The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1891-01-08
FARM. GARDEN AND
HOUSEHOLD.
Faith In Humanity.

He is an exceptionally happy man who
can keep to old age, through all the dis
appointments and sorrows of life, his
faith in and love for his fellowmen.
There are men who do 1t, and these retain
in later life the chief advantage which
youth has over age. Lack Of love for
men Ia the direct result Of this disbelief
In their manhood, and its capacity for
much higher development than man has
yet attained. 1t Is, we believe, much the
same sort of scepticism as men have tow
ards the Deity, and Is more closely re-
lated to 1t than many may think. To hate
or despisc men Is therefore one Of the
worst kinds Impractical infidelity. One
Of the apostles who In his later years pro-
claimed love as the central truth of
Christianity puts this very clearly; "If
any man say he loveth God and hateth his
brother, he is q liar, for II he love not
his brother whom he hath seen how shall
he love God whom he hath not SEEN"
Love and help for man constitute the
practical side of religion. But any true
help for man must consist In something
more than food, shelter and clothing, or
ministering to bis bodily necessities. The
institution Of slavery In olden times sec
ured these, after fashion, for the South
ern negroes. But slavery dwarfed, and
- far - possible, crushed out the man
hood Of the colored people whom 1t held
In Its grasp. 1t was this fact that made
slavery 90 horrible, and its destruction
the greatest possible gain TO mankind
With slavery abolished there Is no class
set apart % hopeless Of the advancement
that the most enlightened and progressive
portion Of mankind have attained or are
reaching forward to attain.
All can see clearly now that the pro
gress Of the entire human race Is The
evolution that Is being worked out
through successive generations OF men
At times. and especially In early times, /,
has .esmed - II the divine purpose In
men were being worn cd out only for par.
ticular families aGd races. For ages the
descendants Of Abraham held that they
| were Gods chosen people. So In ont
sense they were chosen not for them
| selves, but as the custodians Of q trust
held not for one nation or race, but for
humanity. The sin Of the Jewish race
WAS its exclusiveness, sin that has been
repeated by successive civilizations, anG
In every cast 1t has been punished BY
their destruction.
No one can question now that OuI
Government has baen greatly strengthen.
ed by broadening Its base and making II
more . Government by the whole people
than 1t has ever been before. II there
have bcs large classes admitted to the
rights OF citizenship before they compre
hended It's duties, the remedy les not In
disfranchis ement. but In extending the
ben. fits of education to all. Citizenship
Is 1t, elf most important means Of sec.
uring political education. Cruce as are
many Of the appeals to voters, some in
structi0n ~ to the Issues In . canvas Ii
Inevitably mingled with them. Through
all tbese means the average Ut mankind Ii
being uplifted, and this average Ia IA
more important than the elevation Of tn,
few, which used to be thought the only
possible means for making men wiser ant
better. The world Is growing wiser
broader and better.-Mirror & Farmer.