The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-05-19

y
single cruelty apologized for in the name
of civil government except war. 81 tell
you here in this Lyceum hall tonight,
while there are 100000 of men in arms
in the world, and the conscience of man
kind stands ready to condemn the first
act Of warlike aggression, that the child
lives in Sacramento tonight who Will
grow up TO see the sword of international
war laid finally upon the altar of inter-
national arbitration
Love thy neighbor as thyself'-it is
the antidote for human ills and decisions.
For all the delusions referred to had their
origin in selfishneSs, avarice or religious
superstition. 81 am in love with love,
and all | hate is hate; for hate is death
and love is life. Love is the Holy Ghost
within; hate is the objectionable SIM"
1t is q delusion that this is decadent
age. Physically, it is progressive age;
intellectually, 1t is not the superior age;
morally, it is progressive age. The
world never saw such runners as this age
produces; it never before knew such
oarsmen as swarm in our land; it
never before had such boxers, such
filters, such athletes as now. There
are gymnastS tonight in Sacramento be-
tween horizontal bars than were never
equaled in Greece or Rome for strength,
symmetrical grace or endurance. We
have better shots in this age than the
world has before known, better horse
men, better swimmers. The records and
the measures show it. We have in this
age more of vigorous middle age, and
more old men active in the every day
walks of life.
1t is in proof in the British Museum
that the average men in the armies of this
era equal in size and weight the picked
men of the Roman legions and the wear
ers of the largest and heaviest armors of
ancient times.
Intellectually, while information
abounds and knowledge of a skeleton
character and encyclopedia character
prevails, the age is not progressive. Its
intellectual achievements prove it. But
with modern invention contributing to
human comfort and energy, we are lay
ing the foundations for an intellectual
future that will come abreast with our
physical progress.
1t is delusion that young menIshould
seek political life. We have over 10000
600 voters, and of office-holders a round
million, and that it is desirable to be of
the million, is a serious delusion. Polit-
zeal ambition has wrecked, financially
and morally, more young men than
gaming or intemperance. Upon this
subject the lecturer dwelt at length. His
thought was that office-filling is honor
able, but that no man should seek it.
Of offense who refuses to fill Office as he
is who asks another for his vote. When
the people call the young man to office
let him respond, let them compensate
him handsomely and demand the best of
his talent and ability. Never become the
voluntary candidate, was his advice
never ask any man for his vote. Is it
for fame, he asked, that young men should
seek political life? How many are there
who are remembered among our mill
ions as achieving it? There was one who
was great General of our land. Mayor
Of a great city, a Representative in Con-
gress, a United States Senator, and who
spent thirty-nine years in political life.
How many to-day can name him-Sam-
uel Smith of Maryland? Outside Of the
very few great men, fame, lasting and
recorded, is not recalled by the people
from political life. Finally his idea was,
that no gentleman should ask for office.
no patriot refuse.
1t is a delusion that the country is in
danger, because small men, small as VIC
view them intellectually and from the
library window, get into office. That
they can and do is proof that the fOunda-
tons of our system were wonderfully
laid and the national structure has been
marvelously built; strong, enduring, su-
premely lasting, and with superhuman
wisdom and foresight, since under it the
humblest man can take and hold an
Office.
1t is a delusion that there is laboring
class. When the laboring classes are
spoken of it implies distinctness; class
means caste, the supremacy of one, the
subserviency and submission of another.
The American ought to frown down
with Indignation any leaders, so posing,
who claim TO advocate class interests.
Class with its inevitable caste means
death to our system. should the class idea
prevail.
1t is a delusion of every man that he
has many friends. Outside of father,
mother, sister, brother, how many have
we? How many who will sacrifice to do
us good, will suffer for our sake, for that
is the meaning Of friend?
1t is a delusion that enwraps city people
that they borrow importance from the
metropolis in which they reside. Except
for clothing and amusements, they are
not more nor better conditioned than
others in lesser towns and communities.
1t is delusion that the farmer is more
honest than other men. The farmer has
put such stress upon agriculture so long,
and the politician has bowed before him
so lOwly, that the farmer has come to
think himself too important. His value
should not be underestimated: the
speaker grew Hp in an agricultural COM
munity, and knew the farmer class, and
that they delude themselves Yainly. They
are level with the citizenship and industry
of the age; they are not helped by the delu-
sion that ii rests upon them.
1t is a delusion that many books are
necessary TO intellectual education. In
the days of few books we found the great
est lights Of the world. Not that he de-
cried reading, but multiplicity OF
books is not an essential to literary ed
ucation. He quoted from Thomas Starr
King in support Of this view.
1t is a delusive emotion is religion.
There is no genuine religion without
emotion, but there can be emotion with
out genuine religion. The world never
saw a religious man who was a hypo-
critic. But the most dangerous hypocrites,
because honest, are those who are simply
emotionally religious. The swell of the
organs diapasOn. the vocal charm of the
the orator in the pulpit-these move the
emotions and quicken the heart. but that
is not religion: it is simply augmented
circulation of the blood. Emotion is the
thing Of day; religion is for all time.
Il have high authority for saying that
true religion is to visit the fatherless and
the widow in distress-you know the
rest"
To keep the eye fixed on one object in
duces giddiness; to fix the mental vision
on self protractedly induces de1usion. So
then comes in the infallible antidote for it
think of thy neighbor, Love thy neigh
Dor as myself"
In conclusion, the lecturer in a brill
liant passage paid tribute to old things,
old wines and songs and memories; and
he defended the morality of the age as
better than any that has passed. He
quoted from official returns TO show that
peculation in public place is less than
ever before; that justice, charity and
peace are prevailing, that the saloon is
growing weaker; and that civilization
once centering interests, combining self
ishness in classes, is now more and more
broadening human interest and making
men truly brethren.