The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-11-09
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER ,. 100.
SECOND CLASS COOP woaks.

9LNflfNG ~ FNN.f - - ~ - '~'
How much of hat which we tera
good and noble comes frora impulse
or IS deliberately done in response t
the dictntes Of conscience" HOY
much Of Il esponds merely to conven
tion. custom or example oris inspire.
by fear' On the other hand, hov
much Of evil is there sheltered in oDc
dience to The eleventh command
ment@"
No one can make positive answel
to anv Of these questions TO tn
third. especially is no answer save
pure speculation possible. There arr
circumstances. however. which strong
~ indicate that the doing OF good IS
not always earnest cf exalted motive
as indeed the commission of evil is net
certain proof Of base purpose. Indu
Oitabie evidence is apparent on every
hand that a considerable proportion
Of humanity has ever .uppermost in
mind thoughts Of what others may
think concerning it and desire supreme
always 10 do the correct thing"
Fortunately since we are optimistic
enough To believe the majority OF hut
mankind stilI fairly good. the consid-
eratiens which we mention operate
benefcially to the mass of humanity,
and wc cen therefore say, although
orthodox It may act be. that 1t Is bet
ter to do good With no higher motive
than 10 retain or attain semblance OF
respectability than not to do good &c
all
"rhey say Of course, mas done
much harm IN this world Many an
innocent man on women has hecn made
TO suffer greatly because of he TOO
ready tongue Of those quick 10 start
or believe evl report But Who can
deny that they say Is entitled -
some credit on the other side, even
though we esteem It not positive vic
tue7 Who eau deny tho powerful IN
nuencs to restrain from eyil exerci1.
ed by thousEt OF the conventions. Gus
toms or public OF neiehhorly opinion
Johnny Is told that he must not
steal old man Browns aFnles. pecaus
the down VIII ger hia and the neigh
oors win think he's bad boy Sissy
Is admonished 20 tell the truth. be
cause If she lies she win be unlady
like. and r'Nhat do Won suppose tho
neighborS will say?" Mamma efrains
from indpleenoe in cigarettos because
eonhdentMlly, she admits such indulg
ence is considered bad form by Il,
polite Sc. IN which she trains. Daddy
refrains from taking an urfalr Gdvani
age In a Nade. because in the long
run It might injure his reputation IN
not all such cases are the motives al
mitted nor IL all realized We all
like TO hink that our acts which are
in themselves commendaIle were
prompted by lony motives, Yer Sei
all know tha' the line of demarcation
between saint and sinner hero and
coward foe ami philosopher. is of.
tln,es very slender A young lady Is
insulted. Her es'on NAV not care for
her little bit He nay even believe
the insulting remark true. Stin he
must resent il. because society says
that rs the correct tiing" TO 10. and
ne shrihks from the thought of popu-
lar criticism If the correct thing" be
not done So he wadts IN, admins
ters corporal punishment to the insult
er and IS Tublioly acclaimed noble ami
gallant lpronounce Il either way, ac-
cording 20 ;astel
II is anndantly in evidence that
men who have contemplated embez-
ziomept have been restrained by fear
OF detection. Some Of then, have lived
10 be distinguished as watch dogs.
Even some Of our war horses" II the
truth be known. wcrc on The point Of
running, when they were forced TO the
night wherein they achieved glory
Proofs might te multiplied, hut are un-
necessary.
We so not say that The good deeds
which are not inspired ~ conscience
are an nyiocriiical )r base. On the
contrary, We believe them more often
sincere than otherwise and as we
have already minated, we believe q
better "a dl sool from second class
motive than net 70 DO ecoc at all.
Nor should one be fouad questioning
~ reaecth upon tho motives which
prompt an good works. Ne are CON
yincod tnaf much of lhe good done Ia
= -. -. s...,.. the. r.,... Hill.