worth.
Education, that will encourage the individual to think
for himself and use his own powers instead of borrowing
from others who have no natural ones to loan, will hasten
the day when peace and love will supersede the power of
greed ; then hate and envy will be put to flight.

PART III–SOCIETY.
The solar system is composed of planets which form
a society, also all plant life demonstrates the same principle.
Trees of different varieties are associated together, each
possessing powers that shoot out their numerous leaves
which, also form a society; and, as with the tree, no two
are alike, yet they abide together with room enough for
all. All animate creatures, with the power to direct their
own movements form one great society of the earth, and
are as varied in size as the inanimate bodies.
From these circumstances one can draw a simile, which
shows to man that the order of the universe is governed
by a general principle of society in whatever exists, and
every individual thing is arranged in a group, thus making
society a factor of the world. Whatever creature possesses
the power of its own motion, is also endowed by nature
with the individual right to use that power according to its
own will. All this variety of life is, so to speak, let loose
upon the earth in a state of society to strive with each
other for whatever object that will suggests. Such a life
is vastly superior compared with the planets and vegetable
life that move in exact order, which proves they have a
prescribed limit, and their powers are determined by fixed
laws that never vary. It also proves that all creatures
possessing free will have no positive directing power out-
side of their own organization, hence they are distinct
bodies, subject to no other government than what is
necessary to preserve a state of society. It is all the per-

22 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
ceptible power that controls the individual other than their
own; and even the power of society is formed of parts of
the very elements it has authority over. Whatever receives
a benefit should in like proportion bear a part of the gov-
erning power of the whole, for no human being ever ex-
isted who possessed the hereditary right of governing an-
other, nor has any man, however superior in statue or
mind, the natural right to any authority over his kind.
That such a vast variety of life should be given a free
will to move and act by its own power, and be thus let
loose upon the earth, would seem at first thought a very
dangerous experiment. It also suggests the idea that all
living creatures were controlled by an unseen power, that
acted upon the will of every living thing, making it appear
that free will was a mere fancy of the brain.
That the instinct of danger and means of defence were
born to all animate life shows plainly that nature never
designed the inhabitants of her domain to form one happy
family. Neither does it prove that strife and conflict were
ordained, but does prove that each living creature moves
and acts independent of each other. No influence from
without has any control over their acts without disturbing
the peace, and usurping authority by means of force, which
can only be resisted by such defence as the individual has
been given.
This law is general throughout the whole animal king-
dom, and power and might would destroy all life, but for
the inborn instinct of fear and defence.
Nature has also endowed life with a love for society,
which also serves to protect all the species from the danger
of becoming extinct, and yet preserves the free will of all.
No evidence exists that she ever designated any method
of society other than the law of desire, and all creatures
were left to themselves to determine whatever method to
pursue. To suppose of the early race they used any rea-

SOCIETY. 23
soning faculties for the benefit of posterity would be ab-
surd, therefore it is more probable that desire was the gov-
erning nrinciple, and whatever that suggested was law to
them.
It would almost seem by the present standpoint of
reasoning, that the race would have deteriorated rather
than improved by such a wanton freedom. Probably the
early race of mankind were not much superior to other
animal life, and in the absence of books and other imple-
ments were entirely destitute of means except what nature
furnished, yet they no doubt lived as happily as their
posterity do.
In regard to the fact of no positive record existing of
the first society that became established, it is the privilege
of every one to conjecture what they please. But as rea-
son is an established fact of the present we can determine
by facts existing now that society, whether it ever had a
beginning or not, must have been a factor in the produc-
tion of the present race. Judging from the present, with-
out any regard to historical facts, mankind must have al-
ways possessed an element of curiosity and a desire of
search which explains the progress and development which
is constantly taking place. The hidden treasures of Nature
furnish an unlimited occupation for the most fastidious
mind. Thus mankind could devote its energy in that
direction, and cease the imitation of the lower animals by
devouring each other.
Supposing society to have had a beginning it is also
just as probable that the inventive nature of man conceived
the idea it needed a governor or a head, and as the sug-
gestion came from him he assumed the duties of that posi-
tion, there being no power to oppose him. As the race
began to increase in numbers, other men assumed the
same duties over whatever society existed within the scope
of their power, and what seemed at first for the benefit of

24 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
society was soon appropriated for the benefit of the gov-
ernor himself.
The principle of government, however, must be an
admitted factor of society to preserve its peaceful existence,
but that also becomes organized into forms of society; becom-
ing wheels within wheels, so numerous and mysterious
that the power of man fails to comprehend their extent,
either their beginning or their end. Therefore the ques-
tion would arise, Who has authority to govern mankind
None but those who are delegated by the governed.
The vast strife that history records of the past, shows
plainly that every government has used its power to pro-
mote its own interests more than the welfare of its sub-
jects. Every conceivable resort has been devised to keep
them in subjection, which has resulted in the fostering
upon the present race innumerable systems of society.
The only perceptible object seems to be, to provide a
livelihood for certain classes of men, who claim the right
by virtue of inheritance and superior knowledge. Besides
they endeavor to train the minds of others by appealing to
their fears, for no other object than their own aggran-
dizement. Admitting government to be necessary to
society, it is in no sense right for any man to usurp that
power by the mere credential from some other man, and
thus gain a following which is immediately used to protect
the fraud. It is claimed that a directing influence is
constantly directing the act of man, which is equivalent
to saying that any system of society is justified by its
very existence, hence every wrong act would be entitled
to the same excuse, making every method of improving
mankind a farce. Besides it would place human beings
inferior to the lower animals, which would reverse the very
order of the universe, and the necessity of government
would become useless in the absence of any wrong doing.
Nature is constantly contending with fraud and is the

SOCIETY. 25
real governing power of the universe. It pays no attention
to the artifices of man, but continues on its relentless course
entirely undisturbed by whatever society decrees or man
proclaims. Otherwise the will of man would control the
revolutions of the earth and small fish would be devoured
by larger ones to satisfy their greed until this planet
became a barren waste.
Man that poses as a reformer and organizes a society
with the avowed purpose of benefitting the human race,
subjects himself to ridicule, for he meets another society
as an antagonist that is also contending for the same glory.
Nature smiles on both seeming to encourage the confu-
sion, but in reality is only acknowledging the free will of
man which is striving to grasp the control of more territory.
It arises from the artifices acquired from others of the same
type, until they become so encased with the useless husk,
that they no doubt believe and think themselves specially
ordained to instruct others.
The spirit of reform is a part of one's nature, and who-
ever discovers himself will also discover his powers of re-
forms are quite limited ; in fact confined to himself
wholly. Therefore if he really possess the desire of reform
in his heart, he can always find a subject without going
beyond himself; for he never could be sure that he had
reformed another.
Disorder existing in society is not unlike the disease
of a human body, which nature is striving to cure ; and man
is to society what the doctor is to the animal body, simply
an assistance. It is absurd to suppose that men can
change the order of nature by organizing societies, and
vainly trying to reason they are accomplishing a higher
order of mankind, when she is performing the work her-
self more hindered than assisted by man, who is ever striv.
ing to promote his glory by means of his own artifice and
deception. The mere device of dangling mysteries before

26 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
the unlearned, is only a shield for the real design. For an
intelligent man to believe them, is to believe without rea-
son, and whatever is claimed without a reason based upon
an established fact, becomes a myth.
Agitation is a positive law of nature, and is proved by
the fact that earth air and water are purified by that pro-
cess. To become quiet is stagnation, and every living
thing on the earth would soon be extinct. The diversity
of individual opinions creates an agitation of society and
thus it becomes a means of purifying it. If there were no
difference, no opinion would be necessary and the human
race would be worn out with corruption.
Discussion and a free exercise of opinion will result in
a gain for the right, for the pure element of everything
cannot be destroyed, while the impure will die of its own
corruption.
Society is pure, in proportion to the purity of the in-
dividuals composing it, who cannot be restrained in the ex-
ercise of their rights without an injury to society itself.
No man is perfect enough to improve another by any
method of instruction, which can only be based upon his
own ideas of what is right for himself. For the real con-
dition of others cannot be known, and they may be better
than their would be instructors, hence, the only means the
individual has of improving society is by his own example:
Whoever supposes they were endowed by Nature with
greater gifts than others only prove their own vain conceit,
for the wisest philosopher has not been able yet to deter-
mine what the gifts of others are. They are as much hid-
den as the origin of man. Thus it is that no one can feel
another to be inferior without betraying their own conceit.
Man has thoughts which are the gift of Nature, when he
has no means of expressing them.
Two persons viewing the same object would describe
it differently; neither can have a positive knowledge they

SOCIETY. - 27
have formed a correct opinion of another. It is as impos-
sible to convey an actual thought as to make a picture
speak. Only the explanation is conveyed and whatever
error occurred in the method of description would be im-
pressed on the opposite mind as the real thought. There-
fore if the interpretation of whatever method is used to
convey thought is wrong a serious waste of words will
enSule.
Great injustice can be done another by such a mistake
for both will be sanguine they understand the other, when
it is a fact that no two persons think exactly alike.
The person that really tries to do right will the more
readily believe others are right, and on the other hand
those who see so much evil in the world could see them-
selves by using their own phrases for a mirror. A thief
will naturally think all others are thieves, also the drunk-
ard will admit his own debauchery, at the same time all
others will seem drunk to him.
Right slumbers in silence and needs no support, but
wrong with a surface cover of right and proclaimed with a
loud voice deceives the unwary, and thus disguised stands
at a premium.
The individual right needs no label, for it exists in
the consciousness of doing right, thus proving that the only
method one can determine what right is, is by doing right
themselves.
Witchcraft received its death blow when the accuser
was condemned to the same punishment as the accused ;
otherwise it would have continued to cause serious trouble
in society. Existing evils which disturb the tranquil peace
of society could be disposed of in the same manner, for too
often it is the case the evil is encouraged to serve the
purpose of the informer. -
That evil is so much more quickly discovered in others

28 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
only betrays the propensity of evil in the informer, for one
can only know what actual evil is by experience.
Therefore it is clear that no one was ever authorized
by nature to point out the evils of others; as well might
one insist upon a better knowledge of another's appetite
based upon their own feelings.
To lean upon another is to brace up power and ac-
knowledge a weakness, when no individual is possessed
with any more natural power than is necessary to keep
themselves erect.
The purpose of society is for mutual benefit that all
may be protected in their rights and the pursuit of hap-
piness. It is only abused when the strong oppress the
weak to increase their own power, and magnify their love
of glory, until the strongest man controls whatever society
is within his reach. He will also encourage the crushing
process among those subject to his control, and thus all
will rob the weak to strengthen the strong.
Wherever the most individual liberty is recognized,
in the same proportion greater progress takes place and
greater security to life; also the pursuit of happiness is
less disturbed. So it is plain no man was ever born with
the right to proclaim his power over another, which can
only be maintained by force, and justified by imitating the
lower animals, for they seem to possess a natural right to
devour each other. It is a common remark, man could
not control a horse if it was conscious of its own power,
and it is quite as true of man who yields to other men.
The art of man clips the wing of a bird to make it obedient
to his will, also he weakens the mind of his brother for the
Same purpose.
All animate life exists upon the same general principle
and mankind stands at the head. Why? Because he
possesses the power of reason and ability to make discov-
eries. Yet his ambition leads him beyond his depth and

