The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1952-09-12
THE SIN OF sELFIsHNEss

The strongest pillar of our
civilization is the common law in
spired by the Ten Command
ments. When conscience fails to
observe their tenets, constituted
a u h GRITTY must maintain the
structure only by might. But
might without moral support is
seldom efficient for a long period.
In there were no selfshness in
human hearts, there would be no
need for the ten commandments.
"Selfishness" as we treat it here
is intended to mean stingy and lit
tie; always taking and not receiv-
ing; willing to take advantage of
others for immediate personal gain.
1t doesn't have to be aligned with
self preservation which is called
the first law of nature. Self pres
ervation originated in the con-
scious realization of the need for
protection to keep alive; and in
the natural hunger which forces
animals to fight for their food, for
warmth and shelter, and their
females and their home.
A bounteo providence put
everything in the world to satisfy
the needs and creature comforts
of every living thing. Certainly
for manind to enjoy and by which
to thrive. And if all creature S
could forswear the sin of selfish
ness, and be willing to accept a
just share, there would be plenty
for everyone. But because some
were selfish, then there developed
Misrepresentation" known to us
as the FIRST law of nature"
Reason began to develop in the
human mind in distant ages, and
reason would teach all people that
being selfish not only doesn't
bring happiness, but defeats the
purposes of providence. Reason
hasn't spread very far, for mer
strive to win by hook or crook far
more than they might justly earn
They accomplish little because
too often their leavings go to in,
dolent and pampered offspring
who cast to the winds the fruits
of years of toll and striving anc
conniving. Such men indeed, who
leave fortunes to worthless heirs
have been ignobIe failures. They
have produced and put adrift in
the world to waste resources
wrung from others more needy, q
posterity more useless and morG
harmful in so many instances
than even the progenitors them
selves.
There are no end of these sell
fish people who combine to form
a mighty throng of parasites, who
leechlike, multiply the misery OF
their fellowmen. There are people
who are not content to see oul
natural resources conserved, but
demand and take more than a fair
share by evading and breaking
the protective laws designed to
aid in securing impartial benefits
for all. Never was a fishing law
someone wouldn't break in order
to earn more money than his
neighbors. Never was a public en-
terprise, nor an expenditure of
public funds for public benefits
someone didn't try to hang upon
and divert to his own use some of
it he hasn't earned. Never was a
neighborhood where cone
didn't try to take unfair advantage
Of some neighbor, that he might
enjoy more than a rightful share,
while seeing his losing fellow
suffer because of being without.
/ There are men who are willing
to see their neighbors' homes
broken and divided by hardship,
grief and sorrow as sons and
| husbands go to war, If only they
can share in continued benefits
from the dollars borrowed from the
nations taxpayers to finance a
continuation of the troubles and
turmoils of the world. There are
people who would rather see a
neighbor lose the chance to earn
an extra dollar, although they
could never get it Cor themselves.
There are individuals who would
see their own community grow
even it mean the wrecking of a
'neighbor community, the tearing
down of the churches, the removal
of its schools, a denial of due
road, diversion of public i'm
provement.
Those like the poor are always
L. n