The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-04-10

of all the employment of public life"
What is selfshness 1t is aprineiple imbedded
i'll human nature that overrides the more noble
principles of humanity and causes men to forget
the duty they owe to each other ana their
maker in selfish desire to advance and foster
their own interests, without regard to the
interests OF their neighbors or the men with
whom they deal in business transactions, in the
| everyday avocations of life. An exclusive
r gard for our own personal interest or
happiness That supreme selt-love or self
preference which leads person to direct his
purposes to the advancement of his own
| interest, power or happiness without regard to
| the higher moral principle that should be
uppermost in every mans bosom-that man
serves himself best by promoting the common
good. Selfshness is vice, sim 1t destroys
the very object which is sought to be accom-
plished-happiness 1t denotes that longing
desire for good or we'll being which actuates the
breast of all entering into and characterizing
every special desire 1t has no moral quality.
1t is applied to the qualification of selfish
desires. 1t is always voluntary and always
wrong; being that regard for our own interest
6ioh4hootiOhi ponSit hOhcit huppiutSb cSS.t
which is sought or INDUCED In at the expense
| and to the injury OF others. We see it displayed
IN all its fulness when we are appealed to to aid
some charitable institution or to make a small
sacrifice for the purpose of relieving the
destitute, many of which are made so by no
fault of their own, but by proyidental
hindrances brought about by the hand OF an
advise Creator who docth all things well" and
has given us whatever OF this worlds goods of
which we have the pleasure of being the happy
recipients, not for selfish purposes, but to be
used by us In such manner as to promote the
greatest good and scatter the most sunshine to
the greatest number Of people. Then, taking
broader view of the term, we turn to those in
whose hands the destiny of nations are
entrusted; that are bound together by the ties
of property interest owned by one nation in the
other and universe and as the great fundamental
principle of International law existing between
all civilized countries as basis on which all
international differences may be anicably
settled is violated in the restraint of the personal
liberties of citizens Of another nation as well as
the confscation of personal property of in
dividuals. And, upon the request of those
authorized to act in such matters in the nation
in disregard OF such laws for just remuneration
for the offense committed. And upon a refusal
the part of those in authority in the offending
nation to acede to the demands for remuneration
of the nation whose honor had been insulted for
the selfish reason in the minds of those in
authority that the common property interest of
the two nations are such they cannot afford to
antagonize each other. And after n few sharp
letters Of threatenings have passed between the
seeming antagoGistic countries we hear those
who are financially interested in the offending
nation and who by their influence control the
destiny of the injured nation rising up and by
their selfish influence and power for personal
greed and gain declare that rather than
jeopardze property interest owned and con-
trolled by the injured nation located under the
jurisdiction of the other, that In case of inter-
national disturbance might be conhscated
While this exists only in the minds of such in
dividuals an imaginary fear brought about by a
selfish desire to increase and make sure of their
personal interest even il the lives Of their
countrymen had to be sacrificed who had been
so unfortunate as to incur the dispeasure of
another power This is seldshness in high
places.
Then casting about for new fields for explor
ations we enter the political arena and there we
behold selfishness displayed In all its grandeur
glory. pomp and splendor By those who seek
through its influence, backed up by an unlimited
amount of capital acquired through the same
channel rise up in their mighty power to
thwart the unseltsh honest purposes of the uu-
suspeeting and thus crush to earth that higher
aud nobler god-giyen principle of enjoying the
rights Of free-born citizens as was intended by
the alwiSe Creator when he breathed the breath
OF life into mans nostrls aud he became a living
soul And after the people have entrusted the
rcins of government in the hands Of men and
left it in their hands to say whether OF not the
people are to enjoy these god given privileges
will for selfish greed sell their constituency and
deliver them into the hands Of organized greed |
aud mammon through unjust legislation having
or its object the further enslavement Of those 1