Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-01-22
GOOD AND BAD
The Question of Carlyle-The Great
Changes that Have Come to Pass
in The Business World-The Poll
tical World-The Church ~ Bacon
and Tennyson as They Saw IT.
Modern Philosophy.
By w. T. Williams.

part of his lasting endowment to the
children of men, this question: "Hast
thou reflected, o serious reader, Ad-
vanced Liberal or other, that the one
end, essence, and use of all religion,
past, present, and to come, is to re-
mind US of this only, Of the quite in
finite difference between a good man
and a bad?" It is needless to say
that these words are pregnant with
strong and solid reason, because, we
can readily perceive that they strike
the bottom rock of all things pertain
ing to our well-being in the world. The
Scotch prophet has fixed his feet up
on the one, immovable foundation of
all religions, all ethics, all morals.
There is no other to be found, and if
we accept this one we have gone very
far in understanding the beginning of
good citizenship and nobility. If our
motives are what they ought to be,
there is no other ground on which we
can stand. This is all-inclusive, the
very cause Of all wholesome efforts
and sufferings.
We are laboring under the impress
sion that this idea has forced itself
to the forefront in these days, es-
pecially in this Home of the Brave,
where we dwell. 1t seems to have
takena deeper root, making itself more
deeply felt. At least, even though we
have not lived many years, yet, we
have noticed that certain things which
were held to be right yesterday are
held to be wrong today. Certain
things which were regarded as useful
yesterday are placed under a ban to-
day. Certain things which were per-
missible yesterday are held in disre-
pute today. Surely this idea has pierre
ed every avenue Not one has been
passed, and unless every indication is
misleading, it is proving the strength
of its efficacy beyond the faintest
shadow of doubt. It has practically
remodeled the ways of our lives.
The business world has been re-
established during the small number
of years we have lived. We are not
straining the faculties of our memoir
les when we say that we remember the
time when it was immensely cruder
and coarser than it is today. We have
discovered that, the business ms- is
a mightier factor in our make-w than
We WCLc WOIlt W DCl1cVCs W. UdVS
found out to our satisfaction that his
influence for good can be exceeding
ly great, and it is SO, because he him
self has realized that the value of his
citizenship is not any more measured
by what he imbibes from communi-
tv. but rather by what he lives into ii
What he enfolds is not the standard
bv which his character is weighed in
this period, but by what he unfolds.
The political world too has been re-
fined by the raging fires of the same
power-public opinion. The body poll
tic has become saner, and its require
ments are more in keeping with the
best desires of the soul. It is striking
today, blow on blow, at the sources
of putrefaction. 1t has concluded af.
ter many years of fight and debate
that environment has more to do with
the building of character than il
thought a short while since. Oul
civilization has become more complex
ad the politician has been impressed
profoundly with the fact. The rude
and profane politician has lived his
season. He has gone through the day
of his judgment, never to return. Il
is expected of our governmental ser
wants now that they are honest ant
sincere. Very seldom their ability ant
mental attainments are considered IL
this generation. These are taken fol
granted. But, what kind of man il
he? is asked on all hands. This prov
es volumes.
The Church in like manner has beel
obliged to put aside her masks ant
show her face in the spacious ant
grand out-of-doors of the Most Higl
She cannot hide herself any longer ans
live, and those who try to keep he
concealed behind anything false, shal
be swept from off their feet as witt
a torrent. We have discovered tina
sunlight is great disinfectant. It
rays are healthful and cleansing
Something has whispered in our ear
that the church was not appointed T.
be on the defense. Convictions whicl
are worth while are of necessity ag
gressive and militant. A genuine fait
cannot be idle. It is contrary to tn
nature of sincere belief to fold it
arms. It is a worker out of seaso
as well as in season. "Truth is q
heart intolerant," we have been tolt
knowing itself, with fierce certain
ty, to be unspeakably better than el
ror." We are fearless in this age, an
we have ventured to turn the world u
side down. Our plows with their stou
and unbreakable snouts have penetrat
ed rynook. Old traditions have bee
ripped apart mercilessly and torn
tatters. Our sensibilities have bee
shocked before breakfast thousan
times. The parochial teapot has bee
stirred to its bottoms. The giant evil
of the hour have been made to fe,
that something has happened anon
the pious. They realize as they neve
did before that the fibres Of their SOU
have been stiffened. 1t appears as
the citizens of Zion have resolved M
to rest until they can of truth say
40 beautiful my country, ours ont
more,
What were our lives without thee?
What all our lives to save thee?
We reck not what we give thee!
We will not dare to doubt thee;
But ask whatever else, and we w
dare!"
These are radical changes, and sin
they have come to pass during the
latter years, the question is: VIII
has made them possible? Bacon h
taught that little knowledge ben
men to atheism, but. deeper goinl
bring them about to religion. The
words are significant. Keep them
mind. And who has not read the fl
lowing verse in Tennyson's "In Mer
oriam?"
"Hold thou the good; define it we'll;
For fear divine Philosophy
Should push beyond her mark, and
Procuress to the Lords of He'll"
The cause of all troubles Bacon u
derstood, and inasmuch as our goin
have been deeper we have become S
in our determination to elimina
them. Tennyson understood VIII
made his age superficial and indiffe
ent. but deeper goings have ma
philosophy humble and reverent. He
mann has well affirmed: "From MAJ
quarters joyous optimists are decla
ing that the long-looked-for go
time has all but actually come. Z
vasfafinO rnatarialisrn and arid inf