The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-02-11
MERIT MISJUDGED.
THE MOTIVES OF MEN OFTEN MISUNDER-
STOOD AND CENSURED.
The Man Who Thinks and Acts Ahead
of His Time Doomed to Ridicule
and COntempt-But Time UsuaIiy v
COrrects the Wrong and Sets the
Individual Right Before the World
When He Is Better Understood.
Oh. &. Moore, in Suffolk Herald,

Much that occurs in everyday life
is misunderstood, in consequence OF
which the actors are misjudged. The
order and custom of Communities mus;
never be disturbed by the introduction
OF anything marvellous or different
from those things or events with which
We are familiar Every man claims it
as his prerogative TO reject, denounce
and ridiCule the novelty. 1t may be
the invention OF genius, or lnvcstiga
sons in science may have led the agent
thereunto; all the same. The actor
passes off the stage, regarded as a
crank, or crazy, or mOnOmaniaC.
Unless absolute success on the part OF
the inventor, actor or agent is hurried
upon the conviction OF men, to the ex-
tent that they are forced to acknowl-
| edge the wisdom in design, the useful
ness in execution, and the excellence
of the invention, the designer, by the
unthinking crowds, is regarded as an
| ignominlous failure.
The great Calico was accounted a
man of nnsound mind because, for
sooth, his theories of the worlds shape
and of the laws of gravltation were
contrary to and out of harmony with
the opinions of the men of that day.
In the religious world alike; in the So
cial and political the same. Luther
was condemned as hereto because
, he taught, according 10 the scripture,
, that man is justified by faith alone,
| without the deeds of the law 50 with
Calvin, of Geneva; The Wesleys, of
England; the Purllans, of America.
In the social world the fashion of
the hour is determined by the "favor-
ed few" and all departures from their
ideas of dress, of customs, of position
or of literature are snubbed as failures,
| their acts are criticised without mercy,
and the individuals themselves are des-
ignated by such inelegant titles as the
odd, the eccentric, the peculiar, the
taCky, and the ignorant, with all other
kinds of expressions that indicate con-
tempt. This is done by those whose ig
norance Of real merit is SO preponder-
ant that it places them below the scale
of ordinary contempt, hence the social
ostracism Sd studiously practlced by
them Teverts back upon the origina
tors, much to their chagrin and social
discomfort. To leave this class of
helpless ones to the sad reflections of
mistaken ideas, the reader of this ar
ticle nc doubt will think to be better
corrective than any other remedy that
the author could offer at this peculiar
stage in the worlds history. The cause
of such social and wholesale condem-
nation of the masses by the now favor
ed few arises from the marvellous aC-
Cumulation Of wealth, resultant upon
the consequences of the late civil war.
Since that disastrous day at Appomat-
tox wonderful changes have been
wrought in social life. The lower
strata of society have found themselves
on the "surfice ahoat' Thus wealth
has, by the accidents of CirCumstantial
| IL
factor in the social scale. All parties,
Crceds and characters are made sub
servent to It's behests. Thus with one
colossal stroke millions are ignored or
TN board Of nineteenth Century So
Clety If they fail to answer to the fan
cles and bow to the whlms of the ia
vurcd few. The same characteristics
pervade the political world.
TO view things and events somewhat
differently from what have been the
views Of political organ grinders Of old
parties Is but 10 heap The anathemas oI
politicians upon ones own lnoffensIve
head. The "party' or the men as in
dIviduals who dare stand up against
measures and means subversIve Of good
government are carlCdtured in secular
periodicals. aud are braided with iht
awful epuhets Of anarchists, luna.lCs
communists and iebels tu good govern
nrnl, hDaeveT mOndrChlCai Dc lhOsC
whI CrillCI>e, on however much If s..
lruce, or ustIaCt>m, pr fraud At ballot
boxes, or dcma Luguery ln VthCc !ur hs
robbery al the unsusp-ctins naaats s
may be praCtIcvd.
Bul What thang, WI MT llm,
. ChaEgr, what events vii npt UcaI
Othe, interpretations at,tr nc ru-h i
made apparent ny the uni'idlngs pi
history? 'lhc greatest IF his ORC name
afe n ,,t whD were most abused II
tacir time and a-e But only a ics
Yeas are needed to develop mos, won
tertui revpIl,lons of opinions Of men
and ,hpw WISE reasons nr mi>judgeG
ones acting as they did at certain pc
RODS Of their history. The Haymarke
scene was one 10 be even npx greatly
depiored, but behind the startling crie.
for blood we now hear tina, their frs
: had been Inc cry for bread. .'Llghter
the burdens OF the oppressed" Bu
"No," the palace car syndicate SAID
''le.s wages, more hours Of labor, o.
leave" In bu, waiting our voice
!, slenced as 10 condemnation. Again
little army Of i'll clad, hungry, s,arv
ing men ,rod upon the grass a, Wash
ingtpn Cry, their coun,ry's capital
Alter long and weary march, lgnor
an, OF discipline; according to mIIltar,
law, yeI IN all the annals Of h's,or
t there stands no clearer record of obet
lence i authority and recognition {
civil law than was exhibited by thos
SO called cramps" Bu, the waitln
: has shown that Coxey was no, luna