Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1898-04-15
Criticism and Character /.
From The JetsrsOaian, by ]. L. LoDeE,
d. D., Editor.

Truth is always dogmatic and independ,
ent. 1t admits of no compromise with either
error or vice. 1t is not content to hold an
equal place with that which it opposes, but
contends for absolute and entire regency
over the hearts and minds Of men. Pro-
mitigation OF correct principles, with their
illustration in personal conduct, Is necessa
rily provocative OF opposition and censure.
Contempt of criticism is the mark of great
character. The value of such a character
may be estimated by its rarity. Diamonds
are cheap beside this thing that scorns all
price. Two chief causes conspire to fill the
world with weaklings: The desire to pla-
cate public opinion, for the sake of its sup
posed reward and the opposite dread of the
scorpions lash. The base sentiment grows
upon false proverbs rashly accepted, and
the natural affinity of time serving, common.
place minds. VoG pOpuIi, zoe Del, is the
hugest lie of the centuries The voice OF the
people has drenche continents with the
gore of the innocent, corrupted kings, king
doms, and republics; all but extirpated
Christianity from the earth, made servants
ride while princes walked; quenched rea'
son with seas of blood, overturned justice
and enthroned wrong, abolished God and
stamped out the Sabbath, and made pande'
monium where had been peace The false
and foolish saying could be true only in a
state Of society where just and virtuous
principles predominated over evil tendencies
and actions. The great majority of men are
against righteousness in principle and life
how then can their utterances be the voice
of God? Every man is fallible except as he
speaks the very thought OF God. When
Luther was demonstrated with for making
the Bible say, man is Saved by faith alone"
he replied, III could put in anything to beat
the pope" The man had some good points
but here displayed the very rottenness he
expressly claimed to condemn, by doing
evil that good might come" forcing lie
into the inspired Word that he might defeat
man
The very greatness of some mems thoughts
separates them from the appreciation of the
mass. The worlds greatest have suffered
indignities, ostracism, death, because the loud
mouth of put lie opinion prayed, where its i'd
lotto head had no power to grasp and utilize
the disclosures of truth as they came from
master minds. So long as majoritics are
made up of material whose antecedents are
vulgar, whose tastes are low, whose Judg-
ments are warped by passion, whose aim is
selfish, whose tendencies are earthly, they
will be esisted, even If hopelessly, by men
of noble nature and lofty thought. Such
will always choose to be right, rather than
popular On the other hand, common
men-and they are great for multitude
first ascertain in what quarter the mind OF
popular opinion blows, and match their
actions TO meet its praise. Many man
would be ashamed, upon reflection, TO re-
alize to what extent his habits OF thought,
and especially his actions, are governed by
the sentiment of his equally ialllole, ana
even more ignorant fellows. When adj
verse criticism aims its barbed arrows, 1t Is
weak and contemplate TO be moved by u
judgment not bound to be respected, and
which has no right to expression. Mate
rial that betrays this weakness Is not the
stuff out of which to make men that shall
move the world Great men, and especially
great leaders, are the handiwork OF NNure
like poets, they are not made, Out oorh'
Character may indeed be formed, Out the
formative process is essentially development
of residentiary elements OF greatness the
evolution of qualities inherent and peculiar.
Absence of the fear OF human censure proves
the possession of the essential qualities that
determine greatness conviction, courage,
faith In the strong man there is power To
discern fitness and duty, the adapteuness Oh
means TO ends, righteousness In the cause,
weightiness of obligation; there is indie
pendence in intelection, and originality
in methods, together generating impulslon
which anticipates accomplishment. rim
cipes are adopted not for their popularity,
but for their truth; and reproach, or even
persecution is welcomed If only martyrdom
shall seal, sanction and establish the right.
In the realm of religious truth, what Is
not worth dying Tor is not worth believing.
Ignorant of those tickle moods born of def
eTence to variant opinions the strong be
lever perceives the right and resolves to
hazard all in its defence or extension. A
majestic character is the consequence, the
mighty thought is the cause. AS beheld in &C
tion, 1t is demonstrated that as a man Ms'aketh
so is he. The critics sneer is the only an
swer he is capable of making; persecution
is the weapon of towards whose own cor,
ruption is rebuked by the strength and
purity of their victim. Courage draws all
its strength and fire from conviction and
while timeservers debate the chances of the