The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-05-18
Written for The Progressive Farmer.7
S~elfiShness.

"nen we look at the lives OF men
we see only a fierce struggle-sci.
entifc men, philosophers, astronomers,
chemists, inventors, men of all the
different walks of life, striving, work,
ing, planning, scheming-each trying
for all there is in him to lift his head a
little higher than his neighbours; to
win something his neighbor has lever
won; to think something his neigh
Dor has never thought; to make new
inventions, spring new ideas make
new improvements and ell the time be
presenting new wonders to the world.
These newer and better things are
supposed to be for the good and ed.
vancement Of the human race; to build
up and widen human ability and pow
er; to lend light to the world and make
new, nobler, better creatures.
But is this the true meaning Of all
the striving going on among men7 Has
this fierce, terrible struggle the benefit
of mankind for its goal9 When men
burn midnight oil seeking learningl leave
off eating and sleeping enough to o
than barely keep them alive; become
sunken eyed and ervou in the eager
pursuit of some great and grand
achievement, what Is the motive
power2
Let Us wonder what could fill q man
with such a consuming fame of in
satiable desire. What could render
him so incapable of reason as not to be
able to bear in in mind that it is essen
tial toAife that he eat and sleeps Is it
to benefit the cause of humanity3 Is
it to minister to the needs of suffering
ones2 Is it to bear onward a higher
| standard of civilization, a better
| standard of morals, to build up hap.
piness for his fellowmen, to help
brighten the future prospects of his
country7 No. Each individual has a
personal motive. He is anxious to
make some precious discovery which
will benefit himself. Something that
will heighten his own glory and give
himself fame, or fill his hands with
glittering gold. He only thinks of his
own pleasure and welfare, never so
much as a word or deed for others. All
strivings and strugglings have only a
goal Of self. He must rise, though
through the sufferings of others. If,
in his growth, he opprt sses the weak,
it matters not to him. II he encroaches
on the ground of the peaceful, he heeds
it not. II he tramples on the few who
love justice, he presses on, burning
with the evil spirit, eager for self.
Mankiod, in its struggle upward
through never ending cruelty aud con
tention, has been taught nothing but
selfishness.
1t was selfshness that caused Eve to
touch the forbidden fruit in the Gar
den of Eden, which produced a strain
Of sadness and sorrow and anguish that
echoes down the ages through all gen,
erRtions and walls in every a and
touches the strings of every heart.
What a severe form of selfshness do
we see in the case of Cain, in the olden
times, destroying his brother.
What is it but selfshness that sets up
that line of difference and contention
between nations and kingdoms that
causes each to work for the disinteregt
Of the other7 What is it that sets
State against State, institution against
institution, business house against bust
ness housed
Between the different saleshouses
and shops Of any town there is a fierce,
never ending contest. a rivalry is be
tween them always that is severe and
dark and far from being a healthy one.
A bitter, mean rivalry, out of which
grows hatred, malice, disgrace end,
too often, complete ruin.
Even the different denominations Of
the church ere at contest with each
other. Each branch endeavors to es-
Uablish it's oWn doctrine as the best
and surest wey to heaven-its faith as
the only true faith.
The preachers are at wer with each
other-each trying to have the largest
revival meeting at his church, to gain
more accessioGs TO his church than any
other. Nothing pieases a pastor more
than to see members Of other churches
leave their former belief and join his
flock. He reads the name Of such q
Joiner very loudly and distinctly, and
takes special care in announcing that
this brother comes from some other
denomination, and if you will watch