Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-01-26
AMBITION.

Every man has motive for what he does. We
all understand this Therefore looking eter-
nally for mems motives.
In a vast majority OF cases these motives are
selfish. Therefore we looking always for sell
fish motives.
This fact makes US cynical and unjust. We
come to question the goodness of the motives Of all
men on all occasions. The doer of good deeds with
unsefish motives is likely to become discouraged
when he ia forever doubted and to stop his efforts
Self-defense will not permit us to cease putting
a question mark after mems acts. We would be
childke in our confidence but for this. and would
be easy marks for the designing None the less.
We should have the good sense to recognize good
motives when they are patent and not strain our
selves to find evil selfish motive which does
not exist.
All our acts have selfish motives in the strict
sense of the word But there is enlightened
well as a benighted selfshness The missionary
who breaches the gospel to heather nations with
out pay does 1t for selfish He has
science which will not be denied and a satisfaction
in the service rendered which gives him joy.
clear conscience and Joy in living reasons
enough for a mans conduct. Why seek any other
reason?
Two aspire to office. One seeks the office
for the emoluments. the power and the "clapping
OF chapped hands" We seem to understand such
motives without difficulty The other seeks the
office in order to lead fight for great principle
of unmeasured value to the people. We seem to
fail to sense his reasoning process and cannot
the enlightened selfshness which guides him.
The first is the almost forgotten Stephen
A. Douglas, sacrificing principle to expediency and
winning for the moment The latter is Abraham
Lincoln, losing momentarily because the people had
not yet sensed the issue, but living in history and
growing into a commanding figure de-
cades pass.
Both were ambitious; both sought personal ad
vantage But one sought 1t with himself in mind
The other sought it through service to his people
Which the wiser man? Who achieved the
greater place for himself in the end?
We could name men who have been honored
with high offite in New Mexico who have sought
only immediate personal advantage. 1t will not be
necessary for the grave to close over them before
they forgotten They not enshrined in the
hearts of the people. Their motives and ambitions
are 80 obvious that we easily recognize and under
stand them Yet how vain it all Is! The momentary
strutting in the center of the stage-and then
oblivion.
The scientist who helps other men to make two
blades of grass grow where one blade grew be-
fore; the fnancier who dots mesas with the herds
of other men; the evangelist who breaches the
gospel of righteous lives; the plain man who seeks
to lead a people to ideals Of justice and equity
these have trouble to understand
We give a dime that a smile may chase the
wstful look from the face of a child. The thrill
of joy receive makes us understand the nature
of our recompense Yet the woman who
gives all his time to the multiplied Joy of service
puzzles
The man who look back at the end of life
and see people made more prosperous and con-
tented because of his efforts; the man who feels
that he leaves behind him. as he goes on out into
the darkness, a world made little better for his
having lived in it, carries something worth while
with him. To be helpful friend with a little
corner in the hearts of many simple folks, ought to
bring expression of satisfaction to a dying face
Why is 1t so hard to understand such ambitions
and motives? We all know that dead can hear