Columbus standard., 1901-07-27
CHARACTER 1HE FOUNDATION
0F RAGE ELEVATION.
(By N. T. CANT. JR.)

whatever aot of omission or commits
sion, of which he is guilty, is picked
ont and enlarged upon. SO it behooves
him to seek every opportunity to fur
ther the interest of his race.
No one man or age can see the out
come of the large movements of all the
ages. One may do bad act, commit
a crime of any kind, and say the re-
sponsibility ends with him, not so, we
are just as responsible for the example
set in the commission of the deed as
we are for our own conduct.
To be moral man one has to be
more than just simply not addicted to
lust or RIGHTEOUSNESS. this is part, but
by no means all. Honor. which is the
very soul of character, together with
uprightness of purpose and purity of
motive, form some of the essential
parts of mans moral nature. Without
these there could be no high moral
nature, nothing to distinguish him
from the brute creation but natural
conditions. Not only do these quail.
ties of mind and character raise man
to higher plane of civilization and
humanity, but very often by appealing
to his manhood, impel him to deeds of
honor and heroism.
What was it that made Douglas and
Grant? The one the great exponent
of freedom and progress, the other the
hero of the late Rebellion? Some, no
doubt, will say had it not been for
slavery. there would have been no
Douglas, and but for the civil war there
would h4ve been no drant. This is
.s.sls - { - yas gsrss brf 4 does NOT
Remember that while slavery afford
ed the Opportunity for the one, and the
late rebellion for the other, these were
only opportunities, nothing more.
Something greater was necessary to ac-
complish the ends finally attained by
these two great men.
Had it not been for that indomitable
purpose and pure motive that existed
in the minds and hearts of both these
men, they might have had the oppor-
tunities Of all the world, still never
have accomplished their purpose.
Opportunities alone can't, now nor
never could make men, but opportuni-
ties and the proper acceptance of them,
always could and always will.
/Those who have enough in dividual-
ity to think earnestly and deeply for
themselves, find that the chief main
spring Of a noble character is morality
in all that the term implies.
1t may seem strange TO yoke together
these two incongruous characters for
comparison, but they were both men
of great hearts, standing out as exam
pies of the highest manhood attain.
able by the young men of this century.
Their honest. upright steady purpose
and unceasing energy, no doubt many
a time dispelled the threatening clouds,
that lowered on the horizon of their
future. These qualities of mind and
character will do the same, in more
or less degree for the young man OF
today, if he will only seek his oppor-
tunity. Thousands Of people are will
ing to enjoy the distinction of a high
reputation or of successful life, but
how many are willing to pay the price,
These positions in life cost something.
They have an intrinsic value, which
can only be estimated by each one for
himself. They often represent the
sacrifices of a life time.
When we speak OF man as succeed
ing or doing well, we mean not that he
is more ideally strong in his discern
ment Of honor, right or truth, not that
he has development OF the powers
within him. not that he has himself
somewhat better in hand but that he
had the strength of character to accom-
plish a purpose. We all agree with
DR. Arnold, who says ''the only thing
of moment in life or in man is charae-
ter"
You cannot withdraw an influence
from morality without giving q real
impetus to immortality.
Let US not wait for opportunities to
be thrust upon us, but let US make them
for ourselves.
The to-come is the universal heritage
of mankind, and he claims but a small
portion as his own who looks not be-
yond the present.