The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-15

should in some humble degree resemble the
movements Of the mighty forces or nature
that go on forever without haste and with
out rest But there more potent infiu-
ences than statutes and TO these / wish TO
direct special attention. There is rapidly
developing IN modern society a sentiment
that no man cares 10 wholly disregard
which requires that one be something more
than rich before he IS honOred or envied
It NAV not as yet be disgrace TO die rfch
but It is already dsreputable TO make such
an end the chief object Of living. 1t is no
longer enough that the decorator or the ca
terer. can be given carte blanche. The taste.
culture and refinement OF the host or most
ess must dominate all. The man who buys
such books as will fit his shelves cuts fig
ure only in the humorous columns of the
York is a man Of large wealth but NOBODY
thinks of that. Besides his magnificent
personality a mere heap of gold is unno-
ticed.
ION every hand evidence accumulates
that wealth is recognizing more and more
its true value and its real obligations. An
drew Carnegie living and Cecil Rhodes
dead represent most nobly the spirit of the
times. In many large organizations liberal
wages, pensions, provisions for accident
and old age declare the management to be
in the hands of kindly and broad-minded
men. In spite Of all the noisy denunciation
of large enterprises, it is probably better
fortune to-day TO be an employe Of the
Pennsylvania Company than or one that
might operate railroad connecting Darr-
town ana GaOQN 5 nun. Anu IL d SAAohS
man, filed with a sincere desire to be use
full to his fellow-men, were given choice or
the presidency of two such railroads, he
would not hesitate as to which afforded the
better opportunity. 1t is also inspiring to
note that the number of our people VINO
can distinguish the charlatan from the
statesman, when subjects such as we are
considering are being discussed, Is con-
stanty growing.
CITIZENS AND POLITICS.
I'm a democracy after the duties grow
ing out of mere personal relations, the
great business of every citizen should be
politics Not politics in the ignoble mean
ing Of modern times but in the honorable
sense of the ancient Greek whence the
word comes. Once ii meant one interested
in the welfare Of the city, now it too often
means one interested in his own welfare
at the expense Of the city. To the consid-
Grafton of ali questions likely to embitter
classes, should be brought good temper,
breadth Of vision and steady courage-cour-
age of the kind described in the noble
definition Of Macbeth dare do all that
may become man, who dares do more is
none
Against the clamor of pessimists I con-
fdently believe that there has been ana
now is a steady growth in civic virtue Not
only so, but the strife of the world even IN
it's more brutal forms has been tempered
and softened. Such terms as Great Brltain
has just granted in South Africa would
have been impossible at the close OF Ma
poleonie and the magnificent conduct
of the United States in Cuba is beyond the
imagination of a Caesar. In the inevitable
conflicts of the commercial world may we
not hope that men will be more and more
inclined to reason together and that all will
insist that while the rivalry may be keen.
yet it must be manly and kindly. After all
the form of government and the methods
of life under it must depend upon the char-
acter of the units of population.
Public law and private life are or must
soon become the expression Of the compos-
lite intelligence and conscience or the whole
people. Each year our schools, great ana
small send forth an army such as has never
been seen In any other period of the worlds
history, each individual qualified In greater
or less degree to discern the true, AVOID the
false and live a rational human life. The
effect is being felt and must increase.
Strife, dogmatism. ignorance and unen-
lightened selfshnesS must and will be mod
Grated and diminished and this world be-
come each year a better place to live In
and possibly a better place to go from.
But we must not forget for moment
that whatever masses and combinations
may accomplish the initiative Is still with
the Individual He is the unit of force. He
must keep loyal to high ideals
OLD WOODEN NAVY.
1.-THE grand old wooden navy splen-
didly commanded and was of the best New
England oak but its strength was not in
it's commanders or it's timbers. 1t was
manned Dy S6dn6n GlOuCSSbCA dAN
Nantucket and many another famous school
for American sailors. When the hurricane
shrieked through the cordage and the roll
ing pillows seemed to touch the hurrying
clouds they could reef the top gallant sail
at midnight and with sinews of iron hold
the prov against the wind and make 1or
the. open sea. They were such men as hard-
ly needed to hear the heroic Lawrence say,
Don't give up the ship.
80 the strength of the ship Of state is
not in leaders nor yet In the tlmbers,
though selected and adjusted by the fathers.
It's safety is in the hands of the multitude
of living men who charged each day
with it's navigation. Constitutions and laws,
however excellent, are but words gov
eminent of the people, by the people and
for the people is every hour a thing of the
street and market place.
ut is living, growing and developing.
New conditions are constantly being
The life of each day must be determined
by living men. AS we travel on We shall
hear much clamor, supposed by earnest
people now of one class and now of an
other, to be in the interest Of the public
welfare, and all who exclaim 10 herei and
10 therei will be found marching under the
banners of Reform.
calm judgment, clear vision and stout hearts
will still walk the deck of the ship of state
and despite clamor, storm and stress hold
it firmly TO it's true course; and in the con-
f1icts and difficulties of peaceful life not
less than in those Of may all hear not |
only on great days like Trafalgar but every
day a paraphrase of the stirring call of
Lord Nelson. America expects every man
to do his duty