SOCIETY. 29
he tries to solve the problem of the origin of man. Phil-
osophers, both ancient and modern have spent their lives
trying to discover the hidden secret, and have only suc-
ceeded in producing very interesting accounts of their
discoveries, while the secret is as unknowable as ever.
Assertions have been piled upon assertions, which have
developed facts unsought in the persistent effort to find
the philosopher's stone. But Nature is so perfect it guards
well the secret of her own power, and could man discover
it he would banish death. Then each would make for him-
self a planet and float through space until the unlimited
bounds of the universe would be over run with new stars,
yet there would be room beyond.
The price of life is death, of which mankind is con-
scious, it also enables him to know that his had a begin-
ning, and whether the lower animals are less endowed has
never been discovered. It is quite natural to cling to life
as long as possible. Although a beginning always suggests
an end, the desire for continued existence produces the be-
lief in another state of life, which one is just as able to
determine as another. For proof, the wisest sages of all
ages have been striving in vain to obtain.
Whatever the condition may be after this life, it in no
sense interferes with the individual right. For no man
can do more than exercise his powers according to his own
judgment, justified by his experience in having too much
confidence in others, who would deceive and rob their fel-
low man, who looks with hope for justice in another world.
Surely Heaven cannot be so unjust as to bar its en-
trance against the poor creatures who are crushed and
trodden into the ground in the mad rush for a little glory
on earth.
Nature suggests that out of dire confusion springs
peace, for after the terrific storm and icy blast the sun's
rays will break through the clouds in all its glory and

3O INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
shower its warmth upon all. It should be the guiding in-
fluence of the thoughtful mind. Disappointment, distress
and the torture of pain are natural maladies, but courage
and perseverance will overcome the storms of life and a
brighter day will appear. Every minute of time is an im-
provement over the past, honest efforts merit honest re.
sults, even if no credit is received, for whoever is just to
themselves will be just to others, and the individual right
to confide in their own self-respect will never be betrayed.
-



PART IV. FASHION,
All animal life is endowed by some instinct. The
human race in addition to what the lower animals possess
are progressive, and not limited to any particular shape or
form in whatever they construct. Hence fashion is the
result of this freedom, furnishing additional proof of the
individual right. It is just the difference between instinct
and the individual privilege to control their own power.
Love for the beautiful is man's incentive to give shape
and form to such articles as necessity suggests; the motive
of building anything being, in common with the lower
animals, simply for shelter and protection against intru-
sion.
In order to understand clearly what this writing en-
deavors to demonstrate it becomes necessary to fully
understand the meaning of the word and what it is sup-
posed to convey. The word may be applied to anything
which partakes of form or shape, and is often termed
fashion, but the word evidently was intended to convey a
far different meaning and is seldom used to express the
mere shape of an article. Its common use applies more
to the prevailing form either of dress or manners. In this
sense it possesses greater power and becomes an element
of no value other than to add appearance to necessary
form. Hence it is this feature the individual is most in-
terested in who bows in worship at its shrine.
The art of man could never excel the handiwork of
Nature, which encourages a love of the beautiful, justify-

34 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
ing every effort of man to make things as beautiful as
possible. But it is as much the right of one as another, so
when shape or form prevails, and is adopted for that
reason only, it becomes an evil and a taskmaster. It
asserts authority over its slaves, who are chained to its
power as much as the drunkard is chained to his appetite.
It is a high stimulant, in comparison its effect is not
unlike intoxicating drink; it possesses the same ratio of
degrees, and nothing can be said to justify its existence
even in its mildest form. It is not necessary to the
beautifying of anything, for it only excites an unhealthy
condition, creating admirers and devotees to strengthen
its own power. A plea for its uniform qualities would not
justify the excess, for such can be maintained without its
aid for any reasonable purpose. Nature gives no en-
couragement to such follies, but on the other hand it
severely punishes whoever indulges in the evil; the result
of which is poverty and distress; also vice and its attend-
ing misery is largely due to its influence. What could
occasion such a useless custom 2 The same reason that
any wrong could exist; the free will of man, which gives
individuals the power to abuse themselves, but it should
always be at their own expense.
Fashion is the fountain-head of the greater portion of
unhappiness, and when a man occupies a position of
power as a ruler he encourages it for the purpose of
amusing his subjects, thus detracting attention from his
own designs. It also serves to mystify the knowledge of
our individuality.
All ruling powers are satisfied with anything that
does not interfere with their power, hence reform of any
kind never springs from that source. The victim is the
one who could expose this fraud, but too often it is the
case he lacks the courage, or what is worse the moral
principle. Besides he is subject to the loss of social posi-

FASHION. 35
tion; and if he escapes that depressing influence, it is more
probable he will become an inmate of some insane asylum,
than that any notice will be taken of his voice.
It is not the object of this writing to rehearse the
common evils pertaining to this subject which are no
doubt well understood; but rather to show its influence
upon those who silently suffer in consequence of their fear
of ridicule, causing them to cling closely to that mysterious
current—popular opinion.
It is generally claimed and seldom disputed that
people who inhabit the same state or community, are
divided into three classes: higher, lower, and middle class.
Now we would like some scientist to define them correctly,
also to inform us which class he belongs to. Science has
established a great many facts, among them, that all living
creatures are composed of the same quality of atoms;
therefore whatever makes the difference in classes must
pertain to the mind or soul—the life quality. Size, shape
or bulk, could not be considered other than common.
What mind or life is has not been discovered, only those
who possess them can reason at all. Therefore the only
degree of intelligence we have upon the subject is the
knowledge that we are conscious of possessing life our-
selves, and whatever quality could be ascribed to it must
be confined to our own mind. The enigma of dividing the
human race into classes could only be solved by the individ-
ual declaring which class he properly belonged to. Our
modesty would naturally assign us to the lower class,
which would extinguish the higher and middle class, also
reduce the human family to a common level by acclama-
tion.
We are all common on general principles, yet there
are no doubt many degrees the race could be divided into,
but what two persons could agree upon a line of division ?
The “barbarian º' claims to be civilized; although he sub-
36 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
mits to force he would not admit he was inferior. It cer-
tainly weakens the claim to civilization to be obliged to
proclaim it for ourselves.
The fact of their being a class feeling existing in the
human family suggests an inquiry for a cause, as every
effect must have a cause. It has been shown that the
action of Natural Law is impartial, hence whatever induces
a class system is acquired—is superficial—or the product
of art, the outcome of man's ingenuity. Therefore a con-
clusion may be drawn, that the cause of whatever class
feeling exists, pertains wholly to art; thus fashion becomes
established and the dividing line of classes really due to
the artfulness of man, and the effort to oppress each other.
There can be no degree of life, therefore it is common to
all creatures and clear that fashion is responsible for the
class system.
Greater capacity does not warrant the claim to greater
merit, any more than the contents of a bushel is superior
to that of a peck. Neither do special qualities warrant
any claim to superiority. Man's greatness is his special
quality with which he was endowed by Nature, making
every one distinct from each other. The man who has
the ability to extract the lines in the web of science is no
greater than he, who drives a railroad spike; which could
be demonstrated by their changing places with each other,
when neither could do the other's work.
Fashion is the mold of society it is superficial and is
gathered from the mist and fog of human corruption. To
preserve choice fruit it must be sealed against the outside
elements; when its purity will remain undisturbed and its
delicate fragrance be unimpaired. The gathering mold of
whatever object it clings to, has to be constantly brushed
away to preserve an appearance of purity, yet it saps the
vitals and will gradually destroy the object itself.
Purity is truth itself and cannot be garnished, to be


FASHION. 37
-
pretty near pure is always corrupt, there can be no degrees;
the same as to talk pretty near the truth, is always a lie;
which may be proclaimed in innumerable degrees.
Fashion embellishes both virtue and vice, but vice
only needs it to cover its corruption and must depend
wholly upon its fascinating charms for the favor of public
opinion. Vice may be covered with virtue, but virtue can
never be enhanced by vice; yet open vice is far better
than cringing virtue ; the former we can avoid, the latter
deceives.
It is commonly remarked that fashion rules the world,
and one might as well be out of it as to be out of fashion.
Custom is but a form of fashion and many evils are en-
dured with the simple excuse: it is the fashion. If no
man had ever defied its ever winning ways, there would be
no railroads to-day—no printing press—no looms to weave
the fabric that so enhances the fashion of the present day.
It adopts the very means it would once destroy. Thus it
is the superficial becomes the controlling element of the
present race, and fashion is more worshipped than the
realities of life.
The following facts can never be too often proclaimed:
liberty sprung from Nature unadorned. Fashion “the
power that be " has persecuted every reformer of every
age in proportion to the greatness of the reform.
Reformers always spring from what is termed “the
lower element of mankind,” more properly, the most natural
element. Man does not court persecution, but an honest
man in outspoken sincerity will commit himself to the
displeasure of fashion when his abhorrence of hypocrisy
will force him ahead, rather than to retrace his steps and
receive as reward all that fashion can embellish him with.
He is conscious of a noble deed and scorns any other
reward. He knows if years go by, and no flowers with
loving hands are placed upon his grave, the millions yet to

38 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
come that never gazed upon that mortal clay, will say, that
man destroyed one link that binds the human race.
All the wars that history records, have been in defence
of liberty against the domineering arrogance of fashion.
With its winning power and more concentrated means, it
often wins for the time, but it will not endure in the
struggle on a battlefield when its combatants have once
tasted the sweets of liberty.
There are certain nations which claim to be civilized,
and dominate over others because they have the power to
do so. Individuals imitate the same spirit; but as with
nation they are obliged to assert their own civilization. It
is a vain boast, for nations or individuals have not reached
that degree of perfection as to warrant such a claim. Is
the bud less civilized than the half blown rose, which is
only a little farther developed 2 Is it more civilized to be
conveyed in a palace car than a sedan car The object is
the same, therefore the method of development however
superior, has no just claim to more perfect results.
All efforts must have some object—all life has a right
to existence upon the earth, and whatever assistance is
rendered, one to another, to reach a greater degree of
development, or a happier condition, should never be the
boast of anyone.
Until nations can show greater improvement over the
savages in promoting the happiness of man, civilization is
a mere fashion, and methods are more worshipped than
results. The natives of Africa are not far remote from
the animal, but who can say they are less happy than their
fellow-men, who live in a different manner in a more blus-
tering state 2 Are methods greater than results 2 Does
the dish enhance the flavor of the peach Is it more tor-
ture to be devoured by a savage, than by a more cultivated
process 2 If fashion is all we have to boast of we are no
more favored than the African except in greater volume,

FASHION. 39
because they also are devoted to display, even if their only
means are a string of beads. It is very clear that what-
ever degree of development man has reached it is not due
to the influence of fashion.
If our condition is superior to the native African, it is
the privilege of every one to determine for themselves.
Fashion's training has made us what we are, it could have
done as much for any savage, and if we would prefer, not
to change places with them, they also, would be equally
uncomfortable to put on the robe of fashion. The evolu-
tion of Nature acts upon the best material it can find, and
as fast as fashion wears out a race nature brings forward
another from crude material. It is claimed for cultivation
that it produces a higher state of manhood; we may be on
the road leading in that direction; but if history counts
for anything, it is more probable that some savage race
will reach the goal first. To be more explicit, the advanc-
ing race of the present day were savages, while the leading
nations of their time have become extinct.
We have no means of seeing the future except by
reviewing the past, besides all vegetable seeds have to be
renewed from first principles. Also the original pattern
for any purpose must be preserved, for, if the duplicates
are used for patterns the original shape will soon be de-
stroyed entirely.
The influence of fashion upon progress is to retard it;
yet it claims everything, and surrounds every effort of
nature with its corrupting mold. It so trains its victims
that the surface is constantly mistaken for the realities.
Hence art is made to appear superior to the real and the
beauties of Nature are hidden from sight. Whatever per-
manent advancement is made, is accomplished by natural
means; and only those who accept nature as the real edu-
cator, can see the iniquity that fashion imposes upon the
human race. Empires have been buried out of sight, leav-

40 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
ing the record of their folly behind them, to be sifted over
by the present race for whatever purity could be washed
out of the foul mass. Yet with all the warnings of the
past, there are evidences enough that we are drifting
toward the same end; and whatever record we leave, will
be sifted by some future race. The buds of which may be
the natives of Africa, or some other specie untainted by
the mold of fashion. If the past teaches anything of what
the future will be, nothing is more clear, than that the
human race is constantly advancing, and history will repeat
itself with a gain in Nature's favor.
The craze now to imitate others, and follow some file
leader at the expense of health, and real happiness, makes
a very pretty parade; but it is mold compared with the
silent working of Nature to evolve a more perfect race.
Many incidents in our own time could be drawn to illus-
trate this principle, and history fully attests that whoever
seeks fame, seeks it in vain; for fame crowns the natural
man however humble, regardless of diplomas or fashion's
folly. Grant was a man of that character, and the details
of his rise are well known. It was a grand rebuke to the
military chiefs who were loaded with all the glitter of
fashion.
There are a great many men who could be compared
to dynamite; they are perfectly obscure in their silence
and only need to be touched off. But the man who looks
with awe at the surface adornment of his fellow-man, as a
rule places his estimate too high of the what within. Too
often it is the case, the husk is the principal quality, and
he was only gotten up to frighten children; and like a fire
cracker that was neglected to be charged, if he is touched
off, its all fizz.
It must be painful to a natural man to observe his
fellow-men burdened with what is termed accomplishments;
which makes a fool of a man and a puppet-show of a woman.

