The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-03-13
"ON BOARD THE GOOD SHIP EARTH"
HERE
A,ne1 54-ALTRUISM THE PERFECTION OFSELF1SHNESS
BY HERBERT QUICK.

happy III II served Itself hgst. satisfy
It's desires in the easiest way open to it,
Human unselhshness to a higher plane and
took on steadier character than 1t seems to reach
In the animal world. because of the long infancy OF
the young human being. Parenthood made altruism
habit with men, while 1t remained only an occa-
sional passion with most animals Thus the family
was founded, and out Of the family grew the tribe
The helpless baby has been the great civzer of the
world 1t extended the passion for service beyond
the limits OF sex devotion 1t made brotherhood and
sisterhood fixed relation. 1t opened to the human
soul the unimaginable possibilities for happiness
found in the service OF others Still men sought
always to satisfy their in the easiest possible
way-but as altrusn, developed a sort Of want
arose--nothng less than the desire for the welfare
OF others
Unselfshness. therefore, is nothing but the salts
faction OF higher sort or sefshness. The instinct
for ii Is deeply rooted and fully developed in all men
No long period of development is necessary for
us towering as the ruling passion OF the Ty-
rants, criminals. monopoliss. arisocrats and all who
live on the labor OF others appeal the general good
as their for existence; and, in doing so,
they not only address themselves a universal In
stinc but they for themselves to themselves
In the only way that makes life toerabe to the
normal mind
There many who take as their guiding political
philosophy the creed that every man will his
own interest when he knows what 1t is. They
right-he Will; but his own interest lies In being
happy. And his happiness is every day and less
capable Of being satisfied with his prosperity
or the welfare OF his family Of the achievement
OF justice for his class Cassconsciousness Is good
thing. for 1T spreads wider field than did self
consciousness. sex-consciousness or family con-
seriousness tribe consciousness nation con-
scousness empire consciousness But 1t is still
narrow to satisfy the human SOUL and 1t does not
even satisfy those who preach It, Many Of them In
preaching class consciousness to the working people
step the limits Of their class that they
find greater happiness In serving the largest class
Selhshness is the universal rule of human conduct
and II attains its perfection In that wonderful now
erng-out which denies happiness to enlightened men
In the happiness OF all men. The type of mar
row selfshness found In the Hindu rajah who rides
on his elephant mad with pride through streets
filled with famshng people. and does not care. He
keeps his wealth for himself and carries collops Of
fat upon his TANKS while their bones prick from the
flesh. The higher type Is the man who would feel
such torture In the suerings Of others that he would
die II he did not "sell all he had and give to the
poor" Our millionaires now wrthng In agony
many Of them-at the poverty which they see. and
which many of them beginning to admit, they
cause. They begin to desire deliverance from the
body OF this death. The highest sehshness impels
They beginning to the profound wisdom In
that other old saying. Right wrongs man." They
are beginning to that when Jesus went to the
He did the only thing possible from the stand
point OF the highest selfshness-as anyone may
see II will try to imagine the Nazareues accept
ance OF life at the sacrifice Of His message TO the
world
Society moves irresistaby to its own perfection
through seshness raised to the plane OF altruism.
Through perfected society shall achieve eternal
social life Out Of the mud Of selnshness grows
Of atruism-
Editors Note--This article concludes tho Good
Ship Earth series The editor hopes that the journey
we have all taken together has been both interesting
and prontable)