The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-01-04


$ a misplSce1 self-loye. They do not
snow how to keep their post simply:
md they complicate their lives, and
hose of others, by ridiculous exac
ions and unjust after-thoughts.
When one takes the pains to study
I V en- at close range, one is surprise
find that pride has its haunts
nong those whom we call humble,
such is the power of this vice that 1t
.ucceeds in forming around the lives
IF those who live in, the most modest
conditions thick wall, which isolates
hem from their neighbors. They arc
there intrenched, barricaded in their
ambitions and disdains. as unattaina
BILE as the powerful ones of the earth
behind their arlstocratic prejudices.
Obscure or illustrious, pride drapoS
itself in its sombro royalty of enmity
TO the human kind. II is the same in
It's misery and in its grandeur power
less and solitary, distrusting every
thing and compllcating everything.
And we can never repeat enough, that
If there Is so much hatred and hostili-
~ between the different classes, it is
less to the external fatalities than to
the inward fatality that we owe them.
The antagonism of interests and the
contrasts of situations dig bitches be-
tween us-no one can deny it-but
pride tranforms those bitches into
abysses, and in reality 1t is they only
who icry from one bank to the other,
There is nothing in common between
You and us"
We have not yet finished with
pride, but it is impossible to picture
1t under all of its forms. | blame it,
above all, when it NEEDLES with knowl-
edge and sterilizes it. We owe knowl-
edge, like riches and power, to our
fellow-beings. 1t is social force
which should serve-and it cannot, un.
less those who know remain in heart
near those who do not know. When
knowledge transforms itself into an
instrument Of ambition, 1t destroys 1t.
self.
What shall we say of the pride of
the good people for it exists, and
renders even virtue hateful. The just
who repent of the evil that others do,
live in a solidarity and in a social
truth. On the contrary, the just who
despise others for their faults and
their crookedness, intrench them
selves against humanity, and their.
qualities, descended to the rank of
vain ornament of their vanity, be-
come similar to those riches which
kindness does not inspire to that au-
thority which does not temper the
spirit of obedience. AS much as the
oh
prideful virtue is detestable. 1t gives
man features and an attitude that re-
veal, | know not what that is belllg-
erent. It's example drives us away
instead of drawing us to. them, and
those whom this virtue deigns to hon
or with its benefits feel as if they had
received blow.
Let us sum up and conclude.
1t isran error to think that our ad-
antages. whatever they are, should be
put TO the service of our vanity. Each
one of them constitutes for him who
enjoys it an obligation and not an
object for self-glorification The ma.
terial goods, power, knowledge, ami
the Qualities of the heart and mind
become as many causes of discord
when they serve to nourish pride.
They are only beneficent when they
remain subjects of modesty for those
who possess them. Let us be humble
If we possess much because that
proves that we are debtors. All that
man has he owes to some one, and
are we sure of being able to pay our
debts?
Let us be humble If we are vested
with some important function and II
we hold in our hands the fate of 9th
ers, for it is impossible that clear
seeing man does not feel himself un-
der such grave duties.
Let us be humble If we have many
acquaintances, for they serve US but
the better to authenticate the great
ness of the unknown, and to compare
the little that we have discovered by
ourselves with the mass of what we
owe to the pains of others.
In sum, let us be humble above all,
If We are virtuous, because no one can
better feel his defects than he who
has been drilled, and more than any
one he should feel the need of being
indulgent to others, and to suffer for
othCiO Nho uOlhS NiohB.
And what do you do with the neces-
sary distinctions?-some one may say.
With so much simplicity are you not
going to efface that sentiment of dis
tance which 1t Is necessary to main
tain for the proper working of So
ciety?
am not of the opinion that 1t
would be well to suppress the dis.
tances and distinctions. But | think
that what distinguishes man Is not
found in grade, in function, neither in
the uniform, nor'in the fortune, but in
him alone. More than any other epoch,
ours has torn away the vanity of
purely external things. To be some
one now it does not suffice any longer
to wear the mantle of an emperor or
a royal crown. What good would IL