Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1892-06-24
Keeping the Peace.
from The WaoerIey Progress, by j. l..
LODGE, ID. D., Editor

peace and correspondence among men. III
we understand 1t, as some do, that on earth
peace has come to men of good will, the
sense is not enfeebled, but strengthened
rather, by the limitation, and brought more
fully into accordance with actual results SO
far reached. 1t is natural and demonstrated
that only such as have good will to God
will proclaim and strive TO maintain peace
among men. Where unanmity between
the divine in purpose and the human in en-
deavor Is effectuated, the natural and rational
influence OF religion Is observed, AND the
utility Of the advent proved.
| Like all other splendid ideals, this Of keep
i ing peace is impossible OF perfect realization.
The apostolic direction is, "As much as lieth
in you, live peaceably with all men," This
proviso and concessionwas an absolute neces-
sity. 1t required only moderate experience,
unaided by inspiration, to perceive it. All
the more, then, that man is 1heOpttl0S and
Ihilanteropos-dear to God and lover OF
men-who, with partial failure and defeat
foreknown, resolutely devotes himself TO
the highest Of human aims. To do this, a
man must be hero, not to his valet, but to
himself. Truth to self makes falseness to
other men impossible. la the prevalence
oil wrong, he must do right. Sick at heart,
he will say, with poor King Lear:
A man may see how this world goes with
no eyes
Look with thine ears See how yon justice
rails upon yon simple thief.
Hark in thine ear Change Places and,
handy dandy,
Which is the justice, which is the thief p?
Among those baser natures whose vital
atmosphere is corruption and whose meat
and drink is SANDER, the accuser is the
criminal. A state OF peace, an era OF good
will and good feeling, II community where
injury and envy were unknown, where each
citizen honestly desired the health, happi-
ness and prosperity of every other citizen,
would be intolerable torment to such PEG.
Pile. A dog fight, the cooking main, and the
prize ring, are more 20 their taste. In SOW
ing dissensions, separating fast friends, and
creating distrust everywhere, they revel as
parasites OF putridity. In the neighborhood
OF such characters the pure, proud man
must dwell, or go clean out of this world
His particular town or district may be com
paratively exempt or be little worse; but
the curse is everywhere. Let him act as the
missionary of light he can, at least, shine :
and that, in the end, will be the most. Let
him be felt as peacemaker.
IL were quite vain TO attempt this high
role in human affairs unless furnished at the
start with a strong character. Once Il man
suppresses the motions OF egotsm and shows
himself altruistic, opposition and criticism
are imminent Purity Of principle and ex-
altation of motives are construed into an
attack upon Inierority. The attitude APP
pears an assumption condemnatory of such
as lack, and antagonism which tends to
moral anarchy sets up This was to have
been expected:
A falcon towering in her pride of place
Was by mOuslng owl hawked at.
Censure is terrible only to the weak. Did
they but make just comparison, their spine
would be vitaliZed moral stamina would
be supplied. But il too indolent or too
timid, there is an easy way out "If you are
one of those weak spirits to whom censure
is intolerable, there is cheap and easy way
TO moderate the rancor of detraction-you
have only to die" Charles Reade thus offers
comfort to the genius whose work of real
value is neglected, while the merest babbler
draws around him a multitude, and the
scribbler, il scurrlous or paltry, meets plen-
teous patronage; but the recipe is just as
valuable to any who are silly enough to think
that they can do this world a real service
and not be hated for it. But it Is great deal
better not TO die in that fashion; IL is too
cheap The peacemaker sometimes suffers
in the attempt to separate combata nts; but
good men all honor him, and the great
Judge of all calls him "blessed"
There are two or three simple rules which
will 60 far toward preserving peace. The
first is, an immovable resolution TO judge
only on evidence personally possessed. 1t
would be of infinite service and blessing ii
every youth starting out in life would make
q solemn compact with himself 10 make up
his own estimate of every character pre-
.e..l l.. Ia l. A, 10
perfidious, evil-minded, wrong in princi-
pie, unworthy In action. He may seem TO
be all this TO another; but what has been
his treatment of me in what light has his
character been presented to mep have | OBJ
served in him any behavior which could
afford ground for so serious an accusation
A thousand times over actual experience
and contact have utterly repudlated the
charge. Almost all young people are in
fiuenced by evil reports, specially when
brought by persons supposed 10 be response
BILE and moral. Age and reflection gener-
ally dsabuse them of this error but not till
much harm has been done. Enough charity
ought 10 exist TO allow me TO count him &C
cepted who by another is condemned.
Charity or no charity, the rule should be
rigidly followed. 1t will make peacemaker
of any man who observes it.
Another good method of preserving the
peace is separation. Affinity is neither a
theory nor a sentiment IL is q fact and a
necessity The good are not happy in the
company of the evil The vulgar are unen
durable TO the refined. When the separa.
ton is enforced the evil forces become ma
lgnant. Epithets more forceiul than elegant
are applied TO the self respecting. How Is
1t to be avoidedy In no way. 1t is an eter
nal law in practical exhibition. But real
benefit can be secured fight can be pre-
vented the peace can be kept II was q
wise man who said he would give his enemy
half the road; Il was q wiser who concluded
10 give him all the road. Your experience
with man may be such as to compel you
to despise his principles and resent his prac
tees; but you are still q keeper Of the pcac,
when you ignore him. Your victory will
be quiet but absolute when you let him tire
mendously alonel 1t is not necessary mol
right to proclaim him TO other men, excep
in the way one would guard friend against
a vper's isngs.
, No class of enemies is more dangerous I,
society than tattlers. II there be actual evil
il is far better TO smother than 10 fan thu
flames of discord This is one of the many
advantages OF residence in large city
One does not know the family next door
I and does not care 10 know them. They arr
, excellent neighbors. In the small town i
is different. Everybody knows everybody
business-or wants to--aBd a local pape
is usel esq. Once in long time an ENTER
prising" individual, taking a peaceabe dill
. ference Of opinion among good citizens az
theme, proceeds 10 berate class, and 10 en-
deavor W set the whole town by the ears Eel
ats fosl bird that soils its own nest y AM
/ in the case of such a bird or such an act
/ He'll, rising from thousand thrones,
+ Shall do il reverence.
Al such time, every good man and woman
through more than ordinary lriendliness
should strive 70 keep the peace