New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-19
MEN WHO LIKE TO "KICK."

SUNDAY editors and other leaders OF thought
in this country are just now pointing to the
life of the are Rev william jenkins. rector OF
Fillingham. Lincolnshire. England. as an eX-
ample TO Americans Mr. Jcnkins's chief claim
to distinction II seems. consisted in the fact that
he was the champion kicker of England. TO
be the greatest kicker in a nation OF born KICK
ers II in itself enough to lift n man up into
certain kind Of eminencc, no matter "nether
his kicking results in any good or not And II
the stories which are told about him are true
Mr.. jenkins must certainly have been the most
industrious. aggressive and enthusiastic kicker
in the British Isles. There are plenty OF men
who kick when they are forced to do 50 by cir
cumstances. or when they get angry. But they
don't so ont of their way to find trouble for
themselves or FOL others; and they don't find IA
positive enjoyment in the trouble itself when !;
does come, Irrespective of the reform they hope
to bring about by means Of il.
That is where Mr. Jenkins differed from all
ordinary a.cl:crs. He enjoyed the eXerciS" OF
kicking for Is own sake. lie appeared 10 live
move and have his being only to see that nobody
infringed on his rights. anl this scf-ap20ntfd
mission took NJ n large part of his time lie
was at once hated and feared by every cahman
and tramwly conductor in England Tor Ee was
continually getting into disputes with iA"in over
the legal rates of fare. In order 10 ~ ready for
MI such emergencies lie always c1ri.cd WIN
lin wherever he went bulky copy oi -"
Acis Of Parliament" and when h. COT into a
dispute with 4 ""abby' or tradcsUa:. as ~
generally did he turned n once 10 Tie act bear
ing on the question anl read IL 10 the wou!d-he
ilWbrcakCr in q loud ana r0rtcntcuS voice it
was also constantly suing railroad companies
which failed to live MP 70 their charters. mus
ne went through life fighting pretty much every
body and everything he met: fer nan WIN
that disposition would undoubtedly find thing,
10 dispute about evcn in Utopia. The otter day
hr died "f some disorder of the liver. fac
which forclbly suggests that his mission in lif"
was lar gcly shaped hy certain hillary conditions
1t Is said. and said truly. that Americans d.
not have enough OF the spirit That characterized
Mr.. jenkins. They are too busy and TOO good
naiurcd 10 fight every inch of their way through
lie simply in order 10 assert their rights Doubt
les their willingness to submit - some petty
injustice rather than make a fuss about il opens
the door Oftcntimcs 20 serious abuses Gnl evils.
But. while admitting all this and cOnceling that
mon Ike Mr. Jenkins do a great deal of good.
we should br sorry 10 see Americans generally
develop thai type Of character; for IN close con
tact II Is an ualovcly and diSag.ccahlo type.
Every one insiinciivey avoids the dispuatior'
and "pern!ckety" person. even though he be-
man Of the most estmabc moral charactc-. 1t
Is one thing to stand mp for ones rights and FOR
the Just and equitable enforcement Of the law.
but II Is quite another thing to attack wronG
no' for the sake Of overcoming H. but for IN"
enjoyment 10 be derived from diSasrccinG with
ard getting the better Of other people. The
virtue that depends for lis activity on some dis
order OF the hillary duet is not the type Of virtue
that ough' 10 be encouraged.