El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-11-26

our union. we have the supreme exam
pie of the influence of commercialism
and self interest in making history and
leading the march of human progress.
The declaration of independence was
primarily a revolt against excessive and
unjust taxes. and against harsh laws
relating to person and property-in
other words. a vigorous assertion of
self interest And most striking of all
is the history of the movements that
led up to the formation of our consti-
ltutional union of states. and to the con-
struction of the constitution itself. To
quote once more that great American
whose words spoken and written are
everywhere taken as authoritative up
on matters having to do with the con-
stitution. Daniel Webster says: Sir.
whatever We may think of il now. the
in the conviction of the necessity of
uniformity or identity in commercial
regulations. The whole history of the
country. OF every year and every
month. from the close of the war of
the revolution to 1889. proves this. Over
whatever other interests it was made
to extend and whatever other blessings
il now does. or hereafter may, confer
on the millions of free citizens who
do or shall live under its protection; il
will yet be true that it was itself the
child of pressing commercial necessity
Ia solemn assembly was proposed
"a general convention of delegates
from all the states. And now. sir. what
was the exigency? What was this cris-
is? Look at the resolution itself: there
is not an idea in it but trade. Com
merce, commerce, is the beginning and
end of it,
Thus Daniel Webster. Yet some lit
tie men of little minds think that when
they have imputed commercialism or
self interest as a motive they have ut
terly condemned.
II is a large subject. Only one phase
OF IL has been touched. II is not in
tended to convey the idea that money
and the love of il are and should be
the controlling motives in all personal
il. In the struggle for life" there has
come a new factor" 1t is as much
part of the evolution of the world as
is the other factor. II is higher de-
velopment. Ii is more spiritual. But
in a very real sense. though high
sense. il is still based upon self interest
as controlling motive.
The evolution of the world is &c
at high price Yet it is
worth what il has cost. The object of
the laws of nature is to produce fitness.
The most profound thinkers in the
realm of evolution" agree that the
for existence. far from entail
ing misery and pain on the world. on
the contrary brings about the maxi
mum of life and enjoyment with the
minimum of suffering. The struggle
has been victorious. OF all the forces
that have gone to make progress posi-
BILE. War and Industry considered in
their broadcast sense) have been the
of civilization the coarser and more
cruel elements in the struggle are
and mans conscience takes
the place. gradually but surely. of
mans appetite. The struggle for life
gives way to the struggle for the life
of others.
This is the essence of the moral law
which has been terminating all
through the ages. which has found its
chief opponents in the persons of the
great religious teachers of the world
and which has become in some commu-
mites. on some occasions. the supreme
law. Yet it is but a refinement of self
interest" Christ did not command
that love of ones neighbor be substi-
tuted for love of self. but only that
there be room for the first. while the
other remained. Patriotism is one of the
highest manifestations of self devotion
to principle. or of struggle for the
life of others. yet it is but highly re-
fined self interest
There is no disrespect meant to re-
ligion or morality in this. The at
tempt is rather to cause "a realization
of the most potent factor in the worlds
progress. with view to using it for
good always. and preventing it from
falling into evil hands. If. as is appar-
ent. self interest is the all powerful