The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-04-15
sEtFisnhEss

srlr,suNrss s THE STRONGEST MOTIVE that ever stirred the hui
man heart or moved mankind to action. No cOpuence
Is strong enough to sway man from the path which lead, to the com.umma-
ton Of selfhelp, and no interest so sacred that viii not most readily be
sacrificed upon the altar Of sef-bui1ding. A truth as everlasting as man
Kind and Of universal application was uttered by Shakespeare when he made
Brutus say:
,~1., "rsa "r my spur but "o'"""e ao'"
Not long siucca party Of prominent gentlemen were discussing the actions
OF an official, the duties Of whose Office involves the intcrest-thc sacred in
terest-of Il large number Of people and the prosperity and welfare Of large
section Of the state. One Of these gentlemen remarked that this "oncer
had used the power Of his onicial place to protect the interest of himself a
devoted friend and a kIhsmah, to The serious neglect and detrIncnt OF a
large number Of people and an extensive section Of the country This Om
Ger had used a sacred function for the contamination Of private personal
ends But, added this gentlemen, "t is no more Than any Of US would have
done under the same circumstances. We are all looking out for our own
interest The writer listened to this conversation with amazemcnt, The
idea Of a man thus tctraying a trust and having his act justified by his ar
cuser upon the ground that the aecuser would have done the same thing
under the same circumstances. Such is almost calculated to make one lose
confidence in mankind, and especially when We consider the fact that the
violation Of this trust was for the sordid purpose Of personal gain, and the
Justification Of it based On the SANE ground. Wonderful morality, ism It it,
According to the standard erected by this man, it is all right to rob, to
steal, to murder lie and betroy, ifby 50 doing it adds to ones prosperity,
piles up riches, or brings social and political power, But such has been The
case always No worse and very little better than it was 1000 years ago
Robert Burns, the peasant poet Of Scotland, who looked deeper into the
human heart, probably, than any other man that ever lived or ever will live,
save Shakespeare, described the situation accurately more than a century
ago In a letter Of advice to n young friend, He said;
the" r%y n "n "g wna"T
Wn"n" "nrt"ckb but human nw,
Arc a" t" ,s,rhhrd
And little om trusted
II mlftto wavcrng balance shake
It's rarely right adjusted"
These lines are Just as pertinent and as truly descriptive Of the clarac-
ter of IA today as they were the day Burns pcnncd them. If there has
been any change at all, we are inclined to the opinion that the selfish spirit
has become stronger and more intense. In the mad rush which cIaracterizes
the peculiar civilization Of today, 1t IL every fellow for himself and the devil
takes care Of the hindmost. No time to think of others interests. If some
unlucky fellow wormh happen. TO fall over board, the Gagcrncss to make The
landing is too great to permit a stop for the purpose Of going to the rescue.
o. Is strictly a case Of "get there, :" and he who falls must fail. But ass said
above, it has been the ease at all times and among all peoples. Rcgrctablc, it
true, when this passion is 50 strongly and fully developed, but it $ but
the asserting of the animal instinct /" man which will always have the in
hucnce Of a prime law Of his being.