Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1904-01-23
FRANKLIN, THE INCARNATION OF
SENSE.

In his "reminiscences of an Astrono-
mer." Prof. Simon Newcomh distin-
cuisines the day of his birth into the
world of sweetness and light from that
of his advent into this vale OF bitter
ness and darkness. Benjamin Franklin
made his entrance into both spheres at
the same time, 1913 years ago.
For to him the world was always an
interesting and exhilarating place TO
live in, even when he was walking up
Chestnut street. Philadelphia. with a
loaf of bread under each arm, looking
for a job. The darker side of things
never weighed him down. With the
problem of evil he had little concern.
Perhaps the most striking thing
about Franklin's character was his
cor mon sense. This quality in him was
exalted to positive genius. His intel
lect so far predominated. he succeeded
TO such a degree in substituting sense
for sensiOility. that ii is with relief that
one finds in his Autobiography the
account of his impulsive contribution
against his better judgment to Whit
fields work while under the spell of the
great evangelist's oratory. He lived at
a time when colonial life was becoming
complex. when Industrial and political
development was forcing itself on pub
lie attention. To the new questions
constantly arising Franklin turned
himself with enthusiasm.
He worked out a code of virtues. be-
ginning with temperance and ending
with humility. every one of which he
justified with the most practical of rea-
sons. He was to be temperate because
overeating made one dull; he was to be
humble because arrogance diminished
his influence. In every department. of
life the practical was what interested
him. His Investigations in electricity
won his reputation as a scientist. Yet
it was his invention of the lightning rod
that chiefly attracted him In pushing
the paving and lighting of Philadel-
phia. in issuing the maxims of Poor
Richard, in conducting the colonial
postoffice department. in planning a
continental union. he was always act
uated by the ideal of adding tc the
comfort of his fellow men. The Frank
lin stove, which nearly doubled the eff
ficiency OF the fireplace by saving the
heat that formerly escaped through the
wide chimney throat, was typical of
the inventor.
But this unfailing reasonableness
"NN7 "CdhiiCSS DIS Wei his
strength. Lecky points to this defect
In his character when he speaks Of the
great mans busy, but somewhat pc
destrian, intellect" In truth the rnys-
teal, the imaginative side of life was
almost cut off from Franklin. The an
peal 10 strong passion. to heroic self
abnegation, made little impression on
his well balanced mind
It was by no accident that the choice
OF the writer Of the declaration of in
dependence did not fall on Franklin.
To secure from surrounding circum-
stances the greatest amount of COM
fort was his ideal This seemed to him
a problem sufficient to occupy any
mans energies. He had no interest in
other-worldliness. Although he was no
atheist he took practically Herbert
Spencer's view that the Unknown was
also the Unknowable. So long as he
did his best in this life he saw no oc-
casion to worry about the hereafter.
II must be admitted that he did his
best and that his countrymen are heav-
lily indebted to him. At the same time
this imitation in his outlook may pre-
vent them from agreeing with Matthew
Arnold that Franklin is the most con-
siderable" man whom America has
produced--Kansas City Star.