The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-10-23

evil influence In his relations with his
fellow men, his struggles should not save
him from contempt.
OF all useless men the most eulpably
useless ans those who having educational
requirements and fitness for beneficial
work, do no more than exploit their ac-
quiremsnts in the false and unhealthy
saciabillty of club life, or find in thsm
only aids to the selfish pleasure of con-
stantly restless foreign travel and acces-
series to other profltless enjoyment.
Such a. waste of qualifications for valua-
bic service is especially blameworthy in
a country like ours, where so many ma
tional problems remain unsolved, ana
where vast development awaits the most
strenuous activity and effort. l have
mentioned a. liberal education as a most
important process in the construction of
our ideal
We have seen the scholar in public life,
teaching tricks to tricksters and with
the mask of education on his face, lead
ing the way to the lowest depths of par
tisan deceit and intrigue. When direful
anarchy held possession of the proud
French capital and drenched her streets
in blood, education though not absent
failed to stay the fury that decreed the
horrors of those appalling days. In the
unrestrainad revelry Of impious wicked
NESS and Goddess rage. morality and con-
science were banished.
In good or bad plight everyone should
is the most fortunate who has kept them
in the best condition. Tt sometimes hap
pens that with our growth there comes
to us a feeling that the tender conscience
ard aversion to wrong, of childhood, are
too strict and narrow to suit the sterner
activities of our matuIer years; and
am not sure that instances are lacking
of kind of arrogance of education, gen.
orally appearing in its early stages,
which confidently assumes that the heart
and conscience which answered the pur-
poses OF younger days does not befit
the dignity of learned men,
Wealth should by no means be dispar-
aged as representing success, provided 1t
Is accompanied by a reasonable realiza-
ton of the obligations its possession i'm
poses. We cannot attempt to fix the ex-
tent of these obligations, but we are
entitled to insist that in the race for
riches this feeling ara sentiment that
makes good citizenship should not be
stifed, and that the rich, directly by
charity and bensficience, or Indirectly
through their liberal enterprise and att
i've thrift should do something for hu-
mainly ami the public good. If wealth
is the best that can be exhibited as a
result of success it ought to make its
fair contribution to the welfare of So
cety This burden should not be alto
gether shifted upon those who, though
without riches, constantly give from the
results of their noblsr successes, gifts
that exalt humanity. We have right
to complain of the rich If, after spend
ing their lives in gathering wealth, they
find in the possession no mandate or
duty and no pleasure, save in the in
active and sordfd contemplation of their
hoard. But sordidness is not confined
to- those WHOSE only success consists in
riches. There is a sordidness of educa-
ton more censurable though perhaps
less exposed.
Therefore. no true American should be
willing to endanger the interests in
volved In his citizenship, nor the pride
which every good man has in the MAIN
tenance before the world of the high
character of his governrn emit. by inaction
or q careless indication of his choice for
those to be entrusted with national af-
fairs. If the popular will in this regard
should be voiced by the intelligence and
patriotism of our countrymen, and II
they should be aler'e and exacting in the
enforcement of their will, the danger of
mTisgovernment and of a misrepresenta-
ton of our nationa1 character would pass
away. "A just people willing to corcede
equal rights and privileges to every citl-
zen would enforce justice in their gov
ernment frugal and economical peo-
pie would command frugality and econ
omy in public administration; a people |
who valued integrity and morality would |
exact them i'm high places a people who |
held sacred the honor OF their country |
would insist upon it's sorupulous protec- |
ton and defense, and a people who love |
peace would not again suffer the huGnili- |
alton of seeing dashs,1 from th-lr proud |
grasp the almost ripened hope of leader |
ship among the nations of the earth, in
the high mission of driving out the
cruel barbarities of war by the advent of
the pacific methods of international ar
filtration. Happy is the land where ex-
amples of heroism and wise statesman
ship abound, but happier is the land
where the people rule; and fortunate
above all are those people when their
government is controlled, watched and
defended by the virtue, patriotism and
intelligence of millions of truly self
made men.