Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-08-18
Where Shall Race improvement Begin.


The same law Of inheritance that
hands down the Vices OF ancestors,
hands down their virtues also, and In
greater ratio, for good u positive,
active, ever vigilant. its w0f-hippcfs
nwim up stream against the current.
Could we mako all mon aud women
feel their individual responsibility In
the chain Of influences that tell ON all
time, we could solomnizr In our own
day such vOws for nobler lives Us 10
make this seeming herculean work
light a. the wings ofangels. II, hence
forward, all the thought, the money,
the religious enthusiasm dedicated 10
the generation Of the race, could
be devoted TO the generation Of
our defendants, 10 the conditions
aud environments Of parents and
children, the whole face Of society
might be changed before we celebrate
the next centennial OF our national life.
Science has vlndicated our right %
discuss freely whether our ancestors
were apef; let II be rs free TO ask
whether our post.rity shall be idiots,
dwnris and knhvcs, and u not, by what
change, II any, In our social institu-
lions, such wrelohed results may be-
avoided. Cation In his work on
'IIerodity." says our present civiliai.
tlon il growing too complicated for our
best minds even TO grasp, and TO meet
successfully tho issues Of the hour,
humanity must be llned ~ q few de-
grecs, as speedily IA possible. And
whero must this radical work
begin? Tho best hope for the
progress OF the race In political,
religious and social life lies In
the right birth, education aud develop
ment OF our children. Here Ia the
true starting.point for tho philosopher.
Lot tho young man who N indulglng
Ia all manner Of cxcesses r1momber
that Ia considering tho effect OF the
various forms OF dissipation ON himself,
his own happiness or danger, he does
not BEGIN TO measure the evil OF his
life. As the high priest at the family
altar, his deeds u darkness, Will inillcl
untold suffering on generation after
generation. One Of the most difficult
lessons 10 impress ON any mind IL the
power and extent " individual lnilu.
ence; AMI parents above all Others re-
sist the belief that their children are
exactly what they make them, nc
more, no less; like produces like. Tn,
origin Of ideas was longs disputed point
with different schools OF philosophers
Locke took the ground that the mind
Of every child born Into the world Il
like n piece OF blank paper; that you
might write thereon whatever you
will; but science has long slnce proved
| that such idealists ~ Descartes wer,
nearer right, that the human family
come Into the world with ideRs, witt
marked individual pr0clivities; that III,
prenatal conditions have more influ
ence than all tho education that come
after. IL family pecullnritles are trans
mltted TO tho third aud fourth genera,
ton, the grandson clothed with III,
same gait, gesture, mode Of thought
and expression Us the grandfather
he has never seen, II is evlden
that each individual may rear
some advantage and development
from those predecessors who's,
lives in all matters great and small ar,
governed by law, by conscientious
sense OF duty, not by feeling, chance
or appetite. II there IL class Of odu
Gators who need special preparation
for their high and holy duties, It /,
those who assume the responsibilities
/ VI lhltnNHs fNhhil wv bff' t'n1 thNhNn
10 Immortal beings than the artists u
his landscape or statue. We wander
through the galleries In the old world
and linger before tho works OF tn,
great masters, transiixed with the grac,
aud beauty OF the Ideals that surround
us. And with the equal preparation
greater than these are possible In liv
Ing, breathing humanity. uC
In Imagination from the gallery
TO the studio VI the pool
artist, watch him through tn,
restless days, ns he struggles will
tho conception OF some grand idenl, anC
then see how patiently he moulds an,
remoulds the clay, and when at last
through weary years, tho block O
marble IL transformed into an angel o
light. he worships II, aud weeps tina
he cannot breathe into II this breath o
life. And lol by his side are growlnl
up immortal beings TO whom he ha
never given one half tho care AM
thought bestowed on the silent one
that grace his walls. And yet IN
same devotion 10 a high Ideal OF humal
character, would soon give the world
generation OF saints aud scholars, O
scientists and Statesmen, OF glOriflel
humanity such Us the world has no, ye
seen.