FASHION. 4. I
Such is the result of a system of education that gives more
attention to the teaehing of fashion than the realities of
life. The following quotation applies quite aptly : “The
great universities of knowledge, where pebbles are pol-
ished and diamonds are dimmed.”
Every man who ever reaches a great degree of emi-
nence, reaches it by simple means and thoroughly under-
stands that Nature is the only real educator. It would be
impossible for a man to reach a great height weighed down
by the present fashionable outfit. And, for that reason it
seems more probable, that some savage tribe now in
infancy, will take up the development of the earth, after
our pyramids of glory have gone to decay.
The man who has thoroughly yielded to the influence
of fashion becomes thoughtless upon the general develop-
ment of mankind. He enjoys a normal amount of happi-
ness, and naturally looks at his fellow-man, who attempts
to correct a popular evil, as an agitator of the public peace.
Such men form the stronghold of whatever system
controls the relations of men toward each other. They
see no evil in anything which yields to themselves a state
of contentment. This fact is well understood by real
students of nature, who, nevertheless are only human, and
self preservation causes them also to remain silent upon
any subject, which is unpopular, and sure to result in per-
secution of some kind. Simplicity is generally viewed
with scorn, and whenever a man gains any popular follow-
ing by such means, his methods are immediately beset,
while the result of his genius goes to strengthen his ene-
mies.
Fashion has always been the enemy of education, but
when liberty gives education a chance, fashion immediately
seeks its control and tries to teach that liberty was the
result of free schools. To better determine the purity of
any subject, one should look at the reverse side; the same

42 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
as the quality of cloth is better determined. It is a com-
mon remark, that deception and humbug are necessary to
success, for it sometimes seems to overcome honest means.
It is more the result of fashion's power, than any natural
disposition of man to dishonesty.
Man is constantly being deceived by the surface
appearance, and a fashionable education encourages the
fraud, besides gives one greater ability to deceive. Who-
ever is so guided judges that he is esteemed by others
according to his estimate of himself, and he will lament for
the “uncultured man,” who he endeavors to make as mis-
erable as himself. º nº -
There is not so much difference in human nature as
appears on the surface, and he who depends upon that for
his elevation, would probably be surprised, even if he did
not care, what an “uncultured " man really thought of
him. The mere loading of the surface with the hard
earned knowledge of others, will never make a man although
it may gain for him a diploma. And if his bodily system
is not broken down by surface weight, he may gain an
office desk at wages that a “common " laborer would
scorn. He might enjoy greater social advantages in dis-
playing the tune he was set to, but a hand-organ could do
as much. It is not what goes into a head that makes a
successful man, it is what comes out; and if the surface
is crusted over too hard the real never comes out.
Science never searches books for the purpose of mak-
ing discoveries. It digs in the dirt and examines rocks ;
using books only to record whatever discoveries are made.
It has been the philosophy of ages to present a cause for
an effect, and as books are an effect, they will never dem-
onstrate a cause to fit a theory any more than a tailor can
make a man to fit the clothes. Man plods over books and
becomes very efficient, grinding out the language second
handed, and passes in society for a scholar when it is noth-

FASHION. 43
ing but fashion. What he is so well able to handle, is no
more his, than the money a bank teller handles belongs to
him also.
The assertion, that a child is born innocent and entire-
ly free from natural depravity is every one's right to pro-
claim, at least for themselves. But it is certain, if it cannot
be proved, it cannot be disproved, for no person living, or
any written evidence can be found to prove that a child
was ever born depraved. Hence the assertion that a child
is born pure, will hold as good as any to the contrary ; and
for the sake of argument we will consider a child to be
pure
No observing person can deny, that a child shows a
persistent disposition to truthfulness, which proves that
deception is more the result of training than from any
natural cause. Fashion asserts that human beings are
born depraved, for the purpose of shaping them into such
form as will best serve its own purpose. Thus it is that
fashion commences its corrupting influence from the start:
and the brightest day a human being ever sees, is its first.
The commencement of man's downward course is when
the teaspoon is first placed to his lips. From that time
onward it is a constant strife between nature and art.
It is a doubtful question whether children inherit from
their parents any propensity that is directly due to the
training the parents may have received. This phase of
life has been well discussed by able writers, and can be
determined by any thoughtful observer who can read. It
is not the purpose of this writing to dispute any written
authority. But it is, for the purpose of encouraging every
one, they have a right to their own opinions upon all sub-
jects. And having that right, they have a right to express
them. In fact Nature so controls human beings, that she
compels men to speak out, rather than maintain silence,
which is not a “virtue '' on all occasions.

44 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
Let us observe a child, and each of us can determine
for ourselves whether it was born depraved or not.
The child watches every movement of the parent, and
will put all its trust in that parent. It fears nothing and will
trust with the purest sincerity every word its parent utters.
Does any mother exist who ever detected a dishonest act
or expression in a child, who had just commenced to listen
with eagerness for every word that came from her lips ?
Moreover who ever failed to notice that a child as soon as
it could talk, would insist upon the truth It will persist
in the truth even after it gets a spanking for disputing its
parent. This goes to prove to an honest observer, the
child is trying to act naturally and be honest, and that
Nature undisturbed is always honest. But the power of
fashion can be observed to work a wondrous change upon
a lovely child, when it commences to go down, rather
than un, which Nature designed for it. Fashion gets con-
trol of the child just as soon as it detects the first untruth
in the parent, and from that time training becomes neces-
sary. The child will get worse and more stubborn, in pro-
portion to the parent's indifference to their own actions.
Besides, the sharpness of a child at detecting any effort
being made to deceive them, shows plainly they are very
susceptible of training at a tender age. It is more difficult
to put out a blaze than a spark, but it is still better to
have no spark.
Fashion would starve to death if parents would bring
up their children according to their natural instinct, when
training would not be necessary at all. The influence of
the parent upon its young is one of nature's noblest gifts,
and depravity is the result of training—fashion's device,
which, when it controls the parent, it influences the child.
Art appears, while Nature exists; a wrong act can be,
while a natural act cannot be, taught, proving that fashion
creates depravity, for its own existence depends upon it;

FASHION. 45
also, that children would never know what art, or depravity
was, if it was not taught to them. Whoever bear children
are the most competent to influence their own. Whatever
the circumstance may be or how much the above state-
ment could be qualified, it is certain that maternal love,
as a rule, will guide a child better than any art invented.
It is doubtful if any exceptions could be made other than
such as could be traced to the influence of fashion upon
the parent. The natural misfortune of a child that has a
mother entirely under the influence of fashion could no
doubt be improved by a system of training. But it is
better that one is neglected than that ten are made to
suffer by a system that takes away the natural right of
any living creature to its young. Besides the evolution of
Nature would be less disturbed, and it would hasten the
day when every human being could claim their own. Then
fashionable parents would be the exception rather than
the rule, and children would grow up to love society also
to respect their fellowmen without the need of a system-
atic discipline.
It is the duty of every person to do some good in the
world. It is the writer's belief that no one can better
accomplish it than by breaking new ground and making a
path for himself rather than follow in the worn out paths
of others. To bring this matter clear to the minds of
honest observers, the following illustration may not be out
of place. -
A young man starts out in life with high hopes. He
possesses good health, a moderate amount of training, and
consequently a powerful ambition. He is ignorant of the
most essential of life—experience; that is to guide him if
he meets with moderate success—the objective point of
any enterprise. He fears no obstacles, for his experience
has not encountered any of importance, he is guided almost
blindly by his ambition. He sees no reason why, nor will

46 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
listen to the ever prattling of the experience of others; he
wants to experience for himself. Let us observe him and
see what experience encounters. Minor success crowns
his individual efforts, which stimulate him to greater exer-
tions. What seem mountains disappear as molehills. He
encounters his first serious obstacle—vanity; the result of
too sudden rise. Good common sense overcomes that and
the lesson is of more value than whatever temporary loss
he sustained. He discovers that whatever success he
meets with is the result of his own efforts; also that a
motive can generally be discovered in whatever advice is
given him. This obstacle increases in proportion to his
success; it causes no trouble other than annoyance. He
gets married after his success in a business venture be-
comes assured. He is now determined to exert the full
force of his energy to please and gratify his wife, who
shares equally with him the spirit of ambition. The future
now looks golden, with a fair prospect of gratifying the
natural human desire of possessing a happy home. What
could interfere with it The question scarcely arises to
the mind of a newly married man; everything is as bright
as a clear day, and his only wonder is, that everybody does
not see it so, and get married. All would go well if the
wife can overcome the obstacles that have been met and
overcome by her natural and willing protector. They are
now both equal so far as unseen obstacles beset them,
which cannot be removed as easy as they can be avoided.
The influence of fashion operates upon them. Every man
is as anxious to see his wife the equal of any woman as she
is to become so. They both commit a fatal error—one
by demanding and the other by yielding. It does not
follow that the wife's desire for fashion's folly is greater
than the husband's; the illustration can as well be reversed
and show precisely the same effect. It will also show that
the peace of a home depends upon that home being a unit.

