The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-07-31
erences, which, if they be not merely
imaginary, furnish at least no just
ground for honored elevation.

eff by your fathers worth, your own you
rate
Count me those only who were good and
great.
Go! if your ancient, but ignoble blood
Has crept through scoundrels ever since
the flood.
What can ENABLE sots or slaves or
cowardsl
Alas! not all the blood of all the How
ards!''
g. There are still other artificial
distinctions which are of some i'm
portance and deserving the ambition
of mankind. l allude to such as are
BASED upon wisdom and moral worth.
These, if they are not the actual gifts
of nature, are at least within the
reach of almost every one. They de-
pend entirely upon individual effort
1t is the industry and perseverance
of the individual himself in his moral
and mental culture that raises him to
distinguished elevation in intellect
ual requirements and moral accom-
plishments above his fellow men.
These distinctions can neither be
conferred nor obtained by the back
ing up of some anterior greatness of
ancestry. They are the result the
sure and certain result-of the slow,
and unwearied, and well rewarded
efforts of industry. He, then, who
by his own sober endeavors, arrives
at high elevation in the attainment
of these essential characteristics of
human dignity, is truly honorable.
That there are distin ctions in society
in this respect-honorable and dis
tinguished examples of mental and
moral excellence and consequent self
elevation-every one will admit. And
these distinctions present their claims
and their laurels to the view of every
one and especially the younger por-
tions of society calling upon them
to step forth and engage in the same
busy and honorable enterprise for
distinguished excellence, which has
elevated those who have gone before
them. Though ON certain great
points of natural equality and extra
neous favor, the rich and the poor,
the great and the small, must all
meet together; yet still, there are
points of honorable emulation and
honorable attainment which create
distinctions in society. An improve
ment of the intellectual powers and
careful cultivation of the moral af-
fections, together with a nice and
punctillious observance of all those
social regulations which refine and
sweeten Neutrality-suspicious. are
objects which should engage the at
tention of every one, and in which
every one may commercially labor to
be distinguished.
III. 1t remains now to notice some
OF the points of equality which are
found among men, and which bring
them down to level with each other.
And these present considerations
which ought at all times to stand be-
fore the mind to counter balance the
influences of unfavorable artificial
distinctions.
a. In the first place. then. if it is
not absolutely true that all men are
created equal, it is still truethat they
ARE endowed by their Creator with
certain inalieuable rights" 1t is
truth which cannot be controverted
that the Lord is the maker of them
all; and by that creating energy they
are blessed with equal rights and
equal immunities in respect to their
civil and social interests. To ex-
press the idea in the language of an
instrument honored and revered by
all who appreciate the blessings
which it secured to great and a
growing nation-''life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness are rights
inalienable held naturally and equal
ly by all men, which no one man can
take away from his fellow men with
out violation of one of natures first
and fundamental laws, -except, per-
haps, on the terms and for the viola
ton of a mutual and voluntary COM
pact. However exalted, then. man
may be in his own estimation-what-
ever natural or artificial distinctions
there may exist in community, still
in respect to the preservation oftheir
lives, and the possession and enjoy
ment of liberty and happiness, they
all stand on broad level of equality.
They mutually received their origin
from the same common parent, they
are mutually endowed with the same
moral and intellectual nature, they
mutually enjoy the same common
interests of hope and of happiness;
and, therefore, mutually enjoy the
same common rights of social and
civil Government. Here the rich and
the poor meet together here the
high and the low, the great and the
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