The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-06-13
REGNANT COMMERCIALISM
The Men of the Present Fail Short
of the Stature Of the Olden
Time

of the Stature Of the Older
Time.
The literary address at the com.
mencemcnt of Converse College was
made by DIR. S. Nj. Smith, of Columbia
and was the great event of the day
Dr. Smith had not reduced his remarks
to writing, and did not have even an
outline Of the address on paper, but
the following summary will give some
idea of the line of thought pursued.
The speaker began with some re-
mark reminiscent of visit ten years
before, when he came to deliver the
address at the first commencement OF
the college. COnyratuatinT both the
town and the college OH the great adj
vance made during the ten years in-
terval, he introduced his address by Il
conversation had in q train going west
few days before, when thoughtful
man asked the speaker whether or not
he thought the men of the present day
in the various callings OF life measured
up to the standard of the former gen
Grafton.
Starting with this question, the speak
cr said with all regard to the natural
tendency to glorify the past at The cN-
pens" Of the present and having also
due reference TO the ycncr, elevation
of average intelligence and ability, he
felt nevertheless constrained TO the
Judgment that the men If the present
in all departments Of activity fell short
OF the stature of the Olden time. That
With here and there Il few exceptions
the eadcrs in politics., press, pulpit,
law; and medicine were not equal TO
those of the generation passed and still
passing. That the dominance of per-
sonal influence seemed going; men like
The Mattcrhorn lifting themselves far
beyond the level plain of humanity
and catching on their lofty browS the
morning Of each new advance long ere
1t touched the vale; or standing llkc
weather signals among the peaks prog
nostlcating the imminent storm Of her
aiding coming calm to those who
had long studied the sky about their
SUBMITS. That such prc-cmimcnt men
seemed growing fewer year by year
The reasons for this decrease might
be manifold. Among others he would
mention first Of all Il rcynanl com
mcrciaism. The great prosperity uf
the country was the theme for cveIy
tongue: the aggregate Of increasing
wealth was beyond intelligent, adc-
quatc appreciation. Wealth grows so
fast that the country is dominated by
its Influence j" every department Of
life and every phase Of activity. False
ideals arc set up and standards prevail
which must rule out that type Of per-
sonal greatness TO which reference has
been made. a supr"mcly commercial
people can never be a truly great pco-
pie. The man who deems the end Of
his life the mere making of money can
make nothing else. This spirit con-
vcrts politics into Il trade, makes pa
triotlsm Il matter Of bargain and sale,
prostitutes the press to pccunlary adj
vantage, and contaminates even in The
pulpit and dcsCcratcs the sacred Office
oi INN vino undertakes 10 speak for
God.
More than this; it inslils and cult
Yates Il spirit OF selfish indulgence and
personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT which cuts
up real greatness by the very roots,
since the trucst religion and the pro-
foulIdcst philosophy unite in declaring
that he who would be the greatest OF
all let him be the servant of ALL
" III fares the land to Fastening ills 4
prey,
Where wealth accumulates and men de
cay.
The second reason for the decline Of
such men was to be found in the pre-
ciptatc haste to accomplish The ends
OF life. This leads to the discount Of
slow, careful, thorough preparation for
lifc's work Men are impatient Of the
drudgcry involved in faithful thor
oughncss. There used to be time
when liberal education and broad
culture were deemed essential prcreq-
uistcs in all calings. Then there
came sad period when men had
neither the means nor the leisure for
such culture. Under this dire stress
they were compelled to cntcr life well
or Ill prepared and do their best
under the circumstances. With heroic
courage and indomlLablc energy they
fought lifc's battle to victory. I'm
fortunately their success reacted for
quite while and other men more for.
tunatcly situated than they, misinlcr-
pretcd the lesson of their noble hero
ism and discounted the importance of
thorough preparation and it became
common to crowd into the various pro-
fessions and Ceilings by short cuts.
The laws Ct mechanics teach us
that the height OF any structure bears
constant proportion to the breadth
of its base. No short cut ever leads
to any destination really worth reach
ing.
Lives OF towering influence need
broad based foundations, such as must
be laid in patient, faithful thorough
ness that bears the yoke in its youth
that it may wear the crown in rlpcr
years.
Alas that men should be III such
prccipitate haste III the telescope
range and tclcgraphlc speed Of Amer
ican enterprise and effort in our mod
Grn days. There is no calling or bust
ness in life that docs not suffer from
this disposition and tendency. No
man under the influence Of it can
ever reach his highest and best develop