Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 May 1918 — ALL MADE EQUAL BY DEATH [ARTICLE]

ALL MADE EQUAL BY DEATH

No Democracy Ever Conceived Is at All Comparable to That of the TomJk In the democracy of the dead all men at last arft equal. There is neither rank nor station nor prerogative in the republic of the grave. At this fatal threshold the philosopher ceases to be wise, and the song of the poet is silent. Dives relinquishes his millions and Lazarus his rags. The poor man is as rich as the richest, afid the rich man is as»poor as the pauper. The creditor loses his usury and the debtor is acquitted of his obligation. There the proud man surrenders his dignities, the politician his honors, the wordling his pleasures; the invalid needs no physician, and the laborer rests from unrequited toil. Here, at last, is nature’s final decree in equity. The wrongs of time are redressed. Injustice js expiated, the irony of fate is refuted; the unequal distribution of wealth, honor, capacity, pleasure and opportunity which makes life such a cruel and inexplicable tragedy, ceases in the realm of death. The strongest there has no supremacy, and the weakest needs no defense. The mightiest captain succumbs to that invincible adversary who disarms alike the victor and the vanquished.—John J. Ingalls.