Montgomery County sentinel., 1890-10-03
The Choice Of Motives.


| the feeblest imitation, the most imperfect
copy 1t is only thought of by those whose
passion, prayer and purpose is to resemble
God. The very struggle indicates kinship
with him, and must awaken intense SYM
pathy because of foreknowledge of the con-
stitution and predictions of mortals. Modi-
fled selfishness is the attribute of every man
innate in the primal law of physical exist
ence, self preservation. Its outbreak in
times of extreme personal danger is the re-
minder of its concealed but actual presence.
The weakness and dependence of women,
the helplessness of children, and the gal
lantry of men are all forgotten in mo-
ment of panic. Opposite examples rescue
humanity from universal shame. Self-in
terest is the prime factor in human conduct.
The noblest types strive increasingly and
must strive to extirpate from thought, word
and action the principle and its debasing
tendency The motive ascribed To England
in the Napolemic wars by Charlotte Bronte
is not exaggerated. What she says of the
Willingness of that people to- yield their
cloak, then their coat, and even their waist
coat without protest, so the Corsican would
leave the garment that contained their purse,
it is impossible to deny. But to protect that
purse the shop-keepers would pour out their
blood, and hire German help to make
Waterloo. A brave and noble people lies
hoof upon their throats, and there is no sense
ofjustice, no hatred of wrong, no rebuke for
the merciless villains who make hell blush
with their Internal inventions to perpetuate
despotism; but let it once be realized that
the determination of those they hate would
mean the destruction of their commerce;
would cut off the head of the goose which
lays them golden eggs; would stop the flow
OF shekels from their greedy Golfers; and
Immediately the niggard conscience OF the
commercial classes, OF avaricious shop keep
ers, cries out against war, and declares for
peace. 1t makes the calm observer, and the
student of universal history, believe in the
definition in the early editions of DIR. John
sons dictionary, that "patriotlsm is the last
resort of scoundrels"
SupposiLg this basest of all motives elimi
mated as an element in practice, there are
other mighty impediments TO real disinter
estedness. Thackerary notes one of these
"a man will lay down his head or peril his
life for his honor, but let us be shy how we
ask him to give up his ease or his hearts
desire. Very few of lis can bear that trial"
Yet this is precisely the test we must sus
tain if u pure motive is to prevail Unset
fishness is constantly proving itself by lay
ing down its life for a friend. sympathy is
correctly defined as pain The generous
soul frees itself from suffering in inspired
service. There never can come rest or ease
in this world To Il true lover of his Kind.
Anxiety, painful cogitation, and the desire
to remedy existing evils, find no alienation,
no satisfaction, except in obeying the con
trolling influence. TO do otherwise would
gender sef.hatred The mere lump of dirt
eats, sleeps, makes money, gioats over 1t,
enjoys liie, dies, rots. Dust he was, TO dust
he has returned. But "a soul habitated in
flash has uuitn another history
The effort for unsellishness is combated
by Indifference in the object. In my ludg'
ment and experience this is the severest
trial of n mans faith and courage You
look into the soul; and find vacancy You
touch the instrument; but there is no sound.
You point to the skies overhead, and the
milky way; but the feet will not stir from
the common road. You say, look there's
crown within your reach but the eyes
are not lifted from the muck-rake. Y GU
tell of a superior way of life, of pleasures
that are not earthly, of service which en-
mobiles, OF the glory of living for others, OF
lifting from the mire, of spending time
as eternity should be spent; Alas you
speak in an unknown tongue. 1t is wear
iness unspeakablel Often the only re-
ward is Il prick from the thorn of ingratitude
in the vulgar.
This race is never grateful from the first,
One fills their cup at supper with pure wine,
Which back they give at cross time on
sponge,
In vinegar and gall.
To this temporary dependency succeeds
potent reaction. Again and again the brave
soul returns TO the conflict, 10 the labor, and
not always without reward. Past records
lend encouragement. 1t is reflected that for
smaller reason Hercules ceansed Augean
stables, slew Nemean lions, making an i'm
mortal name as Pagan hero. His twelve
abors were accounted godlikc; yet they
have no standing beside the one task of lift
ing up and freeing from its chains OF dark
ness race which loves its bondage all too
well. Contradiction proves the need OF
perseverance. He will never make his way
TO Rome or Mecca who stops to stone every
cur that interrupts with snarls. 1t IS the
way with ours to bark AT phllanthropists.
| Ignorance is always censorlous; prejudice
| always intolerant The post Of honor Is
still the post OF difficulty, the post OF dan
ger-t may be death. Christ considered
| that it behooved him TO suffer rather than
| that his mission should fail. Since his day
the world has not grown more friendly 10
its beneiactors. IL still has cruciixions for
kings. Again and again the question recurs,
Why was life given II not to be yielded lie
may be n martyr who does not burn. The
common reward of world servers is sneers,
| ingratitude and reprOaches. Shall they
cease, Lhereiurel The thought were igno-
| bic A crown of honor is neither empty
nor easy. So great is its value that death
is cheap price, though its circle be spiked
with thorns.
Ever, the purest motives must expect
! counteraction. Where good is attempted,
evil spontaneously rises in opposition. Paul
preached Christ at Ephesus, and the Pagan
mob "with one voice about the space Of two
| hours cried out, Great is Diana Of the Ephes-
| ians" We put u good book into youths
hands, and straitwaY the devil tempts him
with nickel novel We take poor drunk
ard from the ditch, cleanse him from the reek
and prop his tottering resolution, but satan
and his eager, active agents on the earth,
rest not till they procure his fall. The earn
est counsels and warnings oi the home are
| Iargelyundermined and counteracted by the
vile associations Of the school. Forewarned,
we ought To be iorearmed. Knowing all
our purest, dearest interests are iniperiled,
the springs of our action should experience
exaltation. In the Senate of the United
States a member Of one party declares he IS
for his party, right or wrong. me mber
of the other party declares that the deca-
logue and the golden rule have no place IN
politics. Such utteTanccs are AilamOus
and show the motives actuatlng unworthy
leaders of the people. Such inlamy is con
tagious; and beside it leprosy is health.
Motives must be guarded IRON suspicion.
This, often unworthy and undeserved, is at
times encouraged by fragrant examples. 1t
was not without cause that Disraeli makes
Myra Ferrars, Lady ROehamptOn, disclaim
any motive in life but advancement of her
brother, Endymion. The highest ambition,
the tenderest sistery affection, can never
excuse motive 80 utterly unworthy. IL
needs not TO be pointed out that it is a crime.
Nor need IL be said that this fiction paints
the truth, dark and dismal us are the colors.
For relief, how gladly we turn to that ac-
count in Boswell's Life of johnson: John
sons own satire on the life of scholar,
when he read it to a friend, 80 vividly
brought out his own privations and trials
that he burst into a passion of tears. But
at night, Savage and he walk through the