The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-08-09
Vulgar Ambition.

vulgar Ambition.
What the majority of people are living
for is question for the philosophical OBJ
server Of human life to ponder; but whs,
each individual is struggling to achieve j.
question that the individual might no
so easily answer. 1t is for Fame, For
tune, or the Future, that these busy mill
ions are running to and fro. sweating q
the plow, hammering at the anvil, chasing
the whale through the Arctic seas, telling
forests, delving in mines, burning the stu
dents midnight oil. and worst Of all. huck
stering in market places, and lying on
Change! What is the great secret tina
so agilates this ant-hill OF a globe. keep
ing the human nerves and muscles upon
such constant strain? 1t strikes US tha
the love of money, the passion for power
is the main spring OF all this commotion
At first men toll for bread; the instinc
Of self preservation compels the savage
to hunt, and fish, and dig for q living
Then the love of conquest drives him &c
war; the love Of display impels him to
weave gay garments and deck himself in
lively colors; and finally the ambition fo'
social distinction and physical comfort
leads him to build luxurious houses, to
manufacture fine clothes, and to surround
himself with all the embellishments and
re6nements Of civilized life. Hence oul
fashion able "Fifth avenues" our palatial
mansions, our carriages and servfAts in
livery, our beds Of down, our carpets o.
velvet, and our wives and daughters ar.
rayed in silks and gemmed with jewels
Everybody who has passed the stage Of
the bread stuggle. is straining every nerve
and moving heaven and earth to accumu.
late the means Of surrounding himself
and his family with the ease.. elegance
and Independence which money affords
In word. the whole world is toiling
and groanins to be rich;. and few can
plead guiltless Of the vulgar ambition.
And yet, upon how slight tenure does
the richest man hold his possessions!
...The spiders most attenuated thread
Il cord is cable. to such Tie; it breaks at every
breeze"
The richest man in New York is proba.
bly, far from being the happiest. A twinge
Of the gout, or the tooth. achs. or perhap.
a still greater trial-the loss of = few hun.
dred dollars-makes the million&ire az
miserable as the poor outcast whose last
loaf exhausted his last penny. And then,
when old Cresus' heart had ceased to
beat, hs dropped into his soul remaining
"lot. as poor as the beggar who may
have sighed in vain for the "crumbs which
fell from the rich mans table,"
.fefecteupon the folly OF this mania 10 Be
rich---ttiis ell consuming thirst for gold
they Swould take an easier gait in their
journey to the tomb, and walk up and
down the slope Of life with greater com.
fort and composure. To seek compe.
tence of this worlds goods is NOT only
wise-it is the duty OF every one who has
the ability to think. or strength to labor.
But this hurry scurry after weal,h-this
impotence to be rich-is the saddest sin
Of earth, and one over which, while devils
laugh, the angeb must weep.
"How hard" says Christianity, 'shall
they who have riches enter into the king.
dom of heaven" For gold, men sacri-
fee health. happiness, honor, and even
the blessedness beyond the grave. The
prayer of Agar. "Give me neither poverty
nor riches," contains the only aspiration
that can wing the immortal soul to realms
OF eternal peace. Euen,ng Mirror.