The evening times., 1898-12-12

his own responsibility. At the pre- sent mo-
ment IL is as plain as can be that the
French democracy is on the lookout for
a leader a Man. The squabbles over the
Dreyfus case might almost, in the last
analysis. be resolved into the one for
mula, accepted by millions OF French peo-
Pile Give us a leader who can think
clearly and act with decision" Almost
everything would be pardoned in man of
strong character and vigorous brain who
could pilot the French vessel of state
through the stormy seas.
A glance over the world during this
democratic epoch Will convince any care
full observer that the talk about the ind!-
vidual whitening IS superficial. We ar.
deceived by a few material phenomena,
the outcome of scientific invention Be
cause we are tfcketed and conveyed in
trains or steamers, instead of depending
on our own energy, as in former days: be
cause shoes are turned out by machines by
the million and cotton cloth by the hun
dred million yards; because the machine
seems to dominate life, We think it is ali
mere machinery. Because We do not live
in fortified castles, but in city streets
watched and tended by armies of public
servants we are apt to think of vague
collective authority dominating ali and
directed by none. But the train is driven
by skilled man. the wheel OF the steamer
is held by an expert, the cotton * spun
and woven the shoes are made, because
a directing brain stands behird.
Even in the great American democra-
cy where the despoJism OF the mass is
greatest, il interesting TO observe how
strong has been the tendency 20 look for
a guiding from the President all through
the recent war. And in Mexico and the
whole of South America we find that. SO
far as democracy exists. il is all based on
the idea practically. if not theoretically,
that some one individual governs the
country initiates it's policy. stimulates its
10 action. In Europe the two great cen
traI empires are definitely governed by
the wills and inte!lects of two men; and
though democracy is restless and discon-
tented. there is no protest against this
system of sufficient strength to secure its
overthrow. In short. look where We Will
among the democratic or quasi-dcmo-
cratic nations of the void. We see no
sign whatever of the lesseniug value Of
the individual. On the contrary, the need
of individual initiative and guidance is
everywhere recognized and the services
of the individual are in one way or an
other rewarded.
This tendency will continue because It
is in accordance with the constitution of
human nature. The masses are quite ca
pable of appreciating the accomplished
fact. but some one person must have con-
ceived and accomplished it They are
! quite capable of cooperating with the
work of some leader OF men, whether pO-
litical, religious. or in any other sphere
of life: but the Washington, the Luther,
must be there to show the way. No
doubt democracy is as certain fact for
a long epoch to come as any of its warm
est devotees have believed But il will
be democracy tempered by the need Cf
the individual who can do the one thing
that no other individual can do, who can
direct great affairs and persuade vast
human aggregates TO carry them into ex-
ecution. The man who can navigate is in
valuable, even in pirate ship.