The Labor enquirer., 1886-03-20
The 0mnipotent Lever that
Moves the World in its
Activities.
The Olden Sentiment Expressed
in the Spirit of Strife
and War.
The Sentiment Of Gommercialism that
Prevails To-Day, With the Motto,
aOn to Riches %
For The Enquirer.

ment of this article, in order to prevent
any misunderstanding on the part ofthe
reader as to the intent and meaning of
the word or term Sentiment, as used by
the writer in relation to the subject @un-
der consideration, that definite, or
mutual comprehension exists between
the minds of readers and writer as to the
thoughts herein expressed in relation to
the idea of Sentiment.
According to the best photographers
the word Sentiment has varied mean
ing-depending Of course upon the re-
lation in which it.may properly be used.
In the present relation it is intended
that it shall be used not as defining an
opinion nor an understanding of any
subject dependent entirely and abso,
lutelY upon the sanction of the reasoning
or intellectual faculties of the mind-but
shall be understood as meaning that,
emotional or passional part of our nature
that ever seeks self-gratifcatlon inde-
pendent of reason or the opinion of intel
lect. -
Sentiment never thinks or reasons );
it feels and acts spontaneously. Senti-
ment then will be understood to take its
rise and have its origin in the self love of
mana spiritual principle that lies at
the very root of his being-an omnipo-
tent lever that moves the word in all its
various activites-the subtle essence of all
human inspiration and power. 1t is be-
hind force, it is the spur of all ambition,
it is behind genius, fame and intellect, it
is behind science. art, music, poetry and
invention; it is behind hope, faith and
every noble thought. In fact all of these
are but forces, things or agencies that it
marshals into life for its own gratifca-
ton and the worlds benefit, ''if wisely
ditecte,f.'
Sentiment is emotion, emotion is feel
ing, feeling is passion, and passion is
love. Love is Unitary Principle, ex
pressed through human Sentimentality,
andsis the only oasis upon Shich the
unifcation and solidarity of humanity
can possibly have an existence.
Being the impelling or motor power
of all human activities and desires, ever
seeking its own qualification. it is there
fore behind all inferior, as well as good
desires, though pure in its essentials, as
crystal spring that bubbles up from its
pebbly bed in the brooklet.
A few years ago our family moved to
the country on and old homestead. The
we'll water was 50 impure and offensive
to both smell and taste that we could
not use 1T, and we were consequently put
: to great inconvenience; one of ou
neighbors told us there was all excellent
spring of pure water at the bottom of the
well, and that all that was needed in
order to have pure water, was to clean
the well. A man was hired for that pul'=
pose, and such Load of mixed rubbis b
that was taken from that well was sur
prising; it had been a receptacle for the
accumulation of 6lth and garbage for
years-old boots, shoes, pots, pans, cans,
kettles, beef bones, pieces Of decaYed
wood, hoop skirts, fragments sf old iron,
clothing, ETC., etc., were exhuned.
After the rubbish was removed there
was found black muddy sediment; on
scraping that out black sand came
next, and on its removal the pure white
sand and pebbles were re ached, and the
clear sparkling spring freed from its irl-
pediments and distractions, burst forth
in all its purity and healthful1ess. That
we'll was good and pure at tho bottom.
Sentiment flows through the avenu es
of the physical sense and pafsional feel
ings, as water flows between the~bank Ks
of its channels, turning a mill wheel If
one happens to be in its way, and fur
nishing power here and there and when
properly utilized tie main spring OF in
centive and action in every progressive
feature of social reform. ButSentlment,
though Divine Impersonal Principle,
ever seeking individual finite conscious
ness through the human organism, must
ofnecessity flow through the imperfect
channelofthe physical senses,frequently
impaired and obstructed through ignor-
ance of aNknowledge of the laws OF
highest uses, hence disastrous results
ensue, its fountain though pure at its
source becomes defled, like the drink
ing water of pure stream, that, reeeiv-
ing the filthy sewerage from cities on its
banks, spreads death in Its onward now
or if damed up, Ikea river with Ice
gorges, ard its corrent mlsdirected,s 1t
foods the fertile fields of civilization
with earns ge and desolation and destroys
the wealth of human industries.
Sentiment, therefore, Though 2 day
spring froIn on high, pure in essence,
filing the!world with life and beauty,
power and splendor, is nevertheless
being the primal power and source ofall
activities) behind all vice, all crime and
isyerlly q fend incarnate when misdi-
rected; and left to run riot, .unalded
and unguided BY the light OF wisdom