Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-08-07
THE GOVERNING PURPOSE.

;Fnxsa, the cradle to the grave there
rgar,st be one continual struggle. For
ahere is implanted in every heart a
restless longing after something high
~. aobler, better. 1t is this that has
xslled the wheels Of progress along
She worlds upward curse Of culture,
that has stimulatedphilosophy quick
.e,,sa science. and been the mighty
TEtnee in the uplifting Of the race.
In the vigor of youth little atten-
a5on is given to the question Of the
meaning and value Of life. 1t appears
- a field infinite in possibilities and
n. boundless scope; an arena Tor the
exercise of every power and the de
uelopment Of every faculty. lntozl-
GATED by each success, man hurrles
*sa to new achievement. Giving no
ssaea to those around HIM, he presses
s,zz toward the goal Of his existence.
Ne attains his object, his ~all-absorb-
Eszg aim is won: but it gives 10 satls-
aurfion, for his idol has crumbled into
asranmon clay. Brooding thoughtset-
s-s IN the mind the conviction that
se aims OF life furnish no adequate
es,npe for its tolls. All is vanl-
sr and life n sorrow. The sum OF
al its pleasures is far ont-Welghed
NV the burden Of pain. Human ex-
1ss,,T,fs becomes unbearahle, and the
ss1,d is stamped with the seal Of
Ascetlcism.
From an individual doubt with re-
.yard to the worth Of mortal life. pes
.sszaasm has developed into a phlloso-
r,hy that includes not only the pres
ssst. but, reaching out its spectral arm
g..yond the limit Of human vision,
IDIOTS out the future. It would de
gYr1re live Of all itsabrightness and all
lis hope. Discoloring all with It's
.,mbre hues. it would convert the
whole world to melancholy. Look
aag only on the failure, desolatlon
and wreck on,every hand, it concludes
shat This is the worst conceivable OF
worlds. Mans misfortune IS birth
.E2s great blessing death; and the best
xxessible issue Of all things. annlhlla
standardization Of hope, life, IN.
mortality, eternity. It would set a
nzught.
Even the enduring laws Of God
Which are not OF today nor yesterday
But live from everlasting
Believing that virtue is its W re
aard and that morality car stani
alone. cynicism would urge a life Q
z,enevolence, of high andsnoble beng
= life replete with good deeds, ~ o.
der that our ephemeral lives may liy'
after us in the good We have done
s2reserved in lives made better by on
x,re5ence; immortal for human time
And that. at last we may attain tn
highest consummation extinction
and "be gathered like a scroll wlthll
she tomb unread forever"
This is a doctrine designed to NEE
all human aspirations, to satisfy ever,
yaarning Of the soul. Such a phllos
apply. in its essence and unmodlflec
cannot be otherwise than pern1clous
Regarding all high and noble ideal
as dear illustrations that beset Us O
aur devious path, pessinalsln Woul
remove all the beauty and poetr,
from life. In declaring that on
higher attributes are only the lowe
that have mistaken themselves 10
something else, it would deprive 4
IL all incentive to improvement,
a1Warfs the intellect and starye5 ia
soul. Pessimism is the policy OF de
SPAR; despair that is death, death ]
life.
The robust mind under ali condlt
sons, shrinks from SO dark and chee1
less a philosophy. To human natu1
Che silver lining Of the cloud is evt
most attractive. Man prefers to el
Joy these phantoms Of creation viii
he may; and turning a deaf ear to tt
eynlc, he courts the pleasures OF tt
would. Losing sight Of the seriet
side of life. and eve prone to e: