East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-04-23

owes the state. The mans foremost
duty is owed to himself and family;
and he can do this duty only by earn
ing money, by providing what is es-
sential to material well-being; it is
only after this has been done that he
can hope to build higher super
structure on the solid material foun-
dation; IT is only after this has been
done that he can help in movements
for the general well-being. He must
pull his own weight first, and only
after this can his surplus strength be
OF use to the general public. 1t is not
good to excite that bitter laughter
which expresses contempt; and con-
tempt is what We feel for the being
whose enthusiasm to benefit mankind
is such that he is a burden to those
nearest him; who wishes to do great
things for humanity in the abstract,
but who cannot keep his wife in COM
fort or educate his children.
Anent the Millionaire.
Nevertheless while laying stress on
this point. while not merely acknowl-
edging but insisting upon the fact
lIdl lnOTe allluSl bC q beASAS Va
well-being for the individual as for
the nation, let us with equal empha-
sis insist that this material well-be-
ing represents nothing but the foun-
dation, though indispensable, is
worthless unless upon it is raised the
superstructure of a higher life. That
is why I decline to recognize the mere
multimillionaire. the man of mere
wealth, as an asset of value to any
country; and especially as not an as
set to my own country. If he has
earned or uses his wealtl. in a way
that makes him of real benefit, of
real use-and such is often the case
why, then he does become an asset
of worth. But it is the way in which
il has been earned or used, and not
the mere fact of wealth, that entities
him to the credit There is need in
business, as in most other forms of
human activity. of the great guiding
intelligences. Their places cannot be
supplied by any number of lesser in
telligences. 1t is a good thing that
they should have ample recognition,
ample reward. But we must not trans
fer our admiration to the reward in
stead of the deed rewarded; and If
what should be the reward exists
without the service having been rem
dered. then admiration will come only
from those who are mean of soul The
truth is that, after a certain measure
of tangible material success or reward
has been achieved, the question of in
creasing it becomes of constantly less
Importance compared TO other things
that can be done in life. 1t is a bad
thing for a nation to raise and to ad-
mire a false standard of success; and
there can be no falser standard than
that set by the deification of material
well-being in and for itself. The man
who for any cause for which he is
himself accountable, has failed to
support himself and those for whom
he is responsible ought to feel that
he has fallen lamentably short in his
prime duty. But the man who, hav-
ing far passed the limit of pro-
viding for the wants, both Of body
and mind, Of himself and of those de-
pending upon him, then piles up 6
great fortune for the acquisition ol
ItltllllOI VI MilCh Ilc ACNNl lAS llO wi
responding benefit to the nation as {
whole, should himself be made t.
feel that. so far from being a desir
able. he is an unworthy, citizen of tn
community; that he Is to be neithe
admired nor envied: that his right
thinking fellow-countrymen put hin
low In the scale Of citizenship, ant
leave him to be consoled by the ad
miration OF those whose level of pur
pose is even lower than his own.
The False Orator.
In fact. it is essential to good citi
Zzenship clearly to understand tina
there are certain qualities which W
in a democracy are prone to admir-
in and of themselves. which ough
by rights to be judged admirable o
the reverse solely from the standpoin
of the use made of them. Foremos
among these I should include tw
very distinct gifts-the gift of money
making and the gift of oratory. Mon
ey-making, the money touch, I hav
spoken of above. 1t Is a qualit
which in a moderate degree Is essen
tial. It may be useful when devel
oped to a very great degree, but onl
if accompanied and controlled by 9th
er qualities; and without such con
troll the possessor tends to develo
into one Of the least attractive type
produced by a modern industrial de
mocracy SO 1t is with the orator.
is highly desirable that a leader @
opinion in a democracy should be abl
to state his views clearly and con
Tincingly. But all that the oratory ca
do Of value to the community is t
enable the man thus to explain him
self; If ii enables the orator to per
suade his hearers to put false value
on things, il merely makes him
power for mischief. Some exceller
public servants have not the gift q
all, and must rely upon their deed
to speak for them; and unless the ora
tory does represent genuine convictio
based on good common sense an
able to be translated into efficier
performance, then the better the ore
tory the greater the damage to tn
public 1t deceives. Indeed 1t is sig
OF marked political weakness in an
commonwealth II the people tend
be carried away by mere oratory,