The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-23

usual, he is deemed unworthy of the name
Indeed, it ought not to surprise us to find
that success alone if reached after a fierce
struggle with difficulties and disadvantages,
should lead by familiarity and easy assocla-
tion to sort of hazy conception that these
difficulties and disadvantages were not mere
ly incidents but positive aids to such sue
cess.
l desire here to explicitly and emphatically
express my respect and admiration for those
who have Won honorable success in spite of
discouraging surroundings, and who have
made themselves great and useful in their
day and generation, throught the sheer force
of indomitable will and courage Nothing
can be more noble and heroic than their
struggles, and nothing can be more tnspir-
ing and valuable than their example and
achievements, ard whatever may be their
measure of success, their W ilingness to un-
dergo hardships to win it demonstrates that
they have in their nature the fiber and last
ing qualities that make strong men. But
while we thus pay a deserved tribute to true
manliness we by no means admit the fanci-
full notion that the difficulties that stood in
the way OF these self-made men were essen
tial to their success.
The truth is, the merit of the successful
man who has struggled with difficulties and
disadvantages, must be judged by the kind of
success he has achieved, by the use he makes
of it and by it's effect upon his character and
life. If his success is clean and wholesome,
if he uses it to make his fellows better and
happier and if he faithfully responds to all
the obligations of a liberal, public spirited
immensely to the honor and consideration he
deserves. If on the other hand success Is
of the grasping sordid kind, If he clutches 1T
closely for his selfish qualification. and II
with success he is bankrupt In character. sor
didly mean, useless as a citizen, or OF evil
influence in his relations with his fellow
men, his struggles should net save him from
contempt. -
The obligations of wealth and the obliga-
tions of education are cooperative and equal
ly binding. The discharge of these obligations
r.f~ irot runl
rich man should restrain himself from mar
boring or having the appearance of harDoring
any feeling of purse-proud superiority over
his less wealthy fellows. without sucn re-
straint the distance is heightened between
him-and those whom, by contact and associa-
tion, he might benefit. 1t is thus, too, that
is engendered and perpetuated. So also the
man of education should carefully keep
himself from the indulgence or seeming in
diligence in a superclllous !ottlness t0"aru
his fellows standing aloof and an
swering every invitation to nearer approach
with mocltery and derision; The benign mis-
sion of both the educated and the rlch Is
among and with their fellow men OF less
education and less wealth and real and
hearty fellowship is absolutely needful to
the success of their mission. While our SELL
made man should not fall in his apprecia-
tion of the Importance of these restraints, he
ought to especially and with clearness ap,
prehend the binding force OF the active and
the rewards of success.
I will not close without more specific ref
erence to one particular condition OF Amerl-
can life, which sadly needs the active and
persistent interposition OF our well con-
structed and well preserved self-made men:
Evidence is constantly accumulating that at
no point can he do more v1tally useful work
than in the field of politics. The fact that
This word signifying the science of govern
ment and the administration OF pubic aHalrs
is associated in the common mind with sharp
manipulation and smooth Deceit pialhiy
shows how badly it has been ''So1led Win all
ignobIe use" while the contempt with whlcn
self-seeking candidates and party subserVlen-
cy even in a canvass nov penang, speahs
of disinterested citizens VINO are orgahizeo
to secure good government; as "A moaern
school of doctrinaires," and as college pro
fessors." startlingly illustrates how conn
IDENTIFY arrogant partisanshlp dares 10 Insult
thoughtful and Intelligent cHlzens4lp. ,,
Already dangerous advantage has been
gained by the forces Of recklessness ana SELL
ishness, largely through the indiHerence OF
those who should have challenged their first
advance and now when partisanshlp Wltnou|
eivine reasons assumes Tad, and hosts
without reason seem wi -hg to follow, anu
when party organization which shouid De the
servant of intelligence and patrlotlsm, pro
claims itself their master and attempts to
hind them hand and foot. the time mas surely
come when all the intelligence and education
of our land should hear call to duty. 10
say nothing of actual danger to our 1nst1tu-
tions all must see that we cannot gain the
most benefcent results If the best intelligence
and the most disinterested patriotism among
orr people either refuse to enter the field OF
noIitics. or allow themselves to be driven
from it. | am not condemning party al
leeiance founded on reason and judgment.
Party men we may al well be; Dut only with
the reservation that thoughtful and patriotic
citizens we must be. In our public life we
must he sure that as a general rule our SER
wants and agents will be no better than the
people who create them. They may be in
eeniteIv worse, through the peoples neglect
or approval.