Page:The stuff of manhood (1917).djvu/27

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have ruined Disraeli's career. But to Goldwin Smith that was not a noble thing to do. Peel's correspondence had not been given to him to use in self-defense, or for any personal justification of his own, and he repressed that letter until Disraeli was dead. Then, years after, all of Peel's correspondence was published and the whole world knew what a gentleman Goldwin Smith had been. Our modern ideals of what constitutes high social and national standing and character say: "Fight fire with fire. Dishonour releases honour from itself. He struck you foul; strike him so in return." But the man who had learned self-restraint in the school of God's loyalty and truth, who understood that power is ours, not to use for self-seeking, but for the good of men and for God's honour, would not stoop to any such disloyalty and shame.

Once more. Whose judgment is of any value? Who would have thought of going to Adonijah and asking his opinion on anything whatsoever? He did not know right from wrong. He never thought over the issues of right or wrong. What would I like to do? What does passion bid me do? What is my whim or caprice for tonight?—that was as far as Adonijah had ever thought. No man would ever go to him, as no men will ever come to you and me if we have not been trained in the school of moral discrimination, if we have not looked on ethical principle