Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-09-05
SUNDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER s 1896.


No man is safe unless he has based hi
rule ot conduct and action on the solid rocl
of right principle. He may apparentl.
flourish for awhile. and he may accumulate
wealthy. by the practice of methods which
are of questionable proprety and are no
considered honest and proper. but his pros
sperity will be only apparent, and il car
alsrdly be permanent. 1t Is quite true tina
snen may get rich through meanneSS, il
baking unfair advantage of other peoples
necessities and miSfurtunCS, but mar
whose only claim to the consideration OF
his fellows is that he has a large amount OF
money, is indeed poor creature, and really
a person to be pitied and deSpiSed rather
ahen enyied. And especially So is this true
of a rich man who has acquired his wealth
by dishonest means. What people really
expect in an individual. is manIineSS. clean
illness, sincerity and honesty of purpose,
and these qualities. properly developed.
draw public and favorable attention to men
In any walk of life.
But to be a man of principle one must
dictates. His first and last question as to
any proposed act must be: l. ii right TO do
IL? or, Is il wrong TO do it? One, while
considering his own interests and rights.
must give a careful study Ia the rights and
interestS of Others. There has been much
erouble and commotion in the world-snd
much during the past year-Simply because
individuals and classes of individuals treated
their interests from purely selfish stand
point, entertaining no thought. whatever,
of how their proposed action might affect
others. Humane people never do this.
Good citizens cannot do it. The rights and
privileges of our neighbOrS should be as
sacred To us as our own. This is in accord
ance with law and gospel. We expect our
neighboT to respect our rights. Therefore
we should respect his rights. Nothing
could be palmer than this.
That is To say-all actions of men or
communities should be based on the princi-
pies of the Golden Rule. This is. indeed the
rock OF all mOrality-of all real. subStan-
4ial, symmetrical success-Of all genuine,
permanent prosperity.
This is true as to individuals, communi-
lies, business concerns, political parties and
nations Each must have a conscience,
properly cultivated and instructed accord
ing to the light within reach. and in active
Operation, and it must be applied To every
ease in which are involved irdiyidual. bust
ness OF public morals. This is fact. and
history shows a succession of disasters to
nations which have acted solely from self in
terest and nave disregarded all principles of
fight
Z No man can safely disregard the rights of
his neighbOrS. We cannot. without sure
punishment, sooner or later, defy the laws
of God or man. The rules Of right are
liked and permanent. They were enacted
by the Supreme Being for universal use and
application, and il was His intention
and purpose that they should be
be obeyed, or that their in !
fraction should be punished. The history |
of the world has shown this to be true. No
man or nation has ever been sharp enough .
70 evade both obedience and punishment. .
Sooner-Or later the punishment of diSObed- .
ience has come and crushed ont the wrong
uoer. There is safety, honor and sure sue
cess only in obedience and in an honest .
purpose TO do right, in all respects. toward
all persons and institutions. Those who
build on any other basis erect their stTuc-
tures on the shifting sands, and only invite
and insure certain and sweeping deStruc