what do we want? what precisely do we mean by the millennium, or the golden age, or utopia? what sort of “kingdom come” is it we pray for?
sit down sometime and think it over; try to get rid of the vagueness of the idea, and to determine exactly what conditions would satisfy you and all of us. the effort may not be without good results upon your present notions.
just as a suggestion let me give one statement of the kind of millennium that appeals to me.
it is that state of society and that perfection of government in which there shall be secured for every human being intellectual 11 liberty, equality of opportunity, justice in all human relations, and free spiritual fraternity.
this is somewhat like the french motto, liberty, equality, fraternity, only the terms are defined a bit, and justice is added.
first, intellectual liberty. the last element of coercion, direct or indirect, must be removed from the processes of the mind. the ethics of the intellect must be acknowledged. the mind must work absolutely unbribed by expediency, the opinions of others, fear, or authority. there can be no perfect unity of love and service that does not rest on perfect freedom of thought.
there must be entire equality of opportunity. the state ought to see to it that every baby coming into the world has an equal start with every other baby. all inheritance of wealth that interferes with this 12 should be abated. every child should receive adequate training for the world’s work. there will never be equality of intelligence, of physical force, of genius, nor of any other kind of ability; inequality in these respects adds zest to life. and the advantages of personal ability do not cause injustice; it is custom-buttressed and law-intrenched privilege, unearned and undeserved yet perpetuated, that oppresses the world.
justice is essential. when that comes, there shall be no more benevolence and charity as we now practise them. the great hunger of mankind is not for kindness and mercy and pity—it is for justice. when we have justice we shall have peace, as it is written: “righteousness and peace kiss each other.”
lastly, we shall have free spiritual fraternity. the problem of the race is one of 13 fraternizing. we now get together in sects and nations. religiously and politically we as yet feel but faintly the universal breeze. we do not realize humanity. the human nerve is feeble. some day the idea of universal brotherhood shall burn in the race with a heat and shine far stronger than the present sectarian, partisan, and patriotic enthusiasms.
i do not think human nature will have to be transformed to get these things. it is a question of vision. we need to see. when once we understand what we want we will organize and get it.
