The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-07-05

their composition. Strive, therefore, to
make the State an object of pride, and in
this effort Won will find that you have nour-
ished the feeling into strength. You go to
make up the character of the State and it
enters into your character. 1t is like fam
ily One takes character from his family,
and he imparts character to it. 1t is like
the University and yourselves.
Coming back to the new order OF
things which you are to establish and
maintain, the keystone of the arch, the
supporting principle of it is to be pa
triotism as an applied fact, and pa
triotism applied, is an active, all-pervad-
ing public spirit at work. The illustration
may be little droll but am speaking to
Young scientists who know what | mean
have not invented the phrase. A law or
principle, property of matter or force III ma
ture being discovered is made to do duty--is
put to downright work as i'll the case OF
electricity, and is said to be applied"
That was found to exist. We do not know
what it is or what is its function in the
economy of the universe. 1t is noisy i'll
thunder, terrible and dangerous in light
ming. In action, it has the speed of thought;
it generates heat and light and its power
is irresistible. Men of science watched its
manifestations and finally put it in harness
to serve mankind. Electricity is applied
in the electric telegraph, and in Mr.. Eddi-
sons electric candle Patriotism Is, next to
religion, the greatest moral force In people.
1t is, however, sentiment only, and L think
it exists here amongst us In state OF re-
tirement, except when fighting is needed.
Fighting, however, is the accident, not the
business of people. 1t is noisy at times,
in stump speeches and platforms, as | saw 1t
said of liberty the other day in Il magazine.
1t becomes an applied principle in public
spirit, working always and everywhere tor
the public good, putting that above all prl-
vate advantage.
1t may be thought to argue great poverty
of conception to take up the threadbare
subject OF patriotism, but it covers every
thing. 1t is, combined with the nat
ural desire to better ones condition, the
great regenerating force in Il people. We
have not lost it. 1t burns warm and bright
in the breast of every one of the young
men before me- 1t is not necessary to pro-
duce rhapsody on the virtue. | want to
appeal to it in time when all our strength
is needed; to bring it into action, to give it
brain and eye, arm and will.
In what forms does this energizing public
spirit manifest itself? Individuals some
times display it in endowing out of their
own wealth educational institutions,
churches and kindred establishments, but
it mainly takes body ,ld form, nourish
ment and growth in associated effort. Its
is found in society work, COW
,ring that field which constitutions and
governments cannot occupy. These, III
their most improved forms, organize human
society and protect it against disorders.
They limit power, secure freedom of action
and speech; freedom of industry, and leave
society, by its own energies, to accomplish
its destiny, Public spirit working through
voluntary agencies, is conspicuous in the
advanced civilization of the West and in
the foremost nations of the West. 1t has
no place in Asiatic civilization. Has it |
| place here? There has been, at times, |
n this State bar associations, languidly
moving in localities. Medical men keep |
up the semblance Of an organized society.
We have, of course, religious societies, and |
lere and there benevolent associations. To
.hesc may be added the fraternities which |
ire cosmopolitan. We are conspicuous,
however, for the almost total absence of
voluntary associations from that broad field |
which is so diligently cultivated by them
elsewhere. I am most anxious to draw
our attention to this subject-to arrest
,our attention and to fix it on the idea |
lave.
Looking into our legislation immedi-
ltely after the close of the war, | find laws
apparently designed to fill the vacancy.
for example, Acts Incorporating:
Thei Agricultural, Manufacturing and Ed
lcational Aid Society.
The Society for the advancement of the
Arts and Sciences.
A Society in aid of the establishment of
.sylums. ,
4 Society to aid in establishing an Or
hans Home.
The uninitiated world reading these
ties, would have said 4" Here is people,
it'll their government and social system :
pset; their State dsmantIed wreck from {
lie shock of civil war, going resolutely j
nd wisely to work at all the great corners f
their structure of civilization. God "
,eed" But in looking into the Acts, it is
und that all these incorporated associa- "
obs were lottery schemes for private gain, d
ldaciously masquerading in these specious t
sguises. | forbear comment. What is a a
lam here is magnificent reality else r
here. l.
There are countries, there are States of Fl
If Union where public spirit is so high u
nd 50 active that there is scarcely an in a
crest material, social, moral or Intellectual, a
q which the welfare of society, in any con- i
derabe degree depends, which is not |
resided over and urged forward by perma. f
l,,, =
ork. In England, you rarely find gen t
emdn of any note who is not a member of C
le or more societies in full activity. Socie- G
IS to improve the criminal laws, poor laws, e
ison discipline; societies to promote indus C
les; to prevent this evil and to advance that g
luLary reform; to spread knowledge soce, $
rs to promote all the husbandries learned I
art sOcieties-in Short societies h
'er everything, and to these are to be Il
ded the fraternities and trades unions il
ne whole work Of human progress is par
led out and thoroughly and zealously "
me. What is the consequence? Where p
csc agencies do most prevail there is a /
osperous and influential people and pros b
rous and influential because of them. s.
ley bring out the whole strength Of a G
untry and its people. These innumera- "
e organizations, in every branch of r.
fence, art and industry and in all the ST
nge of benevolences, collect facts and OBJ
rvations and digest them into intelligent t.
ms, and this knowledge, proceeding from 81
ese many sources, makes up the sum of is
public intelligence and education, crea- tt
lg an Instructed puy opinion, which Il
es up to the legislature there to fructify b
wise and prOvident laws. q
There is nothing that so impresses the a
md with the dignity of man, as the spec h
lie of a people in full activity, and p