The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1902-04-03
II Short Chapter on First Principles.
Paper Read Before the chu,.tauquo circle

Paper Read Before the ClraaaduQua Circle.
TT is impossible to conceive the idea
of man except as union of three
natures in one, viz: The physical.
intellectual and moral; and they
blend on invisible lines. The appetites,
passions and instincts and the emotional
and moral ralsusceptibilitiesa are essentially
parts of the hereditary endowments of
the race. Like the faculties of the in
tellect, they may differ in degree, but
are found to some extent in every nor
NAL human being Most of the pro-
pensities, appetites and instincts are
branches of two, which are funda-
mental-the instinct Of self-preserva-
-tion and the impulse upon which the
perpetuation of the human race de-
pends.
Hunger and thirst lead all men to
take of food and drink; the knowledge
gained by experience of the importance
of food leads to its accumulation. The
vicissitudes of heat and cold render
necessary shelter, clothing and modifi-
cations thereof. The pleasures to be
derived through the senses make both
comfort and luxury possible; while
nature has committed to the passions
the perpetuation of the race" and
anger raised by insult or assault
prepares the subject thereof for self
defense, while fear prompts speedy
escape from recognized danger.
Veneration, gratitude, benevolence
and paternal duty spring naturally
from the moral sentiments common to
mankind, and the universal sense of
the race regards those who are desti-
.ute of these qualities, or who under
The influence of selfshness resist them,
as moral monsters. Conscience, divid-
ing actions into right and wrong, sum-
mons reason to repress the excess of
passion and guide the instincts, to
moderate the appetites, and to direct
the conduct by those principles which
are accepted as binding.
A close observation of mankind finds
all races and all men essentially the
same. The generalization, however, is
of necessity so wide that logical
method cannot be closely followed; yet
considerations may be offered which
are equivalent in force to positive
proof. There is in all human beings a
predominant love of self, which may
take the form of pride, ambition, lust
of wealth or lust of power. And it
rules, ext ept as restrained by reason or
religion, in every human breast-the
1irst quality to manifest itself and the
last to die.
Macauley in his history of England
says: "One man goes without his din
ner that he may add one shilling to one
hundred thousand pounds; another
runs in debt to give balls and mas
auerades; another hazards his own life
to save that of an enemy; one volun-
teers on forlorn hope; another is
drummed out of his regiment for cow
ardice. Each of these men, no doubt
has acted from self-interest."
Akin to this is opposition to restraint
No vigorous nature was ever other.
wise than self-willed. Because man is
related to the whole external universe
through the senses, and because reason
and conscience unfold more slowly, al
men love sensuous ease and pleasure
and are given to sensuality where reason
and religion, through instruction, good
example and external environments
have neither diverted the attention
from the passions or made their gratifi
cation impossible.
An almost irradicable complacency
exists in human beings the world over
sometimes apparently, and only appar
emily, counteracted by difidence. Itt
most common form is vanity, and it il
usually accompanied by self deception
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