Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-10-11
GENUINE UTILITARIANIsM.
[From The Wauerly Progress, by j. L.
LODGE, d. D., Editor.

Bentham, the distinguished jurist, be-
Queathed his remains to a school of anat-
omy, that as the subject OF medical lectures
it might contribute to scientific knowledge
and skill, and the proficiency OF men whose
calling is to benefit and relieve humanity.
The action, though unique, was character
istic of the chief OF the utiltarian school Of
philosophy, fitting deed for the inventor
of that word. We are not asked to COM
mend without qualification or to adopt the
selfish system of ethics, of which he and
Hobbies were 30 eminent expounders. But
there is delightful inconsistency which VIC
lates principles reducible to a rule which
regards the interests of the individual, in
providing for the interests of society. Ben
tina ms reason for the practice of any virtue
was the profit, or, at least, the peace, of the
actor in any case. 1t is not questioned that
class Of motives which in any measure
procure the well being Of individuals or the
community are SO far praiseworthy and use
full. The very formula of this phlosoph er
of legislation, "the greatest happiness of the
greatest number" and his attempt to found
both law and morals according to the de-
auctions Of memorable logic, shadowing doc
trines in nomenclature newer than 1t was
clear, manifests the design and attempt to
realize theory of morals which in its last
analysis intends real profit to the race. 1t
will help to intensity that higher mede
universally offered to those motives which
control volitions and acts which fructify not
in personal reward or personal advantage,
but see from the beginning the end and aim OF
life worth estimating in the sum total OF
humanity. The sublime purpose in pure
politics would be limited to the preservation
and cultivation Of such views of right as
would produce uprightness in conduct and
30 realize in the state all objects of good
government. In religion the effect would be
the state and quality Of morality, which,
whether passively or actively, in thought or
deed, has its essential springs in that high
producing power.
We can hardly separate the two ques-
tons, whether it is worth while to live?
and whether it is worth while to dieg Ger
tainly, it were a better funeral, that of the
dissecting room, II by it one shall learn how
to take up severed artery, or remedy some
lesion, than to constitute the object OF sable
plumed procession, waste oil floral wealth,
and the deceitful and deceiving obsequies
as hollow as the coffin over which they pre-
coed. Better to have done this single thing
as a legacy Of some meaning, than to have
swollen the human tide by one purposeless
and broken wave, and like it to have lett no
reason for remembrance or regret. Whether
the man shall make the goal of all his striv
ings and his hopes the mound OF mold, I'M
der which the builder shall not like com
mon thing, and reap righteous retribution
when mems tongues shall say,
He's rather like the snail,
Knswn chiefly for the house upon his back;
Divide the man and house, you Kill the man.
Or, whether he shall perpetuate himself in
virtue, transiuse the strength OF his own
goodness, plant u sentiment, nurse wish,
cherish hope, inspire purpose, Indicate
passage, guide step, point hand, cheer
heart, aud show one fellow man how to be
demi god. Alas that with only limited
freedom OF action the choice should be Il
majority Tor the mean and perishable; that
dust and ashes, dust and ashes, should be
the craving and the satisfaction, while
boughs are bending overhead, and precious
grains are waving at the side, with fruits and
bread to feed soul and form life That
men can be willing TO grovel, prone, While
soi,ags are waiting u watt them to the en-
pyrian
The man with wise and virtuous inteh
tons, cheated by the false promises OF delay,
Oft loses the sweetness OF present doing, II
not the whole result be lost. Horace, the
moralist among the Latin poets, warns
against this vice: "He who defers the time
OF living virtuously, like the clown waits
till the RIVER runs dry; butt flows, and will
| of Beaconstield, politician, statesman, novel
list, has lett this string OF pearls Great men
should think of Opportunity, and not lime.
Time is the excuse OF feeble and puzzled
spirits. They make Time the sleeping part
ner Of their lives To accomplish what ought
to be achieved by their own wills" Y ca,
verify. But what is time? Where Is OPP
portunity? Who can measure the one or
locate the othery Only as man shall seize
| Z. a, h.t rItf mo-
inform himself with the impulse generated
by forces extraneous or sell enclosct, and
execute what the will determines, does there
reside any meaning to him in either phrase.
He who covets the CuimncsS and approval
oil his own mind, 10 AN euJ 'ymcnt 81 the
present, /, wiser tnan even he VINO gives
occasion Tor a truthful epitaph oi praise.
The man who is Ucnevocnt!y disposed, and
becomes the executor OF his own last Will
| and testament, not the less but more surely
attains the end ot his generous desire, and
feasts his eyes with joyous irultagc Of his
own fair works. Virtue by proxy is, in-
deed, possible, in tue degree IN which the
administrator can carry out the scheme OF
| the testator; but to him, the dead, it is as
| spring flowers opening, and song BIRDS tun-
| ing, and bdlmy days IN hocks returning, to
one with whom these or snow drifts, lceclcs,
| and stormy nights are matters OF indiffer-
| ence IL were worth ten thousand volumes
of even richly deserved encomlums TO see
| one grateful tear trembic on the eyelid OF
Icing beneficiary 1t sweetens as with the
perfumes Of Arabia that hand which itself
serves out the bounty Of an Overlooking
heart. Men have the right 10 enjoy the
fruit, OF their bcnefactous Only se.fi,hncs5
| would wish 10 retain moro than enough,
| withholding the means Of present afneliora
| ton, the means of present comfort. True
generosity seizes upon the present lest futu
fifty sh0uid turn with haziris, or there
should be no future Tor specific uses.
| We will not, then, permit the reproachiu
sense IN which that word 'utilitarian" is
commonly used 10 bias our judgment against
what in its very essence IL practically and
morally noble and good. We would rather
trace It's genesis, and therein mark the idea,
the wish the aim, OF usefulness, To one or
many OF the race. Even if Sir W. Hlml.
ton is less specific and full in his definition
than is desirable, 50 far rs that extends we
| can lind no objection. Ii it meant that no
other impulse could Or should lead to action
than that the proposed course had in 1t the
certainty OF usefulness, we could bestow
upon it n measure of praise, but must with
hold assent to it as the prime cause OF viz
tuous actions, or the fcrial law OF moral liv
ing All will agree with Emmerson, that
| every personal eohslde'a,ioH tnac VIC a'to"
costs US heavenly state. We sell he thrones
OF angels for short and turbulent pleasure"
We must consider what it Is that dlhefen-
tiates human performances. sordid as
piration for notoriety would debase the most
charitable Of works. Large gifts TO worthy
objects may be designed to cover the extor-
tiun and oppression which supplied ability
for such seeming liberality. 1t is then like
covering I. wrctched, ragged beggar with
that which sparkes like diamonds and gilt
tiers like gold, but which is really paste and
tinsel, and which only adds the ridiculous
10 the contemplate. | would not have the
poor dellar am able To give contaminated
with the half million donation of the fifty
millionaire with his income of thirty thou.
sand, accruing from his position as KING oil
a robber trust There is kind Of charity,
too, which throws relief TO leprous wretch