The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-01-10
AN OBSTACLE TO PROGRESS.

OF all the annoying experiences that a
man has to encounter in the battle of life,
whether his pursuits be professional.
mercantile or philanthropic, the incorrig-
ible pettiness of many dispositions
brought in contact with him by the neces-
sity of affairs is nearly the worst.
As though the malice of accidents and
the perversity of matter,-and who
has lived twenty years on earth without
almost feeling as though inanimate OBJ
jects and blind chances combined against
him sometimes with living intelligence
were not enough to perplex aud trouble
US, We are then well-nigh oveFbOrne by
the narrOwness of view, the poverty of re-
source, the lack of justice, and the small
ness of motive that SO many people in
the world exhibit
Here, for instance, is majestic enter
prise planned out, or a good patriotic
deed done, by man of superior heart
and intellect. See what a swarm of de-
tractors, doubters, "damners with faint
praise" and timid little critics who al
ways "see lion in the path" spring up
stfaightway to cripple and impede it!
Why? Simply because, if not malevo-
lent, they lack the capacity to take it IN,
and if i'll disposed, they cannot find il in
them to rise above the tiny baseness of
wreaking upon a good work the spleen
that fills them.
There has been no scientific discovery
made since time began; no physical or
moral Improvement or reform suggested;
no grand new principle for human bene-
fit, but has had this sort of opposition to
encounter. The most singular part of it,
too, is the intense bitterness which some
of those who battle against the good re-
veal. in all ages, they have carried their
antagonism to ferocious extremes, and
have been quite ready to hunt out of life
the apostles of the truth How many
stakes have glOwed with internal fires :;
how many gibbets, racks and dungeons
have groaned with the agonies of dying
martyrs sacrificed to the mean, barbarous
littleness of their fellow men!
And as in public so in private matters :;
as IN past savage ages SO even now in
sunshine of our boosted enlightenment,
every day beholds some fresh persecu,
tiOn of this kind carried on.
The memory of our generation is full
of instances where great designs have
been retarded and, often, nearly defeated,
by the amazing narrowness of view ex-
listing in quarters where we should have
expected better things. Such was the
case-to speak only of great physical
improvements-with steam and locomo-
tive propulsion; the electric telegraph;
the tunnelling of Mount Cents; the
Panama and Suez ship-canals, the form
er of which has been kept back until
this day; universal international sys-
ten of weights and measures, ETC., ETC.
all of which met the most obstinate in
creduiity and determined opposition, up
to the very last moment of their pro-
progress.
To speak of other matters, we have
seen hospitals, asylums and places of re-
fuge for moral reform in the behalf of
all society, opposed to the bitter end,
and their founders and patrons calum
mated with unscEnpulous violence.
Who, in TACT, has attempted any new,
CQod thing in our own or any other
time without incurring abuse from some
Quarter And who has succeeded in
making every upward step of his way
with intense suheringt
The spirit Of evil must have chuckled
with delight TO see how well he was serv-
ed by men who would have pretended
to be Mortified at even q hint At their
completely with the worst champions of
crime.
Nor do we believe that they have &C
tuaHy meant TO eounteuance vice and
discourage reform. Their ideal feelings
was 3 SORT OF Jealousy at the sight of a
great or good thingAot initiated and car
RED through by themselves.
Such then, is the little spirit that
gnaws at the heels of the good and great
While it constantly endeavors to detract
from what is eminent and worthy, il as
constantly magnifies the importance of
petty evils and finds a bugabOO in every
grain Of sand lying on the track of pro-
greGs. To It everything favorable to hu-
manity is trif1ing and suspicious, every
thing that obstructs it q certain and
gigantic danger.