The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-02-08

I've - III ia which nos /
meant good will to man and oppor-
tunity to all. seems to have been drift
ing away from what Americans have
loved and lived for, into the evil com
pany of the old world nations drunken
with their lust of conquest M love for
gold While knowledge grows. while
mans control over the forces of ma
ture increases the Individual seems to
be losing his hold on the principles
which underlie right life. The power
of preserving labor for high and I'M
selfish ends, the spirit of sacrifice and
devotion are, it is to be feared. dimin-
lshing.
We see men in public life, men Of
brains and ability, Of constructive
craftsmanship having within them the
Applause of listening senates to Com
MONS We see them forfeit and throw
away careers of usefulness because
they hold gold above position, and
whose material instincts crushed out
the ideals of their better natures. on
every hand we see the earnest. far
seeing. unselhsh publicist arrayed
against the sordid and the selfish warn
ing the world against the man whose
chief aim is material advancement
1'1 NY NCH0 ~
stroyed because of low aim of men
content with the immediate advantage
of private gain. In the public forum,
in law. in the professions. in almost
every walk of life the crying need of
the hour is that of loftier ideals, the
need of men whose aim 1t is not to
amass wealth so much as to make the
work in which they are for the time
being engaged an honor to themselves
and their memories. Act well your
part then all the honor Hes" And I
believe that which spells the difference
between congenial work and drudgery.
between happiness and disappointment
is wholly this, the difference in the OBJ
pest to be attained. If the young man
enters the law merely as a means of
amassing a fortune, whose aims are di-
rected only toward riches and who soon
adjusts his conscience and scruples to
accept or excus unprofessional con-
duct, rarely becomes a great lawyer
and misses the beauty, the satisfac-
ton, the happiness that comes to the
man who in the retirement of his
humble rooms studies and plans and
prepares. discovering more and more
the real pleasure in his work patiently
and honestly pursued
And let it be known in the world
wide conques for happiness sought by
the prince in purple and the peasant
in rags, amid luxury and wealth, amid
~avarice and ambition, on the field of
battle and in the courts of splendor,
real lasting happiness is enjoyed only
by the person engaged In eongenial
employment of sufficient strength TO
master his work at a fair reward. Here
and here alone are the real idealists;
here is at last contenment; here is the
man the envy of the Gods.
Look at the history OF the world, the
great political highways are strewn
with the graves of men who, ignoring
the stars followed the false. alluring
lights of wealth and ignoble ambition
which lead always to disappointment
and generally to despair.
You may say that from a theoretical
standpoint 1t is a nice sentiment. but
out of place in his age. That the nan
of ideals may look well on paper as
it were, but when applied and tested
in the practical Affairs of everyday
life he would be hopelessly incongru-
Gus.
A few years ago the people of this
country were amazed at the exposures
Of certain life insurance companies. To
their affairs modern progressive meth
DDS had been applied with a vengeance.
All over the country were the people
; who knew not when the day would
| come that the savings of a lifetime,
) the security of wife and children after
5 the grave had closed over them would
!, be swept away. Some drastic methods
: were necessary, some Investigations
( uninfiuenced by threat or promise i'm
: perative, and the people Of the coun-
| try awaited a~nxiously the advent of
such a man for so important a task.
And the man came. Unknown to most
of us. Hitherto he had filled no noisy
+, place in the affairs of men. Retiring,
| studious, a dreamer some said, but
Charles E. Hughes was a nan of ideals
lofty ideals, and he carried his ideal
ism into this work of reeking with dis
4 honesty, corruption and graft. And the
5, people knew and understood. Ami
ii mated by the best and highest motives
E Mr.. Hughes. the idealist, succeeded
: even where the practical obviously
. doubted. His sincerity and singleness
! of purpose were quickly rewarded
e Flouted by the politicians, scorned and
detested and denounced by what seems
to be styled the business interests
j Governor Hughes. with the trust of the
people behind him. stands triumphant
$ ly today. a splendid example of the
e idealist in his profession and in pol
tiles.
$ And lest it be said hat this is only
c a still place in the water that the great
I current is running the other way, let
US look again. A few years age a mar
I assembled to the exalted position Of
p president of the United States. 1t wa:
T a time of general prosperity. A perioC
e when In certain circles, at least, ar
empty pocket was the worst OF crime:
And in the name of business, prosperity
: and progress selfish interests held higl
[ carnival. The country satlated Will
Astounding wealth rocked not of the flu.
e ture. This man had peculiar ideas O
8 honesty and integrity and courageous
g " maintained them. To a people singu
$ larly Indifferent to their own right
and pr~erogatives he appeared. as i
s were. TO ostrenuous. II was no veal
ling's task to arouse public conscienc,
and educate public sentiment, but tn,
q great heartbeats of the people are at
tuned to honesty, patriotism and loft,