The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1902-05-30

tells of greater riches and power
calls up images OF royal banquets
and noble titles, stirs the soul
with glories of battle
and the triumphs of war. This
peaceful life is transformed into one
of excitement and disquiet The
unsuspecting heart of the listener is
captive. Blennerhassett is shared in
ambitions tolls. Aaron Burr had
turned this Heaven OF love in to a
He'll of discomfort; for what? He led
this man to devote his money to
base and ignoble cause, for what?
He drove the lovely mistress from
that palace to leave her an outcast, at
midnght,..upon the desolate ruins of a
former home, for what? To crafty
ambition incarnate. Napoleon may
conquer Europe; Aaron Burr shall
rule the western world. He will forget
Quebec and Monmouth, and place
upon his own brow the monarch's
crown. From the scene of murder
he fees to become a traitor to coun-
try.
The chronicles of Greece or the an
nails of Rome record no more tragic
example of fallen greatness. Aaron
Burr, heroic, marshals troops, plans
battles, supports Arnold. aids Wash
ington; Aaron Burr, passionate, re-
jects principle, kills Hamilton, Sc
duces innocence, corrupts Blenner
hassett. Burr, the politician, thrills
a senate, denounces despotism, in
= spires multitudes, competes for the
supreme honor in democracy; Burr,
: the traitor, succumbs to lust of
power, deceives friends, plots his
country's downfall, sinks into
> ignominy, the victim of selfish am
bition.
This reign of passion has ever been
a foe to society and "a menace to
= government. Supreme in the hearts
{ of enemies, it cast John Bunyan into
8 prison, burned Savonarola at the
{ stake, and nailed the Son of God to
! the cross. Supreme in the lives OF
men and nations, it engulfs them.
Through it Napolen seized the
II throne of France, hurled Europe intt
e chaos, but reaped an exiles' fate or
% the lonely shores of st. Helena
10 through it Benedict Arnold turned
y traitor, betrayed his country fol
IS English gold, but died a castaway il
10 a foreign land; by it Rome rose
~ flashed the splendor of her greatnes
~ across the world, but fell drenchet
III in blood; by it Venice reigned, sen
proud flotillas to the bounds of th
lg sea, but is now . stalking shadow OF
IN the border ground of history.
ne The evil that ruined Burr was no
ne born in the prime Of manhood bu
OF had its inception in the days G
py youth. when he rejected the Chris
us tians' bible and the Christians Goo
ID By this decision Aaron Burr dis
ne carded the basic element OF mora
III character. He renounced the cor
er trolling force that makes the heart
lllDOl VI NlIUuS. NlolSliU kItts
IN sion, rebukes lust, and guides amb
us tion. Rejecting the faith Of a Pau
at a Luther, he chose the hollow mocl
n, cries of Judas, a Nero. Castin
ne away all respect for God and hol
'se of immortality, he reached man
ne estate utterly devoid of moral sens
III Thus his vicious spirit was at res
OF less enmity with the ethical; falls
OF hood fought against truth, usurp;
an tion against justice, lust again
OF chastity, seltishness against altruisn
rlt Without a religious helm to b
OF ruling motive this man worshippe
1e- but one deity-self. Wrapping tt
an mantle of virtue about him, he ia
an cinated the innocent only to lea
m, them filched and destitute. He wou
n; fight for his country, when it brougl
on him power and pelf; he would d
OF stroy it, when it ceased to serve hir
YER He was leader at the bar, not in b
OF half of justice, but for sordid gai
eat he developed skill in politics, wi
IS no thought Of enriching his gener
tion with true principles of COVER
ect ment, but that his arm OF pow
su- might be felt in every city and ha,
ties let Of the land; he was fascinati
ted in private life, not to please and c
It's, tertain, not to instill higher sen
rth menus Of purity and honor, but til
not he might broaden his sphere of
a fluence and satisfy his licentiousne
the In public life he was a Talleyrar
to in private life Mark Antony.
yer But not all desire for leadersf
is ignoble or unjust. The princi]
CHI Of altruism is the groundwork Of
but legitimate ambi tion. 1t is the spi
Z. of love working in all the relations
and society 1t wages war, relentl
ard and internecine, upon seltishne
ing and abhors passion. 1t anima
1ers the statesman and scorns the den
18th gOgue: respects law and cruShes