Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1852-12-04

datlons OF society. The power of a man in
society depends upon which faculty ranks the
| highest in his mind.
The animal faculties are the lowest, and
the man that has the greatest activity in ex-
ercising those faculties, will produce proper
tlonate effects on our animal feelings. He
whose asthetical faculties are superior will
rank higher; he who exercises successfully
the moral faculties will rank the highest; and
ne who can exercise all the faculties of the
mind successfully is the very highest
The labor that is performed by the hand
without the head is the lowest, the next is
the labor requiring skill and strength, or
head and hand. So on upward according as
the labor requires more Of our intellectual
faculties, in regular graduation; an artist is
above the citizen; the sculptor scarcely
owns alliance with the stone mason. So of
all avocations, they rank higher and higher
IN proportion as it requires capacity to exer-
else force upon society. 1t would be well
at least for honest men, that there were some
meansof Judging men as they are. But it is
not so, and men are and must always be
Judged by appearance. And that springs
from the prevalence Of the virtue of trust.-l
Trust is the general law, suspicion only the
exception. In obedience to this trust men
take people to be what they seem-an erro-
neous judgment frequently, but still perhaps
as unerring as any other. 1t sometimes hap
pens that by the blindness of party. fool is
set IN high place; he will not long remain
ihere-he will fall never to rise. But il a
have genius, he will not be rag
picker long; or if he be he has not genius.
When Roger Sherman was at shoema-
ker's bench he was held in the estimation ofI
a shoemaker; when he rose from that posi-
ton, he was estimated as philosopher and
a statesman. If you meet petty Snowman
you throw him sixpence almost III contempt.
1t becomes very different thing when we
talk of Barnum. There is great difference
between rank and station, and rice rersa.-I
So, too, as to fashion, there is a real fashion
and sham fashion The latter proceeds from
the faculty of vanity; the former from love
of the refined Now in which rank shall we
place those whose whiskers and moustaches
seem to have sucked out their braIns-those
who drive fast horses, and who keep irregu-
lar hours? Wealth is an index of capacity;
and this results from a beni6cent law. The
scholar has the means of exercising power in
society; but all strong minded men are not
scholars They do not write their thoughts
on books, but on the hard surface of things. |
To acquire wealth requires vast capacity
and wealth, therefore, is the exponent of in
telectual capacity. But if the rich man lack
the moral faculty, he becomes degraded in
station and loses his power. 1t is SAID that a
rich man, no matter how sordid, can enter
where he will; so can a fly. But of what |
avail to him? He buzzes away unnoticed.--I
He can exercise no power. 60 where he will. |
1t may seem that the object of this lecture is |
to prove to the laborer and the mercantile |
class that their lot was inferior from nature,
and to urge contentment. My object is the |
reverse. In this land, at least, there is no
place TO which any man may not rise, if he |
have the genius, and the capacity to exercise |
it-if he have not, his lot has been cast by !
God.
This doctrine may be applied to the theo-
ries now so rife for re-org anizing society and
making men equal. You might as well ex-
pect to have tree stand on its top. There
are strong sympathies everywhere for suffer-
ing races Of caste-in one country for the
Jews, in others for the Gipsey, and here for
he African. Certain men would raise them
, equality. 1t cannot be. 1t is impossible.
Those who have capacity to rise will rise,
and those that have not cannot be raised.
Be strong then if you would rise. Re-
too, the direction that you are to
lake. If you seek for physical power you
can only enter the outer porch of the temple |
Of honor. If you exercise social power you
will reach the centre of the temple; but if
you exercise moral power, you will stand one
Of the high priests at the altar. Ifyou would
rise to eminence, it must be like the eagle,
with the outspread wings of power.