New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-25
THE GIFT THAT ETEhTONE CAN GIGE.

THE GIFT IHAI ~ I'm ONE IN bLI t.
Benevolence. is the theme of this happy day.
Loving or generous gifts, kindly and SYM
pathizing words the affection which makes
home happy and life sweet, give to the Christ
mas time its peculiar joy Nor arc the poor or
weak forgotten by those who think of Him
who gave His life for all. But it is not amiss,
at this season of generous giving and thought
fitness, for others to remember that there is n
broader benevolence in which whOsoeSer will
NAV serve and bless a whole community, an en-
tire nation, or all mankind. That such service
to the full extent of each ones power is a
higher duty aud ought to be greater pleasure
to every intelligent person than any act Of be-
nevolence to an individual, becomes more plain
every year as the progress of civilization Knits
all men more closely together into one family,
and makes each more responsible for the hap
piness of all.
We all understand well enough that the mon
arch of great nation has power to do much
for the happiness of his subjects, and often, by
wise regulations, for the happiness of the peO-
pie of other lands. But such power does not
belong alone to those who are called rulers of
men. He who invented the steam engine or the
cotton gin has fed millions of men and women
and children, and will bless millions yearly
while time lasts, though his very name may be
almost forgotten. Not many, however, have
the magic power of the inventor. But what
shall be- said OF the leaders OF industrial de-
velOpment who organize ana build up great
factory or mill, who devise new modes in agri-
culture, mining, transportation or trade, by
which the needs of all mankind cOTne to be sat
isfed at less cost i'll labor Are not these men
also, consciously or uncOnscOusly, serving the
whole world 1t matters not what wealth they
may get together; they can take none Of it
away with them when they depart. But they
leave behind what is infinitely more valuable
the new and better modes of satisfying the
needs of mankind. Neither have the capitalists
or organizers this power exclusively. In every
case the success of their undertakings depends
upon the faithful and earnest effort OF the men
employed, from the highest to the lowest. Each
one of them, in his place, might have ruined the
mill or furnace, the railroad or the mine each
by patient daily care and fidelity has done much
to bless the world Here is the only true com
munism every honest and patient worker, from
the lowest to the highest in grade, has his part
to do for the increased happiness of the whole
race 1t matters little who may get the profits
first in the end tho whole race of tOilers reap
the benefit of every real advance in industry
commerce. He who gets as much rs he can to-
day for as little service as possible regardless
of the success of the enterprise or the industry in
which he is engaged, does not atone for his self
ishness by few paltry gifts AT Christmas time.
What he ought to have gwen, and to have been
happy in giving, was his best and most faithful
service through the year for the good OF a
whole race of workers.
Nor is the broader benevolence limited to in
dustry. a single vote has more than once
changed the whole policy of the Nation. Mil
lions have been and will be blessed or cursed
by the change millions here and other nail
lions in every land with which wo have inter
course, or in which the example of the United
States has helped 10 promote freedom and
Justice. Only Omniscience can measure even
in tile remOtest degree, the consequences for hui
man veal or woe of many a single vote that has
been cast As all nations come to he more
closely KNIT together, so that the example and
influence of each arc more widely felt, this
power over the happiness and the progress of the
race becomes greater and more immediate.
Can any man begin to measure the effect upon
the worlds happiness of the elevation of Lin
coin or Garfield to the Presidency Yet the
advance of either might have been arrested at
some point in his career ty the failure of
single individual to use according to his honest
convictions the power intrusted to him as
citizen. How many of us remember that the
whole nation and the whole world have been
blessed or may be cursed by the fidelity or neg
lect Of single citizen in his duty IA free
Vat IN Inn ,,,H ..
millions elsewhere have been lifted in circum