Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1898-04-29
Criticism and Character Q.


~. Db EultoT'
Honorable contempt of depraved human
judgments is sustained by faith whose
humility does not incapacltate tor noble
deeds nor tend TO boastful failure through
selt-inflation but is the recognition of the
Source of every gift, the controller OF all
events, the dispenser OF every grace, the
faithful promise keeper, whose rewards Tor
dutiiulness are ever in his hands. Without
such a faith the execution OF grand purposes
would be impossible; courage would expire
within the natal hour; conviction would be
shorn of all its strength, and the rising orb
of adoescent greatness set in the endless
night of shame. That God Is, that he is the
rewarder of them that diligently seek and
conscientiously serve him, that right is dear
TO his heart, and that, though under an ever
mysterious providence the basest OF forces
are often permitted TO prevail over the purest
men and the hottest cause, ultimate triumph
awaits right and its Votares, are subjects OF
faith on which as a foundation every trulY
firm and noble character Is built. In the
light of transactions past into history, and
current successful iniquities, the firmly be-
leved doctrine OF Gods providence over sin
alone preserves men OF sense and feeling
from open and avowed atheism. If the
twenty sleek, full, and well. paid assasslns
can overpower and rob one starving hero
defending life and home God is on their side
were true, then it would be RIVED that the
government of the universe is in the hands
of deity whose other name is devil. IT
there were no final appeal to the last judg-
ment, the only religion upon this earth
would be devil worship. Twenty years
ago, Bismark said, II owe the tirmness which
l have shown for ten years against all posi-
BILE absurdities only to my decided faith.
Take from me this faith, and you take from
me my fatherland" In the truly great con
viction, courage, and faith agree.
Indifference to invidious judgments Is
justified by the character OF the Judges.
The best actions are condemned, II for no
other reason than that they are above the
appreciation of the class that assumes to
pronounce upon them. The purest motives
are impugned according to the same law,
excluding capacity to understand the feel.
ings OF disinterested and seli-sacrificing
spirits. The Hottest attemps fail to impress
with their grandeur, because reflection
upon the dwelling sentiment and palCry
doings with which they stand contrasted.
There turks The foul suspicion In the minds
OF base men that there must be some hidden
and currupt motive that prompts to sell
sacrifice, and toll, and large benevolence;
they cannot realize that u love Tor men, in
spired by contact with the heart OF God,
and a strong desire to further the interests
of the heavenly kingdom, through the up
lifting and purifying OF humanity IN gen
eral and in particulars, moves to the heroic
and Christian action that passes under their
review. They cannot believe II, because In
all they do their selfish and earthly designs
are open TO sight. Spltelul aud jealous them
selves, they attribute the plans and perform
ances of their superiors u spite and Jeal
ousy. Not the grave can shelter from their
foul assaults; the very ashes of llustrous
dead disturbed by
Some black wether of st. Satan's fold,
In the precincts OF the chapel yard,
Among the knightly brasses Of the graves,
And by the cold Hic facets of the dead
The commentator of the truly good is
most worthy object of desire Tor they re.
semble, distantly, at least, the Fount OF all
goodness, and 80 approximate the correct
ness of his judgments. For the rest, fine
aGthor has truly said: "Examine but the
size of peoples sense, and the condition Of
their understanding, and you will not be
fond oil popularity, nor afraid OF censure;
nor solicitOus what judgment they may form
Aa
of themselves" And this caution appears
to be the more important that the praises o:
men are 80 deceitful. They blow hot and
cold with the same breath And, assuming
a mock charity they never displayed during
the lifetime OF the subject, they become the
panegyrsts OF his virtues when the ear that
ought to have heard their honest plau its is
heavy in the grave
A strong reason for despising gratuitous
expressions of the worlds opinion is the i'm
perfect estimate of the facts governing the
case. Success or failure is the basis OF the
worlds commentator or dispraise. But
apparent success is not uniformly graduated
To the measure of real ability. This will be
readily explcabe to those who believe that
"There is a Divinity that shapes our ends,
rough heW them as we will" Eternal pre-
destination has an unexplained part in the
career of every man "The lot is cast into
the Ian. but the whole disposing is OF God"
One ia called TO a condition of affiuence and
honor: another, whose character deserves
and shall receive It's entire due 10 another
and perfect sphere, is overlooked in the dis.
tributiOn of the worlds pleasures and honors
Circumstances purely adventitious ensure
elevation and attendant prosperity which
no amount of talent and industry could have
procured la the face of obstiL ately adverse
conditions: or, the effect of a real law of
"natural selection" leads the mob To put for
ward those of their own kind 10 represent
them. and enjoy the emoluments their suf-
fraRes bestow. Alas that some once deemed
respectable sbonld play the traitor. renegade.