Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-02-23

We are glad they lived in another epoch
| The almanac maker notes their birth
DAYS hut there are no assemblages of the
people If monuments have been bulded
to them they are liable to be overturned
when the dynasty changes or the COM
munc supplantS the state"
But there are men who have SO won
our hearts that we would recall them if
we could. We feel the need of them. No
change of dynasties no outbreak of the
mob. threatens their monuments. one can
hardiy conceive of any civil revolution or
any riotous outbreak in our country that
| would not respect the monuments of
Washington ana Of Lincoln While they
lived they We're ut times hated by men
ana by communities: but. when the full
stories of their lives We're unfolled
when motives and purposes We're ex-
plor6d. when the universal beneficence of
thGlr pubic services was seen. in the es-
adjustment by one and the rescue by the
other. of free constitutional government
all their countrymen rendered them hon.
age.
we assemble on this anniversary of
the birth of Washington. not so much if
II ~, to bring tribute to him, as to learn
at his feet the lessons of a conscientious
citizenship, The imitable qualities of
MashlnSton's character and life; those
that did not exhaust themselves on a To-
CAVITY or period: that are instructive
chief magistrates. but to the unofficial
citizen the lessons that he taught. not
for tn" march and battle but for uuiet
days when no drum beat calls to duty
these are the qualities and lessons THAI
should engage our thought today.
N choosing for my theme The Obli-
cations of Wealth. | am not wrestling
this anniversary from it's legitimate use
We do not neel to fOrget-indeed, we cam
not forget Washington, when we reflect
upon our obligations to the state. His
life teaches no lesson more strongly than
that the citizen is under obligation to
serve the state; never to shrk his full
share of burden and labor and sacrifice,
The word wealth in it's modern use
mas suffered limitation if not Il perver-
sion; originally ana strictly it means
veal or welfare, external happiness
" hen Paul admonished the Corinthian
Christians Let no man seek his own, but
every man another's wealth. he was not
wheat pit and the stock exchange
Wcalth is a comparative term; and my
address is not for that very limited body
OF multi-milionaireS, called by the Pop,i-
list orators PlutocratS.' a smaller audi
cncc thamhcr would have sufliced for
them and perhaps the orator should have
been OF the guild. ! want to speak of the
obligations of the 'well-to-do' people the
1orchand"d. prosperous men and women
al our communities whether their estates
are reCkoned by thousands or by millions
we live in a time of great agitation
81 a war of claShing thoughts ana inter
CStS. Men. no longer satisfied with what
appears above ground. are uncovering
roots. There is Il feeling that some men
are Handicapped. that the race is sold:
that the old ana much-vaunted equality
OF opportunity and of right has been
submerged More bitter and threatening
things are being said and written against
accumulated property and corporate DOW
or than ever before 1t seems to many
that, NOR" ana more, small men, small
stores. ana small factories are being,
thrown upon the shore as financial
drift or Wreckagc; that the pursuit of
chtapneSs has reached a stage where
only enormous combinations of capitaI
doing an enormous business, are sure of
returns.
The seams which mar the face of the
social landscape seem to be widening
hdSmS. and If hose CULTS are to be filled
we must establish dumps on both sides
Of them. 1t will all the work if those on
IF it from the other side. Wealth should
neither be the object of our enmity nor
the basis of our consideration The in
dcuunciation of the rich is
1t perVertS the mind pois-
,ns the heart and furnishes an excuse for
rhine. No poor man was ever made richer
n happier by it, IT is quite as illogical to
lespiSe q man because he is rich as be-
cauSe he is poor. Not what a man has
)ut what he is. settles his class. In the
discussion of all these social questions
good temper is essential. Men must get
ogcther and use facts. not rhetoric
The special purpose of my address to-
lay is to press home this thought upop
he prosperous Wcll-to-do people of orr
community, and especially of our great
titles; that one Of the conditions Of the
ecurity Of wealth, is a proportionate and
ull contribution to the expenses Of the
tate and local governments 1t is not
(('nntinl9I . \