FASHION. 47
The husband falls a victim to the influence of fashion,
the wife persists in trying to persuade him to be economical,
but his success in acquiring gold makes him feel strong.
He rushes into every degree of extravagance, until by the
flattering attention that is bestowed upon his wife, she
also yields, and begins to enjoy what they both had pre-
viously despised. “Kind friends" always encourage this
state of things for the same reason that advice is often
tendered when least needed. The fragments of a once
happy home are more joy to them than as many happy
homes as there are fragments. It is a general observation
that a meddlesome person prefers the destruction of sound
articles for the reason of the greater convenience of obtain-
ing some of the ruins themselves. It would hardly seem
a natural weakness, but rather the result of training, which
has been shown in other parts of this writing. A home is
practically in ruins when a man and his wife both have
yielded to fashion; yet it can be asserted that being a unit
they should be happy. Yes! it would seem so, but fashion
is their master and that enemy of all fair dealings never
gives its slaves any rest. The man may struggle through a
stormy life and his effects disposed of by the probate court,
but what is more probable as soon as any adverse circum-
stances take place such as unpaid bills, the distress of
mind drives him to seek solace in whatever will drowned
his grief. Rum is either the first or last resort and gener-
ally both. The trouble at first is so insignificant that both
parties brush it away as a joke, but fashion will cling like
a leech, and the only method by which it can be disposed
of, is by the would-be victim being aware of its presence
himself. But to continue the figure. This man who
had become so intoxicated with fashion, built houses and
added to his appearance of wealth until his credit depended
upon it. Everything soon becomes mortgaged when the
peace of home would be enlivened only by the exertion of

48 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
the man and his wife trying to convince each other which
was to blame for “such a state of things.” The man being
thoroughly convinced seeks whatever pleasure he can find
regardless of its character, or his duty to himself. He
becomes discouraged and allows himself to slide down hill,
finding it a much easier process than climbing up; when
he neglects his wife, who has to be cared for by “kind
friends,” while he walks the streets a drunkard. Fashion
points him out as a brute and draws her skirts of silk away
in sad disdain. She shows no pitying hand, unless per-
chance it holds a pledge; which reads, “sign this and be a
man and cease to thus disgrace the very sand you tread.”
He mutters low: “No no too late 'twas you that
brought me low, could I throw off thy fond embrace 'twould
need no pledge from very hand that brought me low.”
It is not necessary to draw this figure farther. Fashion
can as readily excuse an evil as create one. It is only a
link for study to prove that the only chance a human being
has got is to be an individual; and every home that would
enjoy peace and happiness should be individual also. The
home is sacred and if fashion is to rule the outer earth,
there is a home of peace inside.
A man who has discovered himself, or to be plainer,
whoever discovers the effect of Nature upon himself, is
seldom sick and needs very little of the science of medicine,
which every doctor understands who meets with any suc-
cess. He, very seldom takes any of his drugs; but as his
business is to contend with art, and counteract its evils by
applying his art, he takes little heed of the prevention of
disease. His principle in brief is, to give Nature all the
chance possible after art has made his services necessary.
No good doctor in ordinary cases will recommend the wak-
ing of a patient to adminster medicine. Hence it is obvious
that he never applies his skill against Nature. The man
who understands this principle and has discovered it by

FASHION. 49
experience can never be deceived by art. She may exert
the greatest effort that fashion has embellished her with,
and, with the most winsome smile and graceful effect, she
can make no impression upon natural man, for he will not
be caught the second time. She may taunt him with in-
gratitude and willful ugliness, but he is as firm as the rock,
and fashion's power will receive a set back. The reason is
obvious for “self preservation is the first law of Nature.”
The natural man never presumes to know more about
others or set himself up above other fellowmen, but he will
insist that he knows more than others about himself. Thus
it is clear to every natural man that human rights are
individual rights. Such a man never tries to instruct
others, but to the contrary tries to encourage them, that
all the knowledge they have of themselves is by their own
experience. For Nature sends its lightning direct to the
individual it strikes.
When a fly gets caught the first time it may be able to
extricate itself, if the web is slender, and it is a wise fly
that avoids all webs afterward. The second time he may
get so badly entangled that the spider will commence to
weave its slender thread around the struggling victim
until destruction is the result. The web of fashion has a
great many degrees of strength and the man who gets
caught by a thread however slender, will, if he is wise
avoid all threads that fashion weaves after his first expe-
rience. But if it so charms him that he think it superior
to liberty, this writing will fail to convince him. For it is
one of fashion's arts to so attract its victim that an evil
will look like virtue.
Fashion has ever denounced Nature as vulgar, and
teaches that only by arraying herself in fashion's garb
could she overcome her depravity. A brief illustration
will make it clear to all who look upon Nature as superior
to art.

50 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
º
A man possessing a sanguine temperament reaches
middle life after overcoming all obstacles that fashion
could obstruct him with. He feels strong and is possessed
with the idea that no failure is possible to a man who
never did fail. He boldly attacks fashion publicly, which
so exhausts the vitality of his brain, that fashion declares
him to be insane, and the doctors drug him in vain.
Fashion tries to dispose of its antagonist by securing him
in an insane asylum. He resists force and the land is too
free already to put a sane man in an asylum and rob him
of his hard earnings. Yet, fashion would not yield and
continued to fight the man with drugs. The doctor ren-
dered his best service, by saying in pure English : “My
art will not beat Nature; drugs are only art versus art.”
Thus encouraged the man makes a little test, which should
not be kept a secret. -
He throws the drugs away and gives up to Nature
entirely. It was a desperate struggle for life, fashion
would not yield without resistance. Without the drug no
sleep would come to that active brain; but with a determi-
nation that nothing but death could conquer, he struggles
through the long hours of night without a minute's sleep.
The second night natural sleep came to that tired brain,
when the man discovered the real virtue of Nature; thus
outwitting art. Such a man cannot be overcome; he will
win, for Nature will always beat art.
Fashion should not be confounded with the ornamen-
tation of whatever Nature has supplied to the earth; it is
perfectly correct and therefore natural. It is only when a
mode or method prevails, and becomes a confirmed custom
that it properly becomes “the fashion.” Nature shows
by her action that she makes no two of anything alike.
Yet the art of fashion is constantly trying to discipline
human beings to an even gauge. A short man tries to
make himself look tall, and a tall man tries to appear

FASHION. 5 I
short, while the standard height is a matter of controversy.
Mankind possesses a beautiful location, there is room
enough on earth and more to spare. Agitation is nothing
more than the activity of life, it is essential to a vigorous
development of anything. But the effort to supplement
Nature by the power of freedom, which is derived from
her is like a fish trying to swallow itself by catching hold
of its own tail.
The habits and customs of the past are being sought
after and cherished more than the ever present. The
people who compose the masses are in a state of unrest.
Powerful organizations are arrayed against them; they
feel they do not have a proper share of the fruits of the
earth. It is more the result of an effort to be something
they are not, than any natural defect. The people organ-
ize to protect themselves against other organizations when
they become antagonistic toward each other. The real
wellfare of the individual is lost in the scramble for gold.
Weak organizations are looked upon as disturbers of the
public peace; but they have as much right to exist as the
stronger ones. To remedy this evil the cry is, join with
us, we will lead you out of your trouble !
The printing press is the real civilizer, and has done
more than any organization to better the condition of man.
The powerful ones owe their power in many cases to this
source. They seek to restrain its product by the effort to
suppress whatever matter is printed derogatory to their
interests, thus betraying the source of their power, and
also their weakness. Whatever is good and true can never
be injured by the printing press; if it is a power to shield
fraud it is also a power to expose it. No organization or
individual need fear it for whatever is true will appear, and
that which is false can be shown by thorough ventilation.
No greater sign of weakness is an effort to restrain the
product of the press. It is the only apparent means for

52 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
the individual to proclaim his wrongs to the world. And
from so weak a source, surely a powerful organization
should not fear it; for whatever is true in an organization
is equally true in an individual. No word was ever writ-
ten or spoken to thwart the will of God.
If all would declare their individuality no doubt the
world would be astonished at the little difference there is
in the organism of human nature. Fashion would be seen
then in its true position, and how with its superficial qual-
ity only it disguises all real merit, besides, trying to
smother what is really superior. It is present in so many
forms that it leads the unthinking mind to adhere to its
charming influence. Those, who never understand Nature
in its true loveliness, will live and feast upon art as the
only means of acquiring happiness. The struggles of in-
dividuals to satisfy this unhealthy appetite waste the
natural energy of mankind, who are going to their graves
by thousands at a premature age.
The excuse of natural depravity is fashion's device,
for it will protect its own power regardless of the misery it
causes. It trains the young mind to worship at its shrine.
It flutters on the fence and watches with eagle eye cast-
ing its winsome smile upon either side.
What can destroy such power
Nature is the enemy of fashion and this warfare has
been going on for ages. Fashion sings “Walk into my par-
lor’’ while Nature warns us of the danger saying plainly :
“Go if you will, but you will hasten back, for I shall surely
claim my own.”
It is not necessary to jump off a high building to
prove the law of gravity; a stone will demonstrate that
problem. One can watch the swarms flying into fashion's
web and prove that problem also. Hence it is, when
individuals discover they belong to themselves; fashion will
starve to death. No man ever had a natural right to guide

FASHION. 53
another's opinion or guide them at all unasked. The con-
flict between Nature and fashion would terminate in a day
if every human being would claim their own. The proof
is wanting that any man was ever born to instruct another,
or guide them to the web of fashion which asserts that
Nature is depraved, when by its own depravity it is enabled
to work upon the fears of men who are trained in innocent
childhood to believe in art's device rather than Nature's
beauty. Thus, fashion attributes its own corruption to a
fault of Nature, whose merit it claims for itself. This
problem can only be proved by the individual for himself,
who could soon determine by a test of Nature's teaching
only. To accuse another of being born depraved is to
admit it for yourself. Hence, if a man has no instruction
from Nature of his own depravity, he can only be taught
by his fellow men what it is. Effect never precedes a
cause ; therefore it would be natural for an innocent man,
when given a patch, to ask where the rent was. Fashion
supplies the rent, and its victims thus lacerated bear the
pain for the sake of furnishing patches at a profit to other
fellow men.
There is a natural love in man toward his fellow-man.
Man will pull an enemy out of the water, who has become
so depraved by the power of fashion that he will rifle the
pockets, then throw his preserver into the same water that
he had escaped from. Fashion smiles or is grieved, as the
case may be, and calls it the “natural depravity of man.”
A true lover of Nature observes with sorrow his fellow
men caught in the web of fashion, the same as flies to feed
the spider. If he would pull one out, would generally
receive the same treatment, as he who would save the
drowning man. It cannot be proved that man or animal
in their natural grandeur show any depravity, and an
honest observer must admit it has to be taught, when it
preys upon itself, and fattens by its own corruption.

54 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
Depravity was never discovered, or born ; it is not a
natural production. Hence it was manufactured, and is
not a positive quality. It is both a “virtue" and vice
according to locality; it tempts a man to become a thief for
the purpose of informing against him. It allures the
natural appetite, only to condemn the result. It drags
virtue into the mire in its greed to manufacture vice then
denounces vice and secures a pledge by offering a patch
to cover its weakness, if the victim will promise to ever
serve its own destroyer in creating more vice.
Nature has no more care for human beings than for
flies caught in the spider's web. Every individual creature
was furnished with the means of defence or escape unaided
by their kind. When actually caught in the web of design-
ing creatures who are ever seeking whom they may
devour, it is a mere accident if one escapes. Death is the
price of life and no creature dies but once; the question of
duration depends upon the individual more than any other
cause. But to follow this phase of the subject would fill
volumes, which have been written by thousands.
Fashion is purely an effect, it was conceived by the
free will of man, and in order to foster it upon the credulity
of mankind a natural cause had to be supplied, by assertions
that cannot be proved; and so ingeniously woven as to
baffle all attempt thus far to disprove. This should be
understood in the sense, that a negative cannot always be
proved.
The fact that man must have been created or evolved
from Nature, before he could conceive anything, makes
fashion responsible for his depravity, or else fashion pre-
cedes Nature—an effect before a cause which is as impos-
sible as to hatch a chicken from a china egg. Hence
fashion was the mother of depravity instead of the reverse
and Nature evolves living creatures as perfect as possible,
considering the fashion of the period.

FASHION. 55
The first flash of inspiration that goes from heart to
brain proclaims Liberty; and the act follows the flash.
Every movement of the infant proclaims Liberty before
its mind even becomes conscious of the act, or at least be-
fore the mind can become influenced. And will anyone
say the child should be trained so as to deprive it later of
the liberty it enjoyed, for the brief period before the mind
could be influenced 2
Hence liberty precedes acquirements and was the
mother of free schools, rather than the reverse, which
fashion claims for reasons which this writing has endeav-
ored to make clear. Its evils are legion, it fills state
prisons and insane asylums to overflowing. It is the cause
of all the poverty and misery of the land. It makes the
drunkard—the suicide—the pauper—and turns love into
hate. It destroys the peace of home, and to disguise its
own depravity tries to make an effect precede a cause:
Nature and fashion can never mate any more than love
and hate.




