The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-01-19
TRUE AND SHAM REFoRMERs.

There can be no reasonable doubt in
the mind of the thinker that the pres
ent political, social and moral condi-
| tions of society are susceptible of great
reform, but it does not follow that all
the quack noStrumS and nO-cure-no-
pay panaceas, offered in behalf of hui
manity, are sovereign or infallible rem
edies 1t is a fact beyond dispute
| that humanity, Notwithstanding it is
far from what it ought to be and no
| doubt will he, is moving steadily ahead,
and is undoubtedly on a much higher
plane than at any previous period of
its history. 1t only requires the ex-
erciSe of q mOdicum of common sense
to readily realize that all needed and
substantial reform, can only be achiev-
ed by Self-culture. The individual
must first right himself before he can
right others, or to any appreciable de-
gree advance the presence status of
the race. The human race is Indebted
to science more than to all other causes
supposed or real. The benefits confer
red upon mankind by the scientists are
almost innumerable, and yet We are
but in the first faint glow or the dawn
ing, the field Of research is illimitable,
and the SearcherS after facts are IN
selfishly, laboriously and patiently
delving without any hope or thought
Of adequate pecuniary compensation.
content when they have turned over a
new leaf in the book of nature, or as
the result of arduous toll they have
made some fresh discovery that con-
tributes 10 the general good. The
scientist looks not DO thaumaturgy or
miracle for assistance; he is but the
interpreter of nature. which to him is
both mother and father, and if he petit
tiOnstionS the Omniscient. it is in the
secrecy of the closet as recommended
by Christ.
In marked contrast 10 these practical
benefactorS of humankind are a GER
tain kind of would-be reformers to be
met with in all countries of the civil
lied world, with a few notable exeep-
tons, composed of half-educated. er-
ratio men and women with real or
fancied grievances, Historically de-
manding immediate redress and madly
denouncing all who do not fall in with
their insane schemes and fancieS. Max
Nordau aptly terms them degenerates.
and sub-divideS them into Mystics.
GraphomaniacS and SymboliStS. Many
OF these mimic refOrmerS write books.
some affect poetry, and others. when
they can secure a hearing. try To in
oculate their hearers with the virus of
their own mental and moral deformitv.
In the vulgar vernacuIar of America
these fellows are known as ''cranks."
and as a rule the only point of reSem-
blanee between them and the lily is
that they toll not neither do they
spin"
They infest all political parties. all
religious. and not few of them are
10 be found in the ranks Of the social
lists. who would scarcely be recognized
by Carl Marx or Schafel. Among all
this conSlOmeration OF imbecfleS the
religious or occult crank is perhaps the
most harmless. He has a trick OF roll
ing his eyes heavenward. comforting
the muscles Of his face and IN unin-
telligihle jargon haranguing on street
corners or wherever he can collect \
crowd that has the patience and stu
pidity to listen 10 him. To use Il Car
lyleism. this is mere ape-mouthing and
eliciJS nothing more than a laugh or a
Sneer.
Strange as il may appear. many of
these DhvSicallv and mentally deforn-