The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-28
NATIONAL CHARACTER.


The President OF the United States ana
the Governor OF Virginia in their Thanks
giving rroclanations reminded the peopi;
of tho great prosperity which they were
cnioving ana of the special call by rea-
xon of 1t for day of thanksgiving 10
God. We have indeed, from that point
OF view. moro to be thankful for than
ever before perhaps in the history of the
nation, for the nation was never quite
20 prosperous But prosperity is not nee
perity has been his ruin. 1t is an old
saying that some men cannot stand pros
perity, and it is quite as true that some
nations cannot stand prosperity. 1t all
depends ,Ipon the character of the man.
upon the character Of the nation; and
what is the character of nation put
the character OF its men and women IN
the concrete? With a man of character.
wealth is a blessing. for itsG!ves HIM the
means of developing the graces within
him and Strengthening his character, to
say nothing of the good. that he does Ia
others. But if the rich man lacks char
actcr, he will use his riches to destroy
both body and soul. This is equally true
of 4 nation, as history shows.
We believe that this nation can stand
prosperity because it is nation of char
acter, because it is nation winch mas
from the beginning exalted the Individual
and made him self-relant and proclaim
ed the doctrine that the greatest thing
III this world is manhood.
1t has been time and again suggested
by writer's and speakers that this naCon
Is ant to grow fat and weak through
wealth and luxury, and these have point
ed to the rise and fall of the Roman EN-
pirc as a warning. But there is great
difference between the Roman Empire
and the American Republic, the dlifer-
cnce being in the character of its con-
stituent people. Few things are more
striking in history says DR.. Hamilton
w. Mabic in the November number OF
the North American Review. than the
disparity between Roman energy and Ro-
man ideality This masterful race had
immense force. and put it forth during
a long period of time with irresistible
intensity and momentum: but there were
no adequate ideas of life behind this
force, and after the flood of energy had
spent itself there We're no deep fountains
there were no fundamental ideas from
which a new. civilization could be evolved.
The Roman mastered the world and held
it in his hands. but he did not know what
to dc with it: and so he remains, first,
a nasterful figure, then an impotent
wielder of forces which he did not un-
derstand. There is no more tragic anti
climax than this swift and splendid
grasping of all the resources of life, fol-
lowed by complete failure to understand
or use them.
The secret of material strength and
the spiritual weakness OF the disparity
between executive force and ideas is to
be found in the Roman education
In Rome the individual citizen counted
for little. except SO far as he might be Of
benefit TO the Government. The power
of Rome was the great consideration;
the strength of individual character
counted for little. But the American
Republic was brilded upon a very diff
ferent principle. With the founders of
this Republic the dominant idea was that
was made for man, not man
for government. This principle lies at
the foundation of the American Republic,
and the great aim of our Government was
and is to secure To the individual those
..inalienable rights Of life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness" by which he
was endowed by the Creator. Our fore
fathers builded more wisely than they
Knew In strengthening the individual
they strengthened the Republic This
nation has been able thus far to stand
because it is nation OF men
and women of character. So long as that
character is maintained the Republic will
stand and will continue TO prosper and
will go on from triumph to triumph us
ing its great and growing wealth in the
process OF development.
On this day of national Thanksgiving
ne should indeed be grateful to God for
the good things that We enjoy, for the
Wealth that we have accumulated. for the
FIRST fruits of the earth; hut we should
be thankful more than all for our ma
uonal character which enables us to
Ctand prosperity.
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