PART W., GOVERNMENT,
-
The individual right is the first principle of any gov-
ernment, and the representative form comes nearer accom-
plishing that desirable result than any now existing. It is
the purpose of this writing to show an entire new form of
balloting, which would in my opinion relieve society of the
burdens it has to contend with, and also avoid the many
evils that disturb the happiness of mankind.
Our government as it is now conducted is undoubtedly
the best in the world, and thinking men have been, and are
now, at work revising its methods of action. But it is like a
towering monument that requires a constant watchfulness
to preserve its equilibrium. Besides it is constantly being
added to, which makes it all the more necessary to exam-
ine, and carefully determine, if the foundation is capable
of sustaining the additions which are being piled upon it.
Revolution and reconstruction are as certain to an unstable
government as to the monument which is built upon too
weak a foundation. The details of our government are
well understood and the discussion of them is not neces.
sary to the showing of my plan, for, considering all the
circumstances it is doubtful if it could do any better. It is
the circumstances that are at fault and the government
should have the absolute control of them, rather than be
controlled by them.
The fact that our present method of government was
taken from the past makes it the unwieldy machine which
it is to-day. We all know the difficulties its founders had
to contend with, and the only wonder is that we ever pos-
sessed so good a one. -

60 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
The human nature of man we also know is a fixed cir-
cumstance, and it is doubtful if any form of government
could in any way change it. But for the necessity of
man's protection in his individual right, no government
would be necessary. Society demands a government, but,
for the benefit of the governed wholly, instead of one for
the purpose of maintaining a machine for its own benefit, to
be increased at the pleasure of the officials, who burden the
people with taxes to promote their own happiness at the
expense of honest toil. Besides a system is maintained to
silence any personal grievance, which is declared not to
exist, and by the very power which is benefited by its sup-
pression.
The fact of a man suffering a pain in silence does not
relieve the pain, it only blinds the eyes of the general
public, which would willingly do something to relieve it if
it was known to exist. No man ever needed a government
to think for him or tell him when he was suffering. It
should be exactly the reverse, when an individual could
express his feelings without being told that others higher
in authority knew better than he did.
Simplicity is a necessity for all mechanical machines
to ensure success with the greatest amount of economy;
therefore in showing my form of individual representation
it is with that principle in view. It may possess a great
many weak points, but I desire to show it in as condensed
form as possible, that the most simple mind may un-
derstand it. -
A representative government suggests that every voter
is represented in it. The actual form of action of the gov-
ernment is of minor importance providing it is the will of
the majority. The government will reform itself if prop-
erly created and the foundation principles are undisturbed.
The least government that is a government is the best
government and the less necessity there would be for one.

GOVERNMENT. 6 I
All good men who have the wellfare of our country at
heart cannot dispute my principles, even if they disprove
the method, which may possess faults. The individual
right of conscience and privilege to vote as that conscience
dictates is a proclaimed right already. But does that privi-
lege exist? or is it a mere proclamation ? Who believes
that the individual voter is represented in our present gov-
ernment? He votes and the great formality of counting
his vote is gone through with. Practically he is not repre-
sented at all except in form, which is the principal object,
and deceives the voter into the belief that his vote has
been counted. Whether ballot boxes are “stuffed" or
ballots fraudulently counted is immaterial, the fact is that
the government which comes into power is elected by one
process. It makes no difference what the name of the
party is that is victorious, gold is the power that elects all
the officers of our government; if not by the direct pur-
chase of votes, it controls the officers after they are elected.
It makes no difference whether the party name is Demo-
crat or Republican they are a unit in oppressing the
“common people "—the laboring people—the very force
of any nation. The two great parties are as one in sup-
pressing to silence any individual grievance, the right of
which being the very object of a representative gov-
ernment.
The larger portion of the time of legislative bodies is
devoted to deceiving the general public into believing the
farce, that they are representing the people.
Education is becoming more general over the entire
world ; not such as gold pays for and then tries to in-
fluence, but a simple knowledge that enables the “com-
mon people” to read. Thus they begin to think and
reason, which results in their seeing powerful organizations
arrayed against them. They are advised to organize for
self-protection, which results in their being absorbed and

62 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
controlled by the more powerful ones; really strengthen-
ing the common enemy—the oppressors of human rights.
It is not necessary to continue this phase of the sub-
ject for it is shown in other parts of the writing. One
organization always suggests another in direct opposition;
it is Nature's way to preserve the equilibrium of the earth,
who always wins at the final balancing of accounts; then
gold has no influence to “stay the proceedings.”
Revolution can take place on a gigantic scale without
bloodshed if the warnings are observed in season. Peace-
ful means should at least command respectful attention
when the necessity demands a change. There may not be
an immediate necessity, but it is certain that the rights of
man are infringed upon, and the following suggestions
arise from the opinions of one man who has observed
closely the ominous signs, and believes that a radical
change must take place in our method of government or
the result cannot be stayed by even the power of gold.
Our great monument wants looking to, not at the top
where it blazes forth the symbol of individual liberty, for
the trouble is at the foundation. The patriots who laid it
were men of simple words, and human nature is the same
to-day. The spirit of that work was human liberty. It was
prepared to sustain those principles which it could sustain
forever. Every atom of this monument from foundation
to top was intended to be equality of rights. If, to make
it more brilliant on top a more gorgeous weight is placed
there, beware of the result. The foundation must be
equal to the top, whatever material that is composed of.
How can that desirable result be accomplished It is the
privilege of one of those atoms which has become uneasy
at the destruction it beholds to endeavor to make it clear.
The two great parties are apparently antagonistic to
each other; such is not the case, which has been shown.
They may be compared to a dish, one party is in-

GOVERNMENT. 63
side while the other is out, but both sides are equally
important to maintain the dish. The dish is not needed at
all. A stream that is dammed up is obstructed in its nat-
ural course and the dam has to be repaired at great expense.
It accumulates a great force, furnishing the power for the
machinery of government. No basin—no contents, no
contents—no power, no power—no machinery; result a
natural course.
This writing recognizes no necessity of any inter-
mediate power between the people and government, which
should be what it professes to be—“we, the people,” and,
for the correct working of my plan it is necessary to
remove the great obstruction first. It needs no party
other than the individual party, who is the natural party of
the human race, and all the party he needs. Besides, he
is a party who is always in power, if he has not sold him-
self to any other party.
The government of a free people under the name of a
representative government should be the only organized
society existing on its territory. It should not recognize
any miniature form of government any more than it would
tolerate an opposition in the mail service, or a counterfeiter.
There can be only one head to a well-balanced animal. It
is all any nation can maintain. All the people want is a
government, and the better chance they have the less the
government will be needed. They are willing to recognize
it as the head of the animal, but they equally demand to
be connected with it. Besides, when any part of the ani-
mal is affected it demands the privilege of notifying the
head. It is the parasites that annoy this animal now, and
if they cannot be disposed of a constant restlessness is the
result. These parasites represent organized societies in
miniature form of the government. They annoy the head
so much that its own body is allowed to suffer and grow
poor. It will perish altogether if not attended to. The

64 - INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
parasites are contented and take no heed for the animal;
they grow fat themselves and will leave the carcass as soon
as they have destroyed it. It is a difficult matter to over-
come, but Nature suggests the only relief; that is, by a
vigorous exertion and a thorough nourishing of the body.
There are two distinct forms of society ; one should
not be mistaken for the other; they are organized, and
what could be termed social. The latter is a national
necessity for the people, and does not play a miniature
form of government. All existing organizations should be
a branch of the general government. This applies to banks,
corporations, and every society which demands a president
or head. The government needs to control the gold rather
than be controlled by it.
Is such a state of things possible 2 Yes! if the gov-
ernment is what it professes to be, “we, the people.”
How can they be represented 2 By an honest ballot,
which is the important factor.
The present method of balloting should be changed
to produce a correct result, which this writing will en-
deavor to demonstrate in a simple manner. If any other
form can be shown more simple, it should be preferred.
AN HONEST BALLOT.
A general ballot should be arranged in blank, to apply
to States only, for all public officials. Divisions by towns
or districts is immaterial, a matter for state government to
agree upon. The principal importance is, to have an honest
ballot. The country will always be safe if the people can
have their ballots counted. The blank should be filled
out by the citizen, and signed, then delivered to a record-
ing officer and then recorded, a seal of the officer stamped
upon the ballot, which is returned to the voter, thus secur-
ing two evidences of its being his will. The vote should

GOVERNMENT. 65
be published in a local paper, where every voter could see
for himself if the vote was counted. The principle could
be continued until the State was reached, when the result
by districts could be published, and the plan is complete,
What will prevent the system of patronage and fraud
now in vogue 2 The fact of no organized societies existing
except the government, would make it impossible. Gen
eral politics would not exist; it would be confined to
localities, the best result that could emanate from this sys-
tem of voting. The form of government would only be
effected by a vote of the people, what is claimed for it now.
It would not be necessary to make any changes except as
the need becomes apparent. The probability is that less
government would be needed. The people would become
more contented, morality would rise to a higher standard,
and the government would be more respected. The influ-
ence of corporations and capitalists upon votes would cease,
as the former would not exist and the latter could act only
as an individual, which would produce no serious results.
It must be borne in mind that the destruction of organ-
ized societies is the most essential feature to securing
an honest ballot. This may also be the most difficult part
to effect, but its importance can readily be seen. Whoever
had the welfare of his country at heart would readily com
ply with such conditions, while those who would not would
expose their hostility to a free representative government
in reality, as well as in name. The radical change in the
method of voting would, practically, be for the same pur-
pose as now, and if a pure ballot is the essential of a
republican government, no objections could be offered to a
particular method if it afforded less liability to fraud. This
writing is not with the expectation of effecting a radical
change. The purpose is to present a method for thinking
men to study and think about, for men who do not think
for themselves will scorn and sneer at the bidding of

66 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
others, who for their own benefit are always ready to influ-
ence them.
The evils of the present system of society are causing
a serious unrest or agitation ; they disturb the march of
progress and destroy the natural happiness that mankind
is entitled to. Much matter is written showing the many
evils which beset man, and various reasons are put forth
for such a state of things. It is claimed that men make
beasts of themselves; that they have not sufficient moral
power to control their appetites, and more restraint should
be imposed upon them. The diseased condition of man-
kind needs no more discussion ; it is well understood, and
far exceeds the remedies put forth. Man is tired of read-
ing of the wrongs the earth has to bear. The remedies
are put forth in a very cautious manner. Able writers
amuse themselves by writing remedies for sick men, but
the sickness continues and policy forbids the meddling
with the cause. Business is enhanced by patching up
the disease, while the primitive cause is what should en-
gage the attention of thinking men. The claim that man's
poverty is due to shiftlessness or drunken habits, with the
accompanying abuse of family and disgust of society, is
looking for a cause in the midst of the disease. What
causes a man, who is at least the equal of an animal, to get
drunk 2 Is it because rum exists 2 is a man sick because
medicine exists 2 or was the medicine made for the pur-
pose of making him sick? The medicine must not be dis-
turbed, for it would disturb a “great industry’ in manu-
facturing it. Is it the saloon, or salon It makes no
difference which. Is it depraved appetite; if so, what de-
praved the appetite Was the man born feeble; if so,
it must be expected that he will act feeble. A cotton
string will not bear the weight of a rope.
We must look deeper for the real cause. It is well
known that rum is drank for the effect, otherwise it would

