Massachusetts Reform Club Speech (1885-04-24; Ellis)

by George Edward Ellis

 

The Rev. George E. Ellis was then called upon. He spoke as follows:—

Dr. George E. Ellis, who was then introduced, said: I admire Carl Schurz alike for the penetration of his statesmanship as much as for the mastery of his eloquence. In connection with the name and purpose of this club, there comes to my mind a golden sentence of the great Lord Bacon. It is crowded with wisdom, and is expressed in the dignity of strong, plain words, as follows: “Things alter for the worse spontaneously, if they be not altered for the better designedly.” [Applause.] The truth is of universal compass, as applied to all things earthly, and I do not know but that it includes the stars in heaven. It recognizes the fact that there is in all organic and composite things an inherent tendency to degenerate and decay, if they are not re-enforced and renewed by an amending and reinvigorating process, a protective and reforming agency. Iron rusts away; wood yields to the worm, or rots; the solid rocks crumble, and character, in man or woman, if not steadily built up, strengthened, ennobled, or, as we say, made better, is impaired and debased. This truth applies to all human institutions, domestic, social, civil, political and religious. By wisdom, patience, strong purposes and noble effort, they must be purified and elevated, or they will waste by neglect, indifference or corruption. It is by the intelligent recognition of this, and by resolves and efforts of men of the nobler type, that things are altered for the better advisedly. The only alternate of decline and decay is renovation and improvement. The changing generations help the good work with fresh materials and new energies. The breaking up of old fossilized parties encourages it. The periodical recurrence of campaigns and elections are provocatives and opportunities for it. [Applause.] It may have been a grievance in our old early days that men were subject to a fine for refusing to serve as governor or in some other office. But that was better than that office holders should fine the whole community by using all trusts and places as spoils. [Great applause.] The vast majority of our citizens who do not desire, and who would not accept, public office must insist upon and exercise their right inside of parties and outside of parties. And it can never be out of course for those who, as citizens, take lead of those who held office under them, to insist upon pure integrity and rigid fidelity in the servants under them. Thus will things be altered for the better advisedly. [Applause.]