Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1891-01-16
STEPS OF PROGRESS.
The Glass OF Men Who Are Usually Load
ers in the Community.

The Glass OF Men Who Are Usually Lead.
ers in the Community.
It is common thing to associate the
idea of progress mainly with past time.
We are fond of looking backward and
marking the advancement of man from
barbarism to civilization, from ignor.
ance to knowledge, from error to truth,
from darkness to light and of congratu-
lating ourselves that we live in these
latter and better days Not so common
is the onward lock into the possible
progress of the future. While there are
always some who cherish and believe
in changes for the better, yet to come. as
numerous and as great as any which
have already taken place, the majority
regard them either as visionary or at
least SO uncertain and indefinite as
scarcely to arouse their attention. Yet
whether recognized or not, progress
goes on, slowly, steadily and surely, and
Its steps are trodden, one by one, first
by pioneers in thought and action, and
then with more or less hesitation by
their followers until all have assembled
to that level and are ready for another
stage. This process is necessarily slow,
but there is no doubt it might be greatly
accelerated without losing any of its
stability. There are some in every gen.
Grafton who live and think ahead OF
their times. Their horizon is too far
away for others to see it; they dwell on
heights which the world can not climb;
they espouse improvements which nc
one will attempt; they proclaim truths
which awaken no response; they declare
duties which no one is ready to admit.
They seem to have been born too soon;
fifty or a hundred years hence they
might be a benefcent force in society,
but their own generation is not
sufficiently developed to appreciate
their thought or to accept their sugges-
tions. Yet such men, if true to them.
selves, do not live in vain. Although
they may never see any fruit of their
labors, the seed they sow will spring up
after many days. Posterity will accord
the gratitude and honor that their con
| temporaries can not feel II they are
great enough not to be discouraged by
apparent failure, and have faith enough
to rest their cause on it's own intrinsic
merits, their mission to the world will
be fulfilled. Others there are, however,
who seem exactly fitted for the needs
Of the hour. Whether their minds are
occupied with fresh discovery or a
new invention, an improvement in So
cial usuage or public administration, a
method of reform or a responsibility
hitherto neglected, their message is one
for which the community is ready and
of which it stands in immediate need
The time is ripe for just what they
have to bestow. Such men are usually
leaders in the community. Mr.. Morley
says: "a man does not become cele
brated in proportion to his general ca
pacity, but because he does or says
something which happens to need doing
or saying at the moment" 1t is not
however, these gifted ones alone tx
whom the work of progress is intrusted
Every thinking man and woman has a
times an ideal of something better thar
now exists, and what to do with tina
ideal is a problem far too often left un
solved. Too often there is nothing
done with it; it remains as a vague
reverie in the mind, until crowded ou
with more absorbing topics 1t is no
yet generally regarded as trust to bt
fulfilled an obligation to be dis
charged. People plead their want o
time, their lack of influence, their un
certainty IS to methods, their fear o
doing harm, rather than good, to justif.
them in letting their ideals slip ava.
into oblivion. Yet, if every one did this
what would become Of the worlds prog
ress? And if it is right for one, VIII.
not for all? OF course there is foolisl
extreme to which some jealous reformer
go, of forcing their peculiar plans o
tenets upon an unwilling public, an,
feeling injured because they are not a
once adopted. This is absurd, and onl
Injuries the cause they have at heart
1t courts opposition and excites antag
onism. Any invasion of personal rights
any attempt at coercion of thought o
deed, is doomed to failure. But tn
most perfect freedom is always consist
ent with the most perfect sincerity
man who has new thought or ne'
light on any subject has no right t
thrust it upon another against his will
nor can he reasonably feel aggrieve
that no one will share it with him. bu
neither has he the right to bury 1t ou
of sight, still less to disown or to b
ashamed of it because it is not popular
If it is of any worth it must make it
way, surely, though slowly, into tn
minds and hearts of men, and to assis
its entrance is at once his privilege an
his duty. If he really believe that hi
idea is true, or that the change he con
templates would be good for society, h
should feel bound to be loyal to it at al
hazards. He ought not to interfere wit
those who can not accept it, either +
: compel or to complain; but he shoul
live it, speak it, act it for himself, cas-
his influence for it, and so, by his fait
and his sincerity, no will help on tn
upward strivings OF humanity, and d
his share in the progress of the world. -
Philadelphia Ledger.
, Chinese Alligators in London.
Two examples OF the Chinese allig'
tor have just reached the Zoologici
N