Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-11-05
UPRIGHT AND RIGHT.

are utterly repellant. We often
see this in politics and i'll indus
trial and social life, but nowhere
so frequently as in the field of
moral and religious propaganda.
Politicians usually are wise
and discreet in choice of their
misunderstanding them SO care
fully to the conditions they must
face and the purposes they would
accomplish that they gain their
ends often before their opposers
are aware Of it. 1t may be, in
deed often is true that tn- oppo-
sition has aided i'll bringing
aboat the result. 1t not unfre-
quently occurs that the thing &C
colnplished is SO nanifestily just,
right and desirable that opposi.
ton ceases and the accomplished
fact is accepted by every one.
In the work Of moral reform
and of religious propaganda we
have right to expect the selec-
ton of the wisest and most eff
cisnt methods, for the leaders in
such matters are expected to ''be
wise as serpents, harmless as
doves" Such expectation is
usually forced into hurniliating
disappointment.
It should go without saying
that there is no considerable COM
1nunity in which there is not a
clean, will defined, courageous,
purposeful and high moral senti-
ment. Neither is there any such
community where any are devoid
of religious teaching and church
privileges. The religious life Of
such communities embraces the
majority-touches every one.
Such communities have all the
organized forces of advancement,
and by a process of evolution, of
steady, healthful growth and de-
ve1opment are bound to reach
higher and yet higher planes of
thought and purpose. This is
the natural, sensible and efficient
method, especially in communi-
ties where there is no "submerg-
ed tenth" The people of such
communities usually understand
their condition, their necessities,
their possibilities. they feel
equal to any right and needed
action.
1t may be, usually is that in
the community there are a few
who forget that "Rome was not
built in a day." They see a
certain end which must be reach.
ed at once. They are too itnpa-
tient, too emotional it may be tc
reason as to methods. They are
strangers to close, analytical
thought on any subject, hence
adopt crude, imperfect, mischie.
vous methods.
1t not unfrequently transpires
that these impracticables come
into community where they are
entire strangers. They know
nothing of the thought, life, pur
poses and condition of the peo.
pie; yet before they can find thei,
way around the nearest BLOCK
they are declairning against tht
laws, the morals and the religious
life of the people. Public off
GERS are 1naligned, good, repu
table, honest citizens are abused
and the mass of the people spokei
of as being without any higl
moral perceptions or righteou
purposes. It matters not whethe
this is done by home or by i'm.
ported "talent'' OF by dazzling
combination of the two, the re
suit is the same. Many goot
people are grieved, some angered
all disgusted, and harm rathe
than good is done.
Moral advancement is no
made as line of attackip,
soldiers carry an enemy's Ell
trenchments by series O
"rushes," but by slow, careful
guarded, persistant approaches
Most communities rely upol
their own we'll chosen, CAREFUL
fitted agencies for moral develop
ment. Their work endures fo
it is symmetrically builded O
solid foundations. 1t is directe
upon individuals rather than upo
masses. 1t thus builds up
steady, sturdy, efficient publ
sentiment on all moral question:
Spasmodic efforts. never do thi:
These at best are but waste
energy. Emotional moralit
never outgrows its swaddlin
clothes. Appeals to the reasos
the judgment, the intelligene
and se1f-respect Of men will carr
them some distance to-day an