New-York tribune., 1901-01-03
PROF. GRTGGs ON THE IDEAL STATE
ORGANIZATIONS FAIL. HE SAYS. BECAUSE
THE PERFECTION OF THE INDI-
vIDUAL IS OVERLOOKED

Edward Howard Griggss lecture yesterday in the
course which he is giving on Plato's philosophy
was the Ideal State" He said in part: If you
say that the voice of the people is the voice of
GOD. you are uttering one-haf truth. II you say
that the mob is always ignorant. always wrong
you speaking a half-truth. The whole truth
lies. not between these two. but including both.
When q great cause needs support the men and
of the very mob that seems so low Will
rise Unexpectedly aid it. All that is best is side
by side with all that is worst in humanity. and
the periods OF history in which men have fallen
10 their lowest have always been equally marked by
examples of loftiest virtue. as in the hahah
Renaissance.
The voice of the people is the voice OF Goo, out
the common thought must be clarified by those
capable OF uncommon thought In order properly
10 interpret It, must be able TO rise hAS"
TO sft IT, and get must be in intense sympathy VII"
n for the mob IS a union OF brute and spirit.
Considering Justice as the basis OF the indivduals
character, as well of the States. the lecturer
said that an average view OF lie is thal one must
live rightly, but only on the leVel OF ms Aei'o"
II trickery and deceit be used IN oFoef 10 gam
success then one must resort TO trickery' ot ne
viu NOT succeed THE supreme achievement OF
Injustice is TO be consistently and successfully un-
just yet bear the reputation OF oelng Just salo
the lecturer in reviewing the falaces in the arsu
ment OF those who disputing with socrates
'sThe only way 10 ascertain whether material sue
cess or abstract good is the more desirable is 70
compare the two modes Of life at the eho ana
see whether the Just or the unjust man has been
the HAMMER The punishment OF wrong is instan-
taneous 1t lies in the wrongdoers being wlat ne Is
Every thought makes its mark upon the character
ana IN the face It may not be understood out
n ts there Justice IS fe injustice is death Dante
evnrasses this view strongly when he teaches that
o,e NAV reach point OF moral degradation al
which. he ceases to live as and becomes oeast
or devil. a.. o
.ro construct an ideal society we must hrst con-
s+-7,c4 an ideal individual" said Mr.. Grtggs one
os the most ordinary fallacies is TO stop with the
-ors not the end. Organizations fail In just tnat
-esnect The idea is always, 70 perpetuate the
oreanization not 10 perfect the individual This Is
the case with religion with education; with every
forrn of organized effort. Unless kept huid' the
church or college becomes g dead wall OF Limitation
that should be torn down. The moment that lie Is
ont of an institution. better bury IT..
of the artisan part or the state the sPeahe5
-afd. .'The nation that makes its workmen and
Torkwomen real men and women Will succeed IN
merely hand or a brain. he has lost the capacity
for GOOD work and the State loses IN the emu II
tbose yho control the forces OF labor keep men
sf york on useless things they double the laDor
30 those who make the useful. In the time OF the
Erench Revolution fine ladies gave large orcers
Cor lace TO relieve the necessities of the poor But
that failed 10 cure Drugs may check the sy!nP-
toms and Increase the disease ana OF tnat ndtute
&c the tinkering legislation that Is the inteIy OF
democracy. The outcry against wealth ana pleas pleas
thing but we must study proportion and love the
hest thing best Honest pleasure ADDS 70 the poteh
tialties OF right living Money is stone 10 oul'o
With Neither is an end OF life.