GOVERNMENT. 67
disturb no one. It affects the silent grief of a man and
causes him to forget his pain. He will drink in proportion
to his grief. It prevents him from trying to swallow
razors. Would any advocate the destruction of a medicine
that relieves suffering Doctors are obliged to give drugs
for the same purpose, which gradually destroy life. The
cause of the grief or disease is what should be considered
—if that could be removed, medicines of all kinds would
be really a drug in the market, and only preserved as a
relic of the past.
This writing is to show the primitive cause fearlessly,
not with the expectation of removing it entirely, but with
the hope of agitating the evil at the root. The tree of
evil would not flourish if the roots were pulled out; the
warfare among its branches rather tends to increase its
growth, for by trimming its branches smooth the tender
sprouts again shoot out.
Man wants his individual right. He knows the world
is large enough, and if he is pulled hither and thither by
others he soon forgets the direction he wanted to go.
All men who are healthy have an appetite, and all know
best what it craves; when it is appeased he is satisfied,
and only then. It is simply an aggravation to listen to
another telling him he must curb his appetite. A well-fed
man can well say that who was never obliged to curb his
own. But theories don't relieve the cravings of a hungry
man. Well fed he is contented; it removes the necessity
of being governed and could be accomplished with less ex-
pense than maintaining State prisons and insane asylums.
The best way to govern an appetite is to eat and drink
until it is satisfied, what all philanthropists do, or they
would not be such, for a man without an appetite is a mis-
fortune to the earth. It matters very little to a well-fed
man who owns the land, what his neighbor has to eat, he

68 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
is satisfied ; and, if not trained almost to the breaking ten-
sion, is willing to work to obtain it.
The citizen has an appetite to vote; he reads in
the paper all about politics; he thinks it over and dis-
covers that voting is a mere formality ; that he has no
more voice in the government than if he lived in some
other country. It makes him restless ; he wants to be
represented as was promised, he wants the promise ful-
filled. It makes him angry and abusive to those who
cannot relieve him. Satisfy his appetite to vote and let
him see the vote is counted ; he will need less government,
and have it also.
The advantages of the within method of voting would
be many, and can only be briefly shown in this meagre
writing. No gathering would be necessary for the mere
purpose of voting. Women could vote as well as men,
and, if no party organization existed, there would be no
reason why they should not. There would be no danger
of riots or minor disturbances. A great deal of waste time
would be saved, and besides a more thorough vote could
be brought out. In fact it could be made compulsory, as
much so as paying taxes, and instead of a poll-tax a fine
should be imposed upon all who neglected to vote. The
expense of maintaining a house for “town meeting” would
be avoided, and at the same time it would not prevent the
people gathering to discuss any public or other matter they
choose to. The disturbing influence of politics would be
avoided. Electioneering would be a relic of the past. Not
a few people, who depend upon politics now for a living,
would be obliged to seek other employment, which they
would no doubt be willing to do, if the general welfare
was what prompted them to follow the calling. It would
certainly show whether they were sincere or not.
The people are becoming too intelligent to need any
stimulant to bring out their patriotism. They are learning

GOVERNMENT. 69
the true purpose of large gatherings, which can be as
readily moved, by fearless leaders, against the government
as for it.
A government which depends upon excitement to
continue its power only reveals its weakness. Circum-
stances would change or be created to conform to this
method of voting. No conditions should be considered
that interfered with the will of the majority, which is the
only rule that can ever maintain a perpetual government.
If the people are really the government, which has been
proclaimed by oration and song, and the public officers
mere “servants,” certainly they should have the oppor.
tunity of declaring their will by whatever method they
choose. Besides, if the only danger of a particular method
of voting is the bringing out of a fairer expression of the
people's will, it certainly shows a wrong disposition on the
part of any power to oppose that will.
This method would in no sense interfere with free
speech or a free press; such liberty could continue to
exercise all the influence possible upon the minds of the
people, who should be looked upon as the highest power
of the land. All the distressing questions of the day that
are so ably discussed would be “tabled,” or, what would be
better, referred for a special vote to the people who are
often spoken of as the “highest power.” Certainly they
are, so far as voting is concerned, and that is all this
writing claims.
No occasion could possibly occur when it would be
necessary for any paper or orator to declare that our
officials were not qualified. What but the people's votes
put their robes upon them 2 Are we competent to vote
and be called the “highest power,” when the voice or
votes as expressed by a majority is to be overruled It will
be observed this argument only holds good, providing an

7O INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
honest vote can be secured. Hence all the question which
disturbs society or the happiness of the individual be-
comes reduced to a simple issue—how to obtain a fair,
honest ballot. It seems simple, but that is the issue, and
every man who has the welfare of his country at heart
should bend his energy toward that result.
It takes more argument and more oratorical ability to
shield a guilty man than to protect an innocent one. No
one need make an effort to display a virtue; efforts are only
needed to shield a fraud. It is equally true that great
parties are not needed to guide the people to a proper
understanding of how they shall vote. The claim is almost
proverbial that no improvement can take place except by
an organized effort, which simply means an old established
custom, and, if old customs are to be dragged along, results
will be doubtful. There is too much effort to adapt a
reform to a custom, when it is that at fault. Would the
sewing machine ever have been invented if the old custom
or form of needle had been strictly followed 2 It is no
doubt well known how that desirable machine was made to
work practically. Its success depended upon changing
the eye from the heavy end to the point. If custom had
persisted that no change should be made in the needle,
probably men would be bending their energy to this day
without results. The principle has never been changed ;
the same is true of the steam engine, also the mowing
machine. Every schoolboy knows that our government
was born before the Democratic or Republican party was
organized, and that they were forced upon “We, the
people,” in a like manner as the cargo of tea was sent from
England. It may have been a benefit in preventing other
evils; it has certainly been a great benefit to politicians.
History fails to record the destruction of any nation in
consequence of the people having too much liberty. Per-
haps, if it was tried, “We, the people,” could bear liberty

GOVERNMENT. 7 I
full strength. One thing is certain, political machinery
would never exist again.
Organized societies are more powerful to prevent a
reform than they are to create one. They possess the eye
of the needle now, but it would work better in the govern-
mental machine if it was changed to the point. The
points will take care of the organizations if they can ever
get control of the government, which is supposed to be the
case now, but it only exists on paper, while the people go
through the farce of voting periodically. It is immaterial
whether the within method is approved or not, it is only
suggested for the purpose of a base. Any method which
will accomplish the result is the one to be adopted. The
present method does not accomplish the work, for when
voting is correctly performed errors in the government
will disappear.
It is the opinion of the writer, from personal experience
and general observation, that the individual mind is not
changed by a system of training, but, more properly, re-
strained. Now, why should the mind of a human being
be restrained except for some hidden purpose 2 What is
often attributed to a change of mind is nothing more than
a change of action. If an honest man discovers himself
going wrong he will change his course : he cannot change
his mind, for that is as fixed as his foot is. Also circum-
stances may compel a man to keep silent and that very
silence be considered as an expression of the mind, inas-
much, as after remarked, he would not be silent if he had
a contrary mind. Policy as well as training may control
the mind ; but again, it never changes. The expression
of the mind is easily mistaken for the mind itself, hence
deception is possible, for no person can possess a mind
except his own.
It is also an easy matter to pervert words and apply
different meanings to them, but it is never safe for the

72 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
most able writer to do so unless he fully understands the
matter he is perverting, the object of which is to mislead
a more simple mind for fear it will possess itself of the
real meaning, which the would-be mutilator thoroughly
understands. Such critics are very popular, and the very
persons who are deceived will applaud the very man who
deceived them. It may seem out of place to dwell upon a
threadbare subject, but this writing is in the interest of
the common people who have been trained for ages that
others were created to think for them. Hence, what may
be so readily understood by a master of language needs
more explicit explanation to impress the common people
with the real meaning; such who want to do this will use
simple words and common means. But whoever desires
to deceive the people will attract their attention by a gor-
geous display of brass bands and trumpets, while, like a
legerdemain, the real trick is being performed.
The printing press is the only agent that will relieve
the people of the many organizations existing which, as a
whole, will never encourage an honest ballot, for that day
will be their ruin. Whatever person or persons profit by
organization, however much they are opposed to each
other, are contented themselves, and are constantly trying
by various means to make the people believe they also are
or should be. No person or party would dare to declaim
against what is termed popular suffrage. All know well
that the rat that has had a nibble of the cheese will return
for more.
The ballot in the hands of the people has accom-
plished a great change in modes of government and cannot
be taken away without such a war such as history never
recorded. It is the only star of hope for suffering man-
kind. It is the rock bottom of all reforms. When the
individual learns enough to know he has a right to his
own mind and own opinions, which knowledge he was

GOVERNMENT. 73
born with but for selfish reasons has been trained out of
him, he will discover that although he has the ballot he is
cheated out of the result.
It is not the result of rum and depraved natures that
is destroying the “tranquil peace of society,” it is the
printing press; the people are beginning to think for
themselves. The once powerful masters of the earth are
surrounded like a flock of black sheep in a prairie on fire.
The fire is laughing at them—“We, the people,” are be-
ginning to think.
All organizations are playing a select game, and are
discussing the situation with a great deal of spirit and elo-
quence; they dodge first one issue, then another ; they
proclaim that the common people are becoming elevated.
Yes! and the higher level is becoming uncomfortably
crowded. Look out the staging don't fall and precipitate
its contents to a lower level, from which it started, when
the “common people” could behold the unobstructed light
of the sun. There is nothing more false than the idea that
man can only be managed by a syndicate in matters of
mind or thought pertaining to himself and family. Why
is the printing press, or rather its product, so carefully
guarded under the flimsy disguise of its immorality, which
no healthy person has a craving for 2 Honest opinions are
denounced under such a cover; and because libraries cast
into their cellar-pits books these “wise ’’ managers de-
nounce to be vile, does any reasonable man think that they
are destroyed 2 No! such is not the case, for those who
condemn them disclose their contents, which is all the ad-
vertising they need. Such as could not possibly be
injured by them will not read a book that is blacklisted.
But how is it with those who are seeking information—a
natural state of mind They read all kinds of books the
government allows to be printed. For possessing a crav-
ing for knowledge, which is healthy, they fear no book

74 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
being able themselves to determine whether they are true
or not. A healthy mind will take nothing but the truth,
but an unhealthy mind is incapable of being injured by any
book it cannot comprehend. It could as well digest writ-
ing in a foreign tongue. The effort to suppress the press
is a relic of the past, it only appears now in occasional
feeble public efforts.
Civilization has reached an age of press versus press,
common people read and judge for themselves. Truths
will not injure an honest man and should not be suppressed
to shield a fraud, for the public good will always be en:
hanced. The press is the only medium necessary between
the government and the people. Whatever benefit organ-
izations have been in the past they are not needed now.
Custom must give way to new conditions. An honest
ballot can be had through the agency of the press or it can
be shown that such a condition already exists, which if it
does, it certainly does not need an organization to demon-
strate it. An individual can hold a pen as well as a ballot,
he has no need for an agent or to be an agent, any more in
writing than voting. There are very few persons born upon
United States soil that cannot, at the age of understanding
read and write—the all essentials. Hence politics, that
has played so important a part in the past, is not needed
now. But parties exist and like all other powers will not
yield until compelled to. As long as people support such
bodies they will resist every encroachment upon what they
claim to be their rights. A true test of their virtue can be
had by the power of the press. For instance, if the within
method of voting is denounced, reasons would have to be
shown why it should not be adopted. If the will of the
people would be less secure, wherein would parties more
surely provide for it The papers all profess to have the
welfare of the much abused people at heart. Surely if
they are honest they would not denounce an honest ballot

