Mexico Missouri message., 1910-06-16
The Dignity of
Human Nature

ease, and seldom finds 1t neces-
sary to have recourse to those stu
pendous exertions which excite the
fears, awaken the wonder, and elevate
the feelings Of men. Her unceasing
operations are continued from eternity
to eternity; and cannot be interrupted
by the repinings of fool or the
rawlings of a maniac. She is never
in haste; she never employs more
force than is necessary for the COM
pletion of her designs. 1t is only
when she meets with opposition from
the chaotic tendency of things, or the
stubborn inertia of matter, that she
arrays herself in terrors, and rises up
In majesty to confound the opposers
of her power.
1t is little therefore, that man,
whose duration is for a moment, can
expect to behold of the magnificent
connections of the universe; yet, of
such infinite Importance is he in his
own estimation, that he would have
nature turn actress and go through
her principal parts merely to soothe
that have risen into his brain. And
when he experiences any uneasiness
In his contemplate microcosm (Which
is said to be governed by laws in d.
rect opposition to the laws of the uni
verse;, his heart swells with rebellious
Indignation against the eternal estab-
hshment of things; he looks down
arNI orN n
horrence; he looks upward with an air
Of defiance; and, in a moment of dis
appointed ambition, this redoubtable
Samson would take hold of the pillars
Of heaven and bury himself in the
ruins of the universe!
Mans Comparative Unimportanee.
Proud insect! Thy rage proves the
truth of the proverb, inest ct formicoe
bills; thy pleasures and thy pains,
thy sorrows and thy joys, thy hatred
and thy love, thy existence and thy
nonexistence, are of equal Importance,
in the empire Of nature, with the
troubles experienced by an ant in
rolling her burden.
Who talks of the dignity Of human
nature? Man himself He is the lord
of nature; the earth was created for
his use, and the heavens for his
amusement. Comets appear predicting
revolutions in kingdoms, and armies
are marshaled in the skies pretending
the destruction of cities.
We have extracted the following
variable TrOrf1 fhn fhird hnnly AR lido
the Seer:
In those days there stood an ant
hill in the valley of Hobah. And 1t
came to pass, that on the first day of
the week, in the sixth month, and on
the sixth day Of the month, the inhab-
itants of the ant-hill assembled to-
gether to hold solemn feast in the
presence of their god. The ants de-
sisted from their labors, and having
purified themselves according to the
law Of their fathers, they prepared to
celebrate with Joy and gladness of
heart, the anniversary which was kept
In honor of the day when their empire
was established in the valley of
Hobah. But, 10! at the time of offer.
ing up the morning sacrifice, a whirl-
wind passed over the plain; and after
the wirlwind, there were thunderings;
and after the thunderings, there was
an earthquake; and the ants were sore
afraid and prayed with q loud voice,
and cast ashes on their heads saying
Woe unto us, what have we done,
that the anger of our god is kindled
against us?
The Wisdom Of Basha.
Then stood up Basha. the son OF
Bama, in the midst of the congrega.
ton, and spake unto the multitude,
saying: Give ear, o We ants, to the
words of my mouth and lay up my
counsels in your hearts. Ye know
that I have given my days to study
and my nights to contemplation; that
have discovered the nature of the
armament and considered the course
of the stars. Therefore, o We citizens
of Hobah, and inhabitants of the ant.
hill, attend to the dictates Of wisdom,
When your fathers settled in this val.
ley they were little band, miserable
and poor; but now We are become as
the sand on the sea-shore, or as the
stars Of heaven, which cannot be mum.
bered. But ye have waxed proud, and
have forgotten the precepts of the
law. Know We not that our fathers
have told us that we should push our
burdens before us, and not drag them
after us according to the manner Of
the heather. Yet, notwithstanding this
o ye ants, have seen you turn your
hinder parts to the temple of our god
as we assembled this holy mountain
which was given to our fathers; there
fore the heavens are troubled; there