The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-11

It abrogates the old arrangements OF
things and leaves zero and vacuity. It
is the contamination OF no-government
and laissez-faire."
DR.. Raymond then showed that Car
| lyle's hatred OF democracy, OF liberty, OF
| all movements for the emancipation OF
the human race, form the essence Of his
entire doctrine OF paternallsm. The
speaker then discussed Carlyles
paternallsm at some length. Pa
ternalism Is action by n few powerful
men for the many powerless. Paternal-
Ism Is simply the submission of the
wills OF the many to the superior wills
OF one or few. Paternalism carries
with 1t the notion OLA benevolent des-
pot, whose commands shall always be
just and good and beautiful. and tend
Ing to the common good, but which
shall, nevertheless. be commands-com-
mands which must be obeyed. Accord
Ing to this idea, the great mass OF the
people are TO be merely serfs. who shall
be led and commanded by their benev-
olent masters. This Is the system OF So
ciety that Carlyle would establish: this
Is his ideal of q perfect social state.
Yet he never tells us how we shall get
our benevolent desrots who shall guide
and force us into doing what we ought.
II Carlyle could tell us some way of
getting these heroic leaders for this
blind world, something might be said
for his system; but after telling us with
all manner Of emphasis that We must
get our great men to lead and COM
mand us-Ca:lyle wlthdraws into his
clouds and we are left In thick dark
ness again.
Carlvle's remedies for social Ills
were, emigration. organization, moral
culture and popular education. He was,
however, very vague In his mode Of
presenting these remedies to the pop
ular mind. The fourth remedy was
probably the most important, according
to his mind. and to his eternal honor be
1t said, that he was one of the earliest
advocates of national system of edu-
cation. 1.-The diffusion OF knowledge
was with Carlyle a prime object of eff
fort, and suspect that no part of his
teaching will be more permanently val
liable than this advocacy of universal
education"
President Raymond then summed up
what he considered Carlyle's greatest
services to society,"
Ills negative criticism has been
of inestimable value. He tore out the
very heart of more than one idolatrous
superstition. 1t is something to re-
move errors. even II you do not intro
duce truths.
2.-Arraigrment o" social hypocrisy
cannot be praised too highly. Can't
was his abomination. Upon hypocrisy
In high life and low, in religion poll
tics. art. literature, he trained his heav-
lest guns, and his b.oadsldes have not
been without effect
3.-Carlvle fearlessly insisted that
social morality does not end with the
discharge of money obligations. Man Is
his brothers keeper. The payment of n
few pieces OF money does not cancel all
obligations of man to man.
4.-Carlyle insisted that individual
competitions as practiced in the business
world of to-day. is heartless and insane
and wrong. Some new form OF coop
Grafton must be substituted for compe-
tition.
Carlyle, In a word. preached sincerity,
honesty. earnestncss. Better to perish
than do dishonest work." he taught, ''or
do ones honest work otherwise than
we'll" THE question Is not: wha:
wages hadst thou for thy work? but.
how was thy work done?" His doctrine
of the essential nobility Of labor is an
other beautiful and e.ernally valuable
part OF Carlyle's teaching He more
than any other man. taught the world
that there Is 4 perennial robleness and
even sacredness In work. Were he
never so benighted, forgetful of his
high calling, there, is always hope In
man that actually and earnestly works;
in idleness alone Is there perpetual de-
spair. The latest gospel in this world
Is. know thy work and do It. Know
what thou canst work at, and work at
1t like Hercules!
Well can We afford to overlook Car
lyle's inconsistencies. his occasional
lack OF what seems to us the highest
insight; for the essence of his teaching
Is diligence, sincerity and truth.