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THREE CLASSES OF MEN.
sympathies are unconsciously awakened toward some men and nations, and feelings of hostility fostered toward others.
Yet we may depend upon history simply as a dead roll; as an epitaph upon the tombstone of extinct nations with symptoms enough recorded to determine the disease which probably led to their decay and death.
Three classes of men stand forth prominent in the history of every nation: the teacher, the preacher and the politician; in fact, a history is incomplete where mention of either of them has been omitted.
These have always been active agents in society, and their relations to government have given rise to problems so complicated that centuries of experiments have failed to furnish any satisfactory results.
One truth, however, has been established; it is that no one of these classes can safely be allowed to gain an ascendancy over the others in the affairs of government.
The numerous followers of Mahomet are yet in darkness. Their faith alone will never elevate them.
Greece trembled and fell prostrate. Her great intellect was inadequate to prolong her existence. Rome wavered and sunk amidst the echoes of her eloquent statesmen. All the schemes and designs of the sacred fathers were insufficient to stay the hand of the destroyer.
The cause of these downfalls was that the few who constituted the ruling classes had mistaken the proper object of government. Instead of enlightening the people, they were holding up before them allurements toward material prosperity, dazzling their minds and exciting their passions by imaginary conquests and untold wealth, thus forging the chains to bind the populace in helpless servitude, the presage of a speedy dissolution and decay of the race.
Only the pessimist would venture to affirm that we are near the acme of our national prosperity and greatness; for, when we compare the national aims of our own people with those of ancient races, we can easily understand how absolutely certain were the consequences they incurred, and why permanence characterizes the American policy.
On the other hand, how is it with our own nation?
We have but to pause and look to note the fact that political and religious treadmills are growing weaker and weaker, though upon their worn tracks still tread many manacled slaves, strangers to freedom and happiness. To-day the people are beginning to move the government instead of being moved by it.
True character is the perfect growth which society now seeks; its seeds are scattered far and wide from every pulpit; they are nourished and cherished in our colleges: they bloom and ripen in our public offices: in a word, character is destined to become the watchword of active citizenship.
Men are awakening to the fact that a victory in a political contest does not justify the means by which it was won; that our institutions of learning have superseded the dominion of sophistry; and that bigotry and idolatry can no longer impose their infamous doctrines upon the consciences of the people.
The aims of the pulpit, platform and classroom are rapidly converging, and ere long will be focused upon the one sublime object character.
Modeling upon its grand and noble principles, the advancement of our national life brings us nearer and nearer to that perfect state of society in which honor will be the only law requisite to govern men's actions.
Still we are far from perfection. The reflected lights of social improvements reveal to us the enormity of crime and the deplorable condition of the criminal in