San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-10-03

L
est regard for the proprieties, the fit
ness Of things, preparation for the
/ higher place sought. The average
\ American citizen thinks himself born
| to be president and rushes that way
from the time that he steps out of his
cradle until he steps into his grave.
1t is not by preparation, but by perse-
verence, and perseverance most Of
all, that the end is attempted.
1t is all very we'll to want to play
God, but how many of us are able to
fill the BILL That is the real question.
Do we consider the responsibilities
that come along with 1t. What are the
consequences of our failure. This
last is something the American new
er calculates on, failure. The real
reason why the United States is
so miserably governed is because ev-
erything that wears pants, and much
that wears petticoats, considers him
self or herself and itself supernatural
ly endowed with the gifts of govern
ment. Duties are assumed for which
there is not ghost of qualification,
the one thing being how to get the
requisite number of votes, or a pull
sufficiently strong to secure the place.
Fitness is not thought Of and failure
is the result.
Modesty is not one of the nations
virtues. AS a rule the less real IL
ability the more assumption. APP
prentices are out of date. All are
master mechanic, from the hour they
enter the shop. Pretension is the
rule. Preparation is the exception.
Cheek is at a premium. The man of
real worth, conscious of himself and
his abilities waits for their recognition.
He has a sweet time waiting in this
country The fellow who is not fit to
black his boots, as a competitor in his
business, elbows his way to the front
and gets the place. What matter it
If he is blank failure. 1t is not
knowledge, ability, experience that
count, but push. No matter If in the
push merit goes to the wall and the
right bower of demerit and ignorance
takes the trick. 1t is the fashion.
God save me from the ignorance of
being ignorant of his own ignorance,
is a prayer that is seldom heard on
modern lips. The prayer that is daily
offered instead is, God save me from
bringing up the tail of the procession
Yet the file closers, the rear guard
have been the salvation of the army
on more than one occasion. There
may be little honor in it. but there is
at times a terrible responsibility and
strain. Old Marshal Ney. was the
last man to quit the soil of Russia in
that memorable retreat from Moscow
which broke the heart of Napoleon
and chilled the life blood of his en-
pire He could lead in attack. He
could follow in retreat and guard his
rear. The real general is too busy
with his great duties to attempt to
play God.
Grant was one of the most modest
men that the United States has given
birth to and one of the greatest. Cen
eral Lee was also a modest man, but
not so distinctly so. Lincoln was
supremacy modest individual, while at
the same time semi-conscious of the
great destiny that awaited him. Fan
cy these men playing God. If there
was nothing in it but the absurdity
of the thing it might be tolerated, but
there is a world of evil in it.
Evil to mind and moral nature. Evil
to society and to the rising generation.
Evil to government and evil to bust
ness. 1t foists upon all departments
of business and government the pre-
tentions of ignorance and leaves no
room for wisdom to accomplish its
work.
There is nothing so destroys the
peace of home as this disposition on
the part of some child to play God. 1t
Il, 49, % aL, hA
most scathing sarcasm of the Nazarine
was directed against 1t in rebuke. 1t
is the enemy of every educational in
stitution in the land, wherever 1t is
permitted to exercise it's Internal in
fiuence. 1t prevents good work every
where and sows seeds Of bitterness on
the right hand and on the left. 1t is
this disposition of the child, who was
playing God, grown into strength and
cussedness in maturer years, that
gives earth its most disagreeable and
ENJOYABLE character. Better the sew
en- year itch in a family, in a church,
in a city, in a state. than one of these
fellows with an itch for playing God.
The place to correct this tendency
Is in the home. Begin with it in the
cradle. Rebuke it wherever it shows
it's deformed head. Home is the
school of earths heavens and it's
hels What is not started there gets
very little growth anywhere. Rebuke
this Great l AM at home. Reprove
it by example. Let father and mother
show preference for the other rather
than for self and there will be little
trouble in breeding into the minds of
tha children tha indifference for aaph
other. Eden ceased to be Eden when
the serpent put his foot in it and Eve
listened to his voice. Home ceases
to be a home, rest, a place of peace
and affectionateness from the hour
that the serpent Of desire to play God
puts it's foot therein. That devil must
be killed not scotched.