Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-12-02
THE CORVALLIS GAZETTE.
RIGHT IDEALS.

In the world Of literary fiction
there is a decided tendency TO
ideali>m. For more than gen
Grafton cur writers of fiction have
been presenting the realities OF
life. Often, too often indeed,
these, whether pictured from
high or low life, whether de-
lineating humanity as found in
= the abodes of wealth and culture
or as in the slums of poverty and
vice have been entirely too real
istic; they have become repuls-
i've, offensive. Vice and-immor-
ality have been presented to pub
lie view so forcibly, so realistical-
ly, that multitudes have conclud-
ed there is little of virtue, hon.
esty and integrity in humanity
in whatever walks of life we
seek them or whatever Claims
men and women make of being
actuated by them. All the high
est, best attributes of humanity
have been belittled, dragged
down into the mire of human
selfshness and depravity.
The baEeful influence of this
overdrawn, over-done realism
has been felt in our whole life,
social. religious and political,
and it is high time that our writ
ers of fiction present higher,
purer, nobler ideals of life and
living.
Without any effort in their be-
half the realities OF life, especially
of ignoble, vicious life are
enough obtrusive.
If men and women are to be
lifted up to a higher plane of
thought and life they must ever
have in view high ideals. No
man, no people not actuated by
high ideals ever made great ad-
vancement, for it is quite impos-
sible for men to pass beyond the
perfections of the ideals which
they entertain. This is true on
all sides and is equally apprecia-
bic to mans social, moral and
political life. The renascence
Of healthful idealisln in fiction
will elevate the social life of all
who come under the influence of
the Literature of fiction. The
morals of society will be improv-
ed and elevated by contact with
such literature.
1t is the glory, the constant
vitalizer of christianity, that it
presents to men for their emula-
ton the highest and most perfect
ideals for human endeavor, and
continually encourages the whole
race of men to aspire unto the
perfections of its sublime ideal, |
Nowhere across any of its path
ways may men dare to write
"Ne plus ultra
1t was most fortunate that the
men who achieved Our political
independence and fabricated our
form of government were men of
exalted ideals. With almost un-
erring wisdom they drew the
lines along which those most
wonderfully perfect ideals of hu-
man government may be realized.
When we have closely approxi-
mated their ideals we have al
ways found that the full realiza-
ton of them lay just little way
beyond, just at a little greater
height. At the same time we
have found that the practical
sense and wisdom of "the faith
ers" have marked out the path
ways we must follow to reach
hat further distance, to gain
hat greater height. {
This is the secret of our high
,iv;c attainments, the promise of
'ur carrying human government
Up to those higher planes where
We shall realize yet more fully
he perfections of the ideals held
~ our patriotic fathers.
1t is a patriotic duty that men
hould ever strive, on all ration
il and practical lines to reach
uch ideals. II
A political party guided and ]
ed by such men will always fol-
ow the principles and institute
he policies which will carry the
lation forward and upward with |
teady march, nearer and yet {
learer the realization of perfec-
ION in human government.