GOVERNMENT. 75
without let or hindrance. The plea for the present method
of its being an old established custom would be a weak
subterfuge, for, is not the government founded upon “we,
the people 2 " Nothing is said about supporting any party
or custom whatever. Is it more practical ? let the people
say by their votes, yes or no Will the organized societies
agree to that, No why Because they have a self interest
which could be exposed by the press. Will not the press
protect powerful parties and corporations 2 Yes! but the
press can never be a unit in oppressing the people. One
man can wield as much power by means of the press as
any organization that has for its object its own interest,
and if that is not its object it will do the people no harm.
Also it would advocate an honest ballot and not fear any
test which would show the real expression of the people.
An honest organization will not fear “we, the people.”
How can the people vote without parties 2 The same
can be shown by referring to the sewing machine again.
Change the eye of politics from the heavy end to the point
when every impression would be one stitch and a continued
application will make a seam any length. For the purpose.
of practical illustration, suppose the question was put be-
fore the people : “Shall the present method of voting be
continued 2'' or some other method which could be stated.
Ballots should be furnished every voter with the question
fairly stated, with yes, and no, printed on it. The voter
could cut out the yes or no as he chose. A recording offi-
cer must identify the holder of the ballot by witness or
otherwise to correspond with a list in his possession. The
ballot stamped with seal of the officer could be retained by
the voter as his voucher. The published result should
show each man's name. The summary of results could be
rendered by towns or districts and also published; the
recording officer retaining a voucher in the same manner
as the individual voter. Would an honest organization

76 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
oppose such a simple test ? No! for an opposition would
expose their dishonesty. “We, the people '' are becoming
too intelligent to be put off with a subterfuge in words. An
argument must be a united whole for they are “common
laborers ” who can detect for themselves a weak place.
Would any one be so weak as to assert that the purity
of the ballot depended upon the guiding of the masses—
the “common clods '' of the earth. It is often asserted
that the ignorant masses would ruin a government if allowed
an unrestrained liberty to vote, and only by a system of
training they become “elevated '' enough to vote with dis-
cretion. It is quite the style to quote precedents to
strengthen an argument. So, who ever heard of a nation
being damaged or destroyed by the means of an honest
ballot Has any living being on earth ever discovered any
method of finding out what a woman or man wanted with:
out consulting her or him Every woman or man how-
ever low or degraded, whether tanned or black, or wrapped
in mere rags, who possesses the gem of life, which no man
has been able to define, is a human being.
Another weak device which could not be substantiated
by a plain showing of facts is, that the ballot, being a sacred
right, should be handled secretly. For what purpose, for
fear of fraud It is not necessary to impose upon the
reader the weakness of such an assertion. No voter would
be ashamed to have his vote published unless he was trying
to deceive some one ; for the very virtue of a vote is its
publicity, and by no other method could an honest vote be
obtained.
It must not be forgotten that the present is an intelli-
gent age (technically speaking the iron age) a great many
old customs have been supplanted by better ones. Then
why should forms of government cling to fragments taken
from the past 2

GOVERNMENT. 77
Railroads were opposed by proprietors of stage coaches,
also by statesmen, but we see no stage lines now, run paral
lel with a railroad. Just as fast as railroads threw away
their stage-like cars, they performed the work better
and were more comfortable.
Old customs must give way to new conditions or the
result is a revolution when “we, the people” who hold the
fort must be recognized. If might is not right even, it has
always been a difficult power to dispose of Great parties
have assisted the people very much in the past in securing
to them greater prosperity and a better opportunity of
acquiring knowledge. A great monument should be raised
and both the Democratic and Republican parties be crowned
thereon with wreaths of equal size. It should be located
upon the most valuable piece of land to be obtained, there
to be gazed at, the same as we look in a museum at an old
stage coach which has done good service in its day.
Railroads are to stage coaches what the newspapers
are to the political machinery of a republican government.
The vast machine will not suffer any pain for gold will
chloroform its nostrils and it is hoped it will pass away
easy, and may its death be painless.
The reader should be careful not to confound these
suggestions with existing circumstances and thus condemn
without a fair study. No one would try to carry water in
a sieve or eat soup with a fork. The best method is none
to good for “we, the people,” that is what a real healthy
man will try to discover. Not so much for the welfare of
others but for the interest he should take in himself, when
he will be the better able to perform the act of charity
which an accident might necessitate. Whoever feels so
unselfish as to deny to themselves what they feel others
need would soon become useless. A man cannot give alms
without first possessing them. He cannot lose what he
never had. Neither can a man fall unless he has first been

78 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
lifted up. No man shows truer charity than by the Care
he takes of himself. Besides a man who becomes so
benevolent as to create poverty for the purpose of relieving
it is the real selfish man. But for such deception the well-
fare of man would need no champion.
It is not the purpose to denounce personal politicians
in this writing, but will leave it for them to quarrel with
each other, the fact of which is attested by the degree of
liberty that mankind already possesses. Is it necessary to
wade through a pond of water to reach the land of liberty
when if the dam (political machine) could be removed
each individual could jump the stream for himself
No reason can be shown for the continued existence
of political parties of whatever stripe, either great or small;
they first dig a pit for the purpose of warning the people
of its danger; for a political party without an issue is like
an empty carpet-bag, which is useless except to be filled.
The people always have to furnish the contents which is
some amusement, but better can be had at less expense.
“What are you going to do about it,” could well be asked.
Power always asks that question with something of a lear.
Read history, it is not necessary to be rewritten or com-
mented upon.
The newspapers are the proper medium between the
people and government. But they will support parties
now and can be controlled by them. They throw a little
flattery to the people but politicians are patronized. If
parties were first removed the newspapers would be faith-
ful to the people, but they would resist now any attempt
to depose their pets.
Political machinery can only be operated upon the
same as a muskrat goes to work at a huge dam. An
organization of the purest character could not depose them
any more than a rival telegraph company can injure the
one that is in possession of the field. It is not necessary

GOVERNMENT. 79
to show how many times it has been tried and failed, they
are always absorbed into one.
After considerable study in searching out a cause for
the present unrest of the people, no other appeared more
appalling than the many organizations, which seemed to
add too rather than improve the situation. To suggest a
method by which that cause could be removed was a
greater study; the result of which has developed what
may be called
THE MUSKRAT PRINCIPLE.
The advantage of this method seems to be the fact that
the individual can have a chance and no organization will be
necessary. Forewarned is forearmed, is an old adage and it
could be said that a wise muskrat would not reveal his plan.
But the dam is so extensive that if the muskrats get to work
individually it will be immaterial if some one is so foolish as
to disclose their location or method of operating. All that is
necessary is for each gentleman to be a committee of one
and go to work, when by patient toil the dam itself will go.
These musk gentlemen need no organization. All
they want is a home where they can enjoy their own with-
out being trained into their graves before their lives are
half spent. Slaves are never contented however ignorant
they may be of their condition. No animal can bear
slavery and why should human beings
The general motion that guides the newspapers and
periodicals of the present day is to make money; it is the
first principle considered. Reforms are advocated and
discussed pro and con but the power of gold will change
the average paper from one end of the political machine to
the other, thus preserving its balance and “we, the people"
are no better served. No newspaper that will sell its
principles for gold can advocate this cause, for as soon as

8O INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
it becomes popular, the combined power, all organizations,
would be arrayed against it. Hence the paper to advocate
this muskrat principle must be strictly an individual above
the power of gold. The modern proverb “every man has
his price " can only be disputed by the individual who can-
not be bought, for, as soon as he becomes organized with
another he becomes half a man and can be sold out by his
partner. Therefore it would be necessary for a paper to
be as firm as an individual could be, in order to present
this cause with even a degree of success. No sensible
man will deny but there are men who could not be bought,
for he could apply the test to himself, and if he thinks that
every man has his price, and so proclaims, why he is simply
advertising himself for sale.
The importance of individual honesty will be obvious ;
also the courage to declare his convictions, for whoever
withholds them, or expresses false opinions to please
others, is either a slave to himself or a slave to others.
No man can be free except upon the individual principle,
and the same would hold true of a newspaper, which could
be conducted as fearlessly as an individual enterprise.
But to profess honest intentions toward the people, for the
purpose of deceiving them, would result in disaster sooner
or later.
No greater proof can be had that reforms can only be
worked out by individual effort, than the fact that the
average man cannot bear popularity without losing his
sense of justice toward others. That such is the case we
have only to observe the many brilliant men, who have
risen in the estimation of their fellowmen only to fall by
that popularity. The same principle applies to organiza
tions, which are started for the purpose of benefiting the
people, who build them up only to be forsaken as soon as
the organization reaches a degree of power. A conclusion
can be reached that any organization, other than “we, the

GOVERNMENT. 8I
people '' is more an injury than a benefit to the whole hu-
man race. Surely they must be one or the other and no
Sane man would insist that they should exist for their own
benefit. Organizations are only necessary to resist organ-
izations; hence if only the people are organized into a
government created by an honest ballot the interests of
all are safe. As soon as an intermediate organization is
permitted and becomes corrupt, another is created to purify
it ; then the people are constantly appealed to for the sup-
port of them. Every device is resorted to for the purpose
of creating new ones until the confusion mystifies the
people into submission.
If all the nations of the earth would disband their
armies, no wars would be possible ; the same would be
true if no organization other than “We, the people” was
permitted.
Man's ambition and greed for power is the cause of
every war that ever occurred, and, but for the limit Nature
puts upon his power, one man would rule the earth, and
continue to do so by inheritance. This proves the cor-
ruption of power and popularity which no man can resist
except in a limited degree. The record of history will
fully attest this statement.
The fact that all organizations, each of which is often
controled by one man, will resist an honest ballot, or claim
that what we have is honest enough, proves that their own
interests is more studied than the welfare of the people
who bear the burden. Custom and precedents are always
the authority of organized power. They always resist any
progress, which can only occur by individual efforts, then
to be absorbed by organization because they exist. The
word custom suggests good enough, and no progress could
take place by following the custom any more than a man
could be drowned in a pond, after the water had been
drawn off. No invention would become utilized if customs

82 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
were the absolute authority for that is the very feature to
be overcome. No organization ever invents anything;
they always spring from the individual's effort; who is
often sacrificed by his persistent effort to introduce his
invention.
The fact that strife existing between organizations
may result in some progress only proves their uselessness,
for, in that case they become simply individual.
Steam and electricity have produced a new condition
of things, old customs are becoming useless except as a
means of support for a class of men, who are trained in
such a manner as to be unfit for real enterprise. The gov-
ernment is compelled by the will of the party who creates
it, to make places for their paupers, and honest labor is
taxed for their support. The inheritance of wealth or
property is less a burden to honest toil than the aristocratic
paupers, who have no means except what they extort from
the real laborer. The real position of political machinery
may be likened to the old taverns in stage coach times,
they were quite necessary as intermediate steps to long
distances; and the same with parties prior to the advent of
steam. Now every citizen, can by reading a daily paper
become informed of any important event in a few hours
after it occurs. He needs no agent or organization to
explain it to him, it is a new method of conveyance. The
old custom of proclaiming news to eager crowds has passed
away like the stage coach ; but the outcome of their
method suggested political machinery, the necessity of
which is as useless as taverns for a railroad.
Political parties are either a benefit or an injury, if an
injury they should be laid by. Their usefulness could be
easily shown and weighed in the scale of justice against
their evils, then the people could decide the matter by an
honest ballot. Parties now control the government, they
take no concern about the will of the people; for, being

