Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-03-17
g POLICY y
From 1he Wapsrsey Progress, by j, Ia,
LODGE, ID, d., Editor

The almost universal departure from a
line of strict probity, mental and actual, dis
plays guilty knowledge by men OF them
selves and their fellows AS an abstract
belief, smothered conviction, the idea Of
right, under every condition and at every
cost, never can lose its beauty and divine
excellence, nor its supremacy. What is
genuine and true can never become
less admirable than its eternal nature makes
it; but depravity prevents its expression
and consequent glorification of humanity.
Not what men might and ought to be, but
what they actually are; not the duty, though
the present loss of all things follow its per-
Torrance, binding every individual first to
q righteous isolation which, heroically sus-
tanned, becomes, eventually, powerful at
traction, and acts as leaven upon the cor
rupt and misguided mass; but how can
adaptation of mind and manners avoid col
lision and bring peace, through equality and
likeness this is the concept and study of the
average man. The young man may read
on the bulletin board at Y. M. g. A. hall
reports from the base ball play in progress,
and then pass in to take turn at billiards or
seek a shady spot to pray-if he happen to
feel just like ii One OF the many modern
ways of working the garden Of the Lord
with Satan's dibble. Policy smiles where
it should weep. Tears would be reproach-
full and accusatory; would require explana-
ton and defense, itself offensive. If Il spasm
OF debilitated virtue call for qualified
condemnation, the tone must be apollo
| getic, TO condone, conciliate, compromise,
never daring to meet an evil issue squarely.
| Policy does not make but ascertains pub
| lie opinion, aud trims its sails to float with
the tide. There was a Wallace, and there
was a Bruce. Alas there was Ballot and a
hundred other mobiles OF that glorious land of
Scots, who accepted peace and the privileges
| of knighthood al the hands OF the usurping
tyrant, Edward, at the outrageous cost of
| Scotland's freedom. The editor writes this
sorrowful admission, the pang OF heart and
| history, with unusual shame for his own
veins are lull OF that proud blood. Clrcum
spection born of fear thought itself obliged to
smother love and loyalty TO banished princes
| whom their people once or twice attempted
to restore, and left us, in a cautious toast, a
commentary on the willy patriot(D of our
| day;
| God bless the King God bless the Faiths
defender "
God bless-No harm In blessing the Pre-
| tender
Who that. Pretender is, and who that King
| God bless us all is quite another thing
| Two great gifts his Creator bestowed on
man reason and conscience Ia use dill
gently aud independently the first, and to
enlighten, educate, and then follow, the
other, was torseen the only way to justify
the gilt and approx innate the dignity and
| purity ot the giver. Infinite foresight ap
pretended that all could not and would not
be noble; the necessity, hence, that leaders
OF men there must be, wise, pure, unsu llled,
Ialn tad iN.A ahn mot gA nj hair
own lives dear il their loss could any way
reclaim the race. But, othink is toilsome,
to stand by convictions formed difficult,
sometimes dangerous. 90 the other hand,
with great facility and perfect safety, the
philosophy OF the Fool, IN King Lear, may
be adopted NAY, an thou canst not smile
as the wind sits, thou'it catch cold shortly"
The poor weak old King, distressed and TO
be pitied, nevertheless threatens his faithful
critic with the whip, who replies, with sa-
gaciiy covering in prophecy future ages
Truths a dog that must 10 kennel; he
must be whipp'd out, when lady, the brach,
(bitch.hound) may stand by the fire, and
stink" (Act |, scene ~.
In this posture self IS Col. Ga the very
| threshold Of life the youthful observer marks
the indications of this idolatry. From the
theme, the language, the bodily movement,
glanccs OF the eye, unfolding plans, methods
OF CO. operation calculation Of chances, choice
of instruments, steadfastness and persever
ance, distribution OF gains, he is unalterably
convinced that the world knows, apDre
ciates, strives for but one object, and that
object self la an overwhelming majority
the enthrOnement of self has wealth Tor its
ultimatum; but not in all. some sacrifice
! and strive, and yearn for the esteem Of their
equally iallible and equally corrupt fellow.
mortals Jas does the mlser for his boards. This
is far the more piliable spectacle of the two;
because gold will clnk and buy, while no
good use can be made OF foul air. la many
cases, doubtless, the one end is desired for
the others sake; good opinion producing
current funds. Adrotly shifting creed or
practice, the adept in such subtle trickery
will not be withheld by considerations of
purity in politics or sincerity in religion.
! Because he wishes TO stand well with the
churches, the ministry, and the world, and
falsely surprising that the way to secure bis
end, tue preacher rushes into print to ex
plain why he has lett his church, giving
every reason but the true one namely that
policy has oyerreached itself, 6nesse has
failed, the better part have tired OF him, and
he could not stay another day. Always
( somebody knows the facts; but his anxiety
for personal repute leads him TO ialsify and,
moreover to forget that, II he has been good,
and honest and true, his resignation Is his
praise, not censure, aud that all the good
/ will see it so. How, in religious matters,
this cowardly spirit may reach even to the
dead, Veto Hugo, ia The HistOry eta Crime
| tells US that because it was dangerous TO say
masses for the victims Of the coup d etat Of
the 4th Of December, Catholic Democrats
induced a poor country vicar ITO humble IN
a whisper this mass in the ear of the Al
/ mighty, Dhite beagi9g him 10 say nothing about
IT," In the same spirit, the old maid despair
/ ing OF a family oi her own on which to EN-
/ ploy her piOus zeal, Is Suddenly convicted
/ ~ mission to BorrioboOla Cha. Mrs Jel-
| lyby has perpetual reproduction While
/ TINS path Ol policy is crowded, every indi-
vldua secretive, silent, scheming, exempliy-
! ing the facility OF downward tendencies,
presenting external complacency thinly con
! ceaing burning hearts, 1t does, indeed, re
/ qure moral courage and heroism 10 be sin
! gular which only the purest instincts, sub
4 lmest principles, can inspire and uphold
1 1t is asked, Does il payY We unhesitat-
/ ingy answer; temporarily, yes; In the end f,
no To negative this conclusion final CON
cealmenl Of motives would be required but
this is impossible The distinguished French
man who said No man Is hero 10 his
valet, spoke only hall truth. IL he have
been ever transparently honest, habltually
Just, living above the arts OF concealment,
he precisely Is more "A hero TO those who
Thoroughly understand and know him than
TO others. Ii lac nave been disingenous,
crafty, secret, double faced, exposure must
and will come, TO the lowest mental in his
train and then
Why then, besides five hundred nobodies,
He'll have five thousand and five thousand
more
Against him the whole public, all the hools
OF King SAINTS fathers asses, in full drove,
And obviously deserve ii. lie appealel
To these, and why say more if they con-
denim,
Than if they praise him
All the while men knew the policym man
They despised him for like themselves
They could not respect, but tolerated him
for purposes Identical with his own. In
fluence walled him II, or cunning, for the time
upbore him. Both fail In the hour when char