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��ABOUT STEALING.
��•was doubtless an old Egyptian law. Even the laws in regard to the worship of a God or Gods were intended for the building up of the material prosperity of the state, this law being closely linked with the laws in regard to offer- ings made with or in religious ceremony ; for it must be borne in mind that much of what was offered was for the benefit of the priesthood and the rulers. Jesus had full knowledge of this fact when rebuking the Jews and comparing them to "whited sepulchers." To this day the gifts or offerings to the church of Rome are a part of the priestly per- quisites; and in saying this we are not treacling upon sectarianism or creed. Any religion that inculcates the payment in coin or goods for the pardon of sins is a monopoly of god-given rights and privileges — a subversion of God's law, and such monopoly is stealing.
It has been held by some philoso- phers that the amount of property to be accumulated by any one individual should be regulated by a law of the state or nation. Fourier undoubtedly believed this ; and, assuming that he considered it futile to attempt such a change in state laws, he was the founder of a society, the underlying principle of which was that all should work for the common weal, and the purse of the so- ciety should be open to all, regulated by certain by-laws. It is well known that Horace Greeley was a Fourierite, and that the Tribune was conducted, to a cer- tain extent, on the principles of Four- ierism, one of which is that the fruits of toil and the products of the earth should be equally divided in society. Nathan- iel Hawthorne and others, once estab- lished what was known as " Brook Farm," near Boston, which farm, or farms, were managed somewhat after the method of Fourier. These men, many of them eminent, vainly endeavored to obtain by social laws what could not be hoped for through legislation. The Oneida Community in New York state is based on the same plan, with " free love" thrown in; and for the information of those who may not chance to know, we will state that this Oneida Communi- ty is a financial success. There is no
��marriage -or giving in marriage. Two general rules seem to govern all action. One is an equal or just division of the products and profits, and the other is to lead a pure life and entail health rath- er than disease. Therefore, cohabitation betweeen the sexes is only permitted when the woman requests of the Presi- dent or executive officer, that she may receive the embraces of the man of her choice. Further than this it is under- stood that this man and woman shall avoid, if possible, all chances of an in- crease of the census unless it is clear that both are perfectly healthy, with compatible tempers, and of such com- plexion and temperament as the laws of physiology require. to ensure healthy off- spring. The result is as may be antici- pated ; very few children are born, and these are taken in charge by the Com- munity. It should be stated in justice to this people that they are strictly tem- perate, very frugal, and consequently prosperous. Many of them are highly educated, being graduates of colleges.
Since Adam tasted the forbidden fruit, nearly every person has stolen unless checked by moral laws or legal statutes, or both. Society has tried hard, very hard, to convince its members that theft is wrong, and prove it decidedly un- healthy by a punishment no less than hanging; nevertheless, men will steal, and not long since, a century, perhaps, they stole from beside the gallows. Man is prone to steal as the sparks are to fly upwards ; and for the simple reason that time and the labors of men with honest intentions, have failed to eradi- cate this propensity. When speaking of these men of honest intentions and cor- responding will power, we should re- member that such instances are very few indeed, and the men have been martyrs to the cause. And here we will pro- pound a conundrum. We hear much of what is termed honest government : does anybody know of an honest government, civilized or uncivilized? We will not press an answer. We are willing to wait for it. Our own government was established through and by the purest and noblest of motives. Washington was an honest man, and many who sue-
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