The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-08-28

work and can avail only when applied in the right fashion. But after all this has been said, 1t remains true that the coun- tryman. the man on the farm more than any of our citizens today Is called upon continually to exercise the qualities which we like to think of as typical of the United States throughout its history. The qualities of rugged independence, masterful resolution and individual en- ergy and resoureefulness.
 After all we are one people, whether we live In the city or the country. In the West, East. North or South. A man. to be good citizen, must first be a good bread winner, good husband, good father-I hope the father of many healthy children-just as a woman's first duty is to be a good housewife and mother.
 ''The couple who bring up plenty healthy children who leave behind them many sons and daughters fitted in their turn to be good citizens-such couple emphatically deserves well of the State.
 But duty to ones self and ones fam fly does not exclude duty to ones neigh Dor. Each of us, rich or poor, can help his neighbor at times; and to do this he must be brought into touch with him in sympathy with him.
 Every one of us slips on some occa- sion and shame to his fellow who then refuses to stretch out the hand that should always be ready to help the man who stumbles. It is our duty to lift him up, but it also is our duty to remember that there is no earthly use in trying to carry him. If man would submit to being carried, that Is sufficient to show that he is not worth carrying. In the long run, the only kind of help that real ly avails is the help which teaches a k~ L1I. .s1 it is not only to possess the right kind of heart but also the right kind of head Hardness of heart is a dreadful quality but it is doubtful whether in the long run it works more damage than soft ness of heard.
 "The signs of virtue lie in mans ca pacity to care for what is outside him. self. The man who gives himself up to the services of his appetites, that man who the more goods he has the more he wants, has surrendered himself to de- struction. It makes little difference with him whether he achieves his purpose or not If his point of view is all wrong he is bad citizen whether he be rich or poor. It is a small matter to the com munity whether in arrogance and igno- rance he has misuscd great wealth or whether though poor, he is possessed by the mean and fierce desire to seize a morsel, the biggest possible of that prey which the fortunate of earth consume. The man who lives simply and honorably rich or poor, is a good citizen.
 'The misuse of property is one mani festation of the same evil which under changed conditions denies the right of pro perty because this right is in the hands of others. In a purely, material civilization, the bitterness of attack on others is only additional proof of the ex- tIacrdinary importance of being rigid as a. citizen. Poverty is held to be shameful and money. whether well or i'll gotten to stand for merit Now all this does not mean condemnation of progress. It is mere folly to try to dig up the dead past ard scant is the good that comes from asceticism and retirement from the world. But let us make sure that our progress is in the essentials as well as in the i'm cidentals. Material prosperity without the moral life toward righteousness means diminished capacity for happi- ness and a debased character"