GOVERNMENT, 83
able to control legislation they adopt any measure, by what-
ever trick, to keep their party in power. The traffic be-
tween parties and corporations would, if brought to light,
fill volumes. They lean against each other for support,
when neither is needed by the people, who pay for the
burden, and no benefit to them can be shown. It could
be said that the government, or “servant of the people,”
could, if so disposed do the same thing. It could be shown
quite plainly that a government created by the direct vote
of the people would serve honestly the power that created
it; its present faithfulness to the party in power proves
it. Much could be written to show the uselessness of
political machines; they are no more needed than hitching
posts are on a railroad.
Their injury to progress and annoyance to society in
general is as positive as gravitation. It is the means of
building up a system of aristocracy which a republican
government is supposed to guard against. What nobility
is to a monarchial government political parties are to so-
called republics. They are the very aristocracy that was
so obnoxious in the early days of our republic. The sys-
tem has grown from the seed that was imported from
Europe, and the evil has been creeping over this country
ever since the present government was formed.
A class system in a republic is as absurd and detri-
mental to peace, and the happiness of home as to use a
railroad for a carriage drive. Political parties of all shades
encourage this state of affairs, and it is becoming quite
common to read in a newspaper about the better class—
the respectable class—the middle class—and the laboring
class. No mercy is shown a poor laborer if he joins an
organization with the hope of bettering his condition, and,
if he becomes excited and unable to use the proper lan-
guage to express his wrongs, the sentiment of the “better
class" are a unit in persecuting him. Besides, it is not

84 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
uncommon to hear about the ignorant voter, that the right
of suffrage should be restricted or our free institutions will
be in danger. There will be no danger from such a source
while a political machine fills all the offices before the day
of election. This farce of balloting has been going on
over one hundred years, and some may believe their votes
help to create a government, but there are more who do
not, it could be proved by one honest election.
The claim put forth that the “better class '' exert a
powerful influence in purifying society is a delusion. If a
class system could be considered at all, the better class are
the common laborers, those who till the soil and build our
railroads, also the mechanics who fill the workshop, and
the builders who erect the mammoth structures that are
dotted over the land. The so-called “better class '' intro.
duce all the vice and corruption that common laborers who
are the real quality of earth, are accused of. The power
of knowledge has enabled an idle class to domineer over
their fellow men and the constant plea of more restraint
and more government is to make fat places for their
uncles, their cousins and their aunts. The vice and de-
pravity of the so-called “better class" is disguised in fine
linen, and shielded by friends and relatives, who hush to
silence any disgrace which becomes public. The common
laborer who becomes vicious is cuffed and kicked into the
gutter, and preached to death by the very ones who parade
their “virtue" by constantly prattling about the vice of
poor laborers. They are simply imitating their instructors
and having no means to buy fine linen are jostled about at
the hands of their inferiors. But for the morality which is
evolved from common laborers, human life would become
extinct. That idleness breeds contempt no observer can
dispute, yet all governments that have passed into history
have been controlled by the idle element. Why? because
powerful men have become so intoxicated by popularity
-

GOVERNMENT. 85
that they cater to the idle crowd for the purpose of main-
taining their power. It does not require a master of lan-
guage to determine that an honest ballot would destroy
this corrupt system, and to perceive the reason why the
better class—the respectable class—the moral class—the
laboring class, cannot be trusted with the ballot undefiled.
Political parties uphold the interest of the money
power and quarrel with each other for possession. The
people are appealed to by every trick and device. Promises
are made of the most flattering kind for support, while
their welfare only exists on paper. The individual is
laughed at for his opinion and told to join “our party’ if
he desires to be on the winning side. These ideas being
general every man can, if he is sincere form an opinion for
himself whether he is doing anything for the common wel-
fare. It does not follow that every Democrat or Republi-
can, or every political worker as such, is a fraud. It is the
system of organizations that obstructs human happiness;
they are useless like weeds in the garden which can only
be destroyed by pulling them up by the roots and laying
carefully on a flat rock to dry.
One section of our country accuses the other of elec-
tion frauds, when there is no such thing existing as an
honest ballot. The differences in method of deceiving
produce the same result—a minority rule. The fact that
the money powers quarrel with each other gives no relief
to the poor people who are only used to protect the interest
of the party that controls the most money. The whole
world is gambling with the honest toil of the laborer, who,
if he tosses up a cent, is admonished for fear he will be led
to gamble. The frugal efforts of the laborer are encour-
aged by the idle class who appropriate for themselves the
cream of their toil. They often assume a patronizing air
and speak feelingly of how hard a poor man has to work;

86 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
also caution him to be temperate, while the fruit of his toil
is being guzzled by the “better class.”
Elevation is spoken of as the means of relief for “poor
laboring man,” but how far must he descend before reach-
ing the point to commence his ascent, for he already looks
down upon the highest elevation idleness has attained.
If happiness counts for anything the laborer is the
most elevated man, and he would be perfectly contented if
he could enjoy the fruit of his toil. Before he learned to
read he was easily made to believe that some men were
born to rule others. But now he reads the daily paper and
begins to discover his equality with men he had previously
looked up to. Not because the paper informed him of it;
but because he discovers the dishonest tricks and shabby
methods, which are resorted to by party papers against
each other. Thus he beholds the warfare of the two great
parties, with an infant wail from weaker organizations
struggling also to grasp the bags of gold that both the
Democratic and Republican party are constantly surround-
ed with. Of course the people are played with the same
as checkers, but after the game is won they are pushed
one side and get no share of the result. What no country
to live in when liberty is the prevailing sentiment and
every man has the privilege of earning his own living 2
Yes! all of that, and more. For a man besides earning
his own living must contribute a portion of his earnings
toward supporting the organizations that are flooding the
land and stealing the very bread from children.
The same organizations after exhausting every means
of extorting the people, give them another squeeze by con-
trolling the government which is entirely in their power.
The government machinery is increased for the purpose of
making places for men who have the controlling power of
various organizations in the interest of the party in office.
Thus taxes are increased by the very powers that are sup-

GOVERNMENT. 87
ported by them. Besides, the very money that is collected
from the honest toil of the people is used to train the
masses that life and happiness are only possible by this
system of robbery. -
It is not expected that this writing will be admired or
even feared by organizations of whatever character, but the
treating of such efforts with contempt will not “stay the
proceedings,” for individual effort is the only method by
which evil can be overcome, and the right has been pro-
claimed ever since the Declaration of Independence. That
individuals have not availed themselves of such right is
because all organizations have opposed it ; and also they
train the people so far as possible to select such methods.
Therefore the only relief for society in its corrupt state, is
by individual independence which no organization has the
power to prevent. To refuse to organize is the entering
wedge to the present system of corruption, and that such
means would accomplish much good has been shown.
No organization can exist without individual support,
and as the ballot now is not an honest representative of the
will of the individual, his interest is in no sense benefited
by using it. Every one knows it would be nonsense to
vote against organized societies who dictate every office of
the government, and to be used for a mere convenience for
one aristocratic society to overcome another is making
playthings of intelligent human beings. Furthermore aris-
tocracy depends upon being a minority and could only exist
but for a majority existing for them to feed upon. It is
born of idleness and an effort to possess something without
rendering any return. It has always been a burden for
honest labor to carry and will cling to its power like a
pauper to a poor house. It asserts that what has existed
must continue to exist; when it is only possible except by
virtue of the common people—the majority, who could
make themselves felt by demanding an honest ballot—an
88 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
individual ballot, which would destroy the corruption of
society and insure peace and happiness to every home.
The whole world would be benefited even if one nation
possessed individual liberty, for such liberty will spread
and once possessed will never be yielded.
That honest men existin all organizations, who sincerely
believe in them, there is no doubt; and if their sincerity
was put to a test, it would weed out the demagogues, or
leave them to maintain an organization by themselves. A
government created by the will of the majority would, if
popular suffrage was a fact instead of a farce, protect any
society or institution that was a benefit to the people.
That any influence other than the majority of the people
should claim a right to dictate the government would be
ridiculed. What is the object of voting if the majority is
not the power Cannot any honest observer see that all
questions that so vex this country, and for that matter the
whole world, could be settled beyond dispute 2 Would the
minority dare to adopt any other means except honest
argument to overcome the majority Because brains have
always kept the authority over the masses it is no argu-
ment that it is right. Natural brains no doubt will rule
the government of the whole earth, but trained brains
become so diseased by popularity that they fail to rule
wisely ; and only by a system of suppressing or controlling
knowledge have they been able to maintain their false
position. A few robbers can overcome a train loaded with
passengers by their wit and cunning, but is it right The
present disturbances of society and unrest of the people
are due to the greater distribution of knowledge, and aris-
tocracy is becoming crowded. Now college graduates can
be found working for a dollar per day, and to their credit,
for more can be found that are not much above the com-
mon beggar. It was not the design of colleges to raise
such a poor crop of citizens, but the encouragement held


GOVERNMENT. 89
out to boys was, that they could earn a living with less
manual labor. The result is the college trained youth is
looking for meagre employment, when if he had depended
upon his natural genius he would have no difficulty in find-
ing it, and also find it more profitable. The very fact that
what is termed the “ignorant masses” constitute the
majority of the people proves that such are longer lived or
more productive, and aristocracy wears itself out by carry-
ing its artful burden. That Nature should be restrained
would hardly hold good as an argument, for, if she overpop-
ulates the earth she will also take care of the production.
The first aristocracy must have sprung from the com-
mon people, and only by that method is it kept alive to
this day. To separate them, aristocracy would become
extinct, it would be destroyed by the very drugs it com-
pounds to “elevate ’’ the poor laborer, who would thrive
even better in the absence of his enemy.
This subject could be better treated by an able writer,
but it is the belief of one individual, at least, who has had
some experience, that the greatest happiness can be secured
by an individual independence and fearless expression of
honest opinions. Self-dependence as a rule will produce
better results than can ever be obtained by depending upon
others, which leads one to believe that selfishness is really
at the bottom of what would seem an unselfish act. Hence
an individual, who proclaims an independent right is sub-
ject to the stigma of being selfish. Why should it disturb
any one except they had a self interest and thereby expose
their own selfishness 2 The fact is Nature has endowed
every healthy creature with selfishness in order to maintain
life upon the earth.
The people of the United States possess the proclaimed
right to vote according to their individual conscience, the
right has been felt in every part of the globe. Its mere
existence on paper has accomplished wonders; and how

90 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
much more can it accomplish if it could be an absolute fact.
Organizations have been struggling, ever since the consti-
tution was written to control its power, and, in a measure,
have succeeded, but the great stride in human progress
was accomplished by individual effort, which, if put forth
with like energy will yet demand that the very letter of the
Constitution shall be fulfilled.
An honest ballot is the first consideration before any
reform of government can be accomplished. The present
party system has become so corrupt in its method of cam-
paigning, that men who respect themselves can hardly be
tempted to accept a nomination for any office, for the
license the opposite party is allowed will rake the private
life of a candidate from birth.
Politics should be a local privilege without regard to
stripe or sex and whoever “We, the people” desire to rep-
resent us should be no concern of an adjoining district.
No class or organization should be tolerated with the privi-
lege of naming a candidate to be voted for. To observe
the foundation principle that this government rests upon
would do more toward raising the standard of morality
than all the organizations that ever existed.
Nature favors the natural and reduces the number of
the artificial by shortening life and reducing production.
The “ignorant masses” are Nature's chosen or they would
not thrive in such numbers. Facts are stubborn things to
dispose of, also the what's, and why's ; but the now is
present and the past is gone. It should be forgiven and
forgotten, for only to the future can we look with hope and
cheer. It is yet to be created by the ever present now,
which should devote its energy and individual right to pro-
mote the welfare of whatever that future, without end or
beginning, may be, for the moment it appears it disappears.
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Its an ºil be the encouragement of individual
growth and independence and the reformation of exist
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The discussion ºf ºnese matters will be conducted
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