The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1897-07-23
The Ideal and the Practical in Reform

To the Editor of the Los Angeles Her
aid: 1t seems to me that serious mis-
take is made by many of our worthy
comrades in reform through failure to
recognize the distinction between things
which ought to be and things which can
be. One of the greatest obstacles in the
way of reformatory success is want of
practicability. Many Of us, in our en-
thusiasm for right ideals, wholly forget
how small a percentage of the people
have grown up to the ideal and how
slow the process of their growth.
If history has taught any lesson it is
that nature is never in a hurry in her
normal processes of evolution prin-
ciple as true in its application to sociol-
ogy as to geology. True, she now and
then takes abnormal strides by the VIC
lence of earthquakes, cataclysms and
revolutions, but that is her concern, not
ours. Wisdom plainly dictates that ma
lures rules-not her exceptions-should
be our guide. In our reform work we
should aim at no sudden and violent
transformations, but gradual better
ment. Improved varieties of fruits,
flowers and birds come not by any hasty
metamorphoeis, but by little advance
ment each successive year. This is ma
lures normal plan throughout all her
realms of progress. Sudden leaps from
very bad to very good social conditions
are no more to be expected than the
transformation of crabapple into a
pearmain in single season
Here is the trouble with the socialist
movement. Socialism is an ideal and a
Iaa tat a pf OF "
an ideal which every true philanthropist
chershse in his heart. But the very fact
of it's being ideal insures It's defeat as
practical measure Of reform, because in
a popular government like ours no civic
measure succeeds without majorities.
And | maintain that it is neither wise
policy nor good citizenship to Waste bal
lots on an ideal measure known to be
odious to vast majority of the citizens
Of a country, however perfect that ideal
may be in itself, and however wrong may
be that vaet majority. 1t is not wise
policy because the very maintenance
and agitation OF an unpopular measure
by political party too small to COM
mand respect has the inevitable effect
to keep that party and it's policy in
hopeless minority.
The Prohibition party has furnished
sufficient proof on this point. 1t is not
good citizenship, becaust~it is the duty
of every citizen to exert his influence ana
cast his ballot at every election for the
very best public measures which nave
some reasonable prospect of success. II
sounds very well to talk of true man
hood in standing up for principle
though all the world is against you. AND
[ fully endorse that course VIXEN only
two courses are Notwithstanding Tor
your principle or siding with the wrong
But when two or more alternatives are
presented between a ballot that is sure
to count for nothing but an ideal, and
one which may effect some practical
good, in the direction Of that ideal, think
It the duty Of the citizen to forego the
ideal for the practical.
It is for the foregoing reasons that 1
train with the Populists. Their plat
form, propeeing no violent break with
history and no radical conflict with the