Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-31

biAO Vi tlOoCln III VIC NdA-
not allowed an unlimited i~ndividualism
which may work harm to the COM
munity, 1t is no less evident that the
sphere of the States action should be
extended very cautiously, and so far as
possible only where it will not crush
out healthy individual initiative. Va
untary action by individuals in the
form of associations of any kind for
mutual bettermert or mutual advant-
age often offer a way to avoid alike
the danger of State control and the
dangers of excessive individualism.
This is particularly true of efforts for
that most important of all forms OF
betterment, moral betterment-the
moral betterment which usually brings
material betterment in its train.
Spirit of Brotherhood.
"It is only in this way by all OF us
working together in a spirit of broth
erhood, by each doing his part for the
betterment of himself and of others
that it is possible for us to solve the
tremendous problems with which as a
Nation we are now confronted. Our
industrial life has become SO complex,
it's rate of movement so very rapid,
and specialization and differentiation
so intense that We find ourselves face
TO face with conditions that were prac-
tically unknown in this Nation half a
century ago. The power of the forces
of evil has been greatly increased,
and it is necessary for our self-preser-
walton that we should similarly
strengthen the forces for good. We
are all of us bound to work towards
this end. No one of us car do every
thing, but each of us can do some
thing, and if we work together the ag-
gregate of these something's will be
very considerable.
There are of course a thousand
different ways in which the work can
be done, and each man must choose AS
his tastes and his powers bid him. if
he is to do the best of which he is ca
pable. But all the kinds of work must
be carried along on certain definite
lines if good is to come. All the
work must be attempted as on the
whole this Young Mems Christian AS
ISOLATION work has been done; that is,
in a spirit of good will towards all
and not of hatred towards some; in a
spirit in which the broad charity for
mankind there is added a keen and
healthy sanity of mind. We must re-
tain our self respect each and all of
us, and We must beware alike OF
musny sentimentality and Of envy and
hatred.
1T ought not to be necessary for me
to warn you against mere sentimental
ity. against .-e philanthropy and char
ity which are not merely insufficient
but harmful. 1t is eminently desirable
that we should non of us be hard
hearted, but it is no less desirable that
we should not be soft-headed. l really
do not know which quality is most pro-
ductive of evil to mankind in the long
run, hardness of heart of softness of
head. Naked charity is not what we
permanently want. There are of course
certain classes, such as young children,
widows with large families or crippled
or very aged people, or even strong
men temporarily crushed by stunning
misfortune, on whose behalf we may
have to make a frank and direct ap-
peal to charity, and who can be the re-
cipients of it without any loss of self
respect. But, taking us as a whole,
taking the mass of Americans, We do
not want charity, we do not want
Sentimentality; we merely want to
learn how to act both individually and
together in such fashion as to enable
us to hold our W in the world, to do
good to others according to the mea-
sure of u opportunities, and to re-
ceive good from others in ways which
will not entail on u part any loss
Of self respect.
1T ought to be no less unnecessary
to say that any man wno tries to solve
the great problems that confront us by
an appeal to anger and passion, to ig-
norance and folly, to malice and envy,
is not, and ever can be aught but an
enemy of the very people he processes
to fbefriend. In the words of Lowell,
it is far safer to adopt for a motto
"All men up" tnan Some men down
Speaking broadly we cannot in the
long run benefit man by the down
fall Of another. Our energies can, as
a rule, be employed to much better ad-
vantage in uplifting some than IN pull
ing down others. Of course there must
sometimes be pulling down, too. We
have no business to blink at evils, and
where it is necessary that the knife
should be used, let it be used unspar-
ingly, but let it be used intelligently.
When there is need of a drastic remedy,
apply it, but do not apply it in the
mere spirit OF hate. Normally a pound
of construction is worth a ton of de-
struction.
Effects of Envy.
There is degradation to us if we
feel envy and malice and hatred of
one S neighbor, for any cause, and If
we envy him merely because OF his
riches, we show we have ourselves low
ideals. Money is a good thing. 1t is
foolish affection to deny it.. But it is
not the only good thing, and after a
certain amount has been amassed it
ceases to be the chief even OF material
good things. 1t is FAR better, for in
stance, to do well a bit of work which
is well wortu doing. | do not care
whether this work is that of an engi-
neer on a great railroad or captain OF
a fishing boat. or foreman in a factory
or machine shop, or section boss, OF
division clerk or assistant astronomer
in an observatory, or a second lieu
tenant somewhere in China or tbs
Phllippines-each man of these has ar
important piece of work and if he is
really interested in it and has the
right stuff in him, he will be allogeth-
er too proud of what he is doing and
too intent on doing it well, to waste
his time in envying others.