The Irish standard., 1917-09-29
MORAL BENEFITS OF THE WAR
Second Article.
(By Rev. James -Donahoe.)

War is a corrective of sefshness.
Let us give serious thought to selashness.. Let
try to understand the nature and gravity of this
moral defect that we may see its prehensve con-
nection with many other things that dwarf the
moral character and defile the soul.
All for self! This is the most demoralizing rule
of life adopted. The bne who lives only for
self and exerts himself solely for selfgratifcation
becomes the despised of God and should be dsdained
by all men. Where simon-pure selfshness perme
ates the character there cannot be developed one
virtue and there will probably flourish many vices
In the young selishness manifests itself in love
of ease aversion for work. disregard of responsible
ties, failure to perform flial duties, meanness to
parents and craving for a. good time. The selfish
contributes least to the home and yet demands
most. When his unreasonable demands are not
granted he proves himself base migrate and plants
dagger in the hearts of those to whom he owes
everything. The selfish daughter is constant
cause of worry to father and mother who know
that love of pleasure invites temptation and les
the power of resisting the seducer.
The selfish is not capable of apprecating
anything noble in his fellow citizens. Though
times he appears to live correctly his life is all
sham. Consider him as husband! It not
true admiration that prompted him to choose a
) life partner because he is unable to appreciate
good in others Neither it pure love that caused
him to lead her to the altar. He had in view his
own comfort and pleasures and his attitude towards
her during the tedious years is that of epicurian
towards his cook, householder towards his scrub
woman the sensualist towards his paramour.
Selfshness works it's most baneful effects the
character of woman. Where tenderness of heart
and unselfshness exists there is usually found
profuson of virtues that adorn the true Christian
character. When selfshness possesses woman her
heart becomes hardened, sympathy is chilled chart
ty fees and even love of childsen is efaced Love
of md fOrS uffo ma inn mos
the existence of the most beautiful trait in
fe-a true and tender mothers love- The marked
y selfish wife will not bring child into the world;
and should she find herself to be near mother
she will become criminal rather than have babe
of hers nestle at her bosom.
The selfish woman is unwilling to make
sacrifices. When the number of selfish people be-
comes great the country suffers in consequence.
The selfish individual abhorrs the thought of suf
fering, and when men needed to take up arms
in defense of their country the selfish remiss
in the performance of their duty The farther self
shness has eaten into the national moral fibre the
difficult it is to mobilize army large and
strong enough to overthrow the enemy.
In times of war sacrifices should be made by those
who remain at home we'll as those who attack
the foe. To carry vigorous and bring it
to successful conclusion men and money need
ed. Love of money-twin sister of sedshness-
stands in the way of securing the means necessary
to finance war. If avarice and greed could be
lessened considerably today country would be
correspondingly strengthened
Every fair.minded person admits there is
cess of selfshness among fellow citizens It is
quite easy to find greed among men who
sidered very important factors in the boosted