The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-19
HER IDEAS OF REFORM.
IEsIIa wheeler in n. Y. Journal-l


Some months ago I expressed the idea
in this journal that no man had a moral
right to talk reform Of our social condI-
tons until he practiced the methods of
unSelhShnesS which all reform means IN
his home, his social life, and, so far as
was possible, in his business
This expression of my belief brought
a storm of protests and criticisms
FIOcks of letters beat angry wings about
my head like Infatuated sea guIls. I was
told / had no business TO write on re
form. that I was a fool. a sentimental
iSt and other unpleasant things. One
very indignant man said I was "a mere
woman" and seemed to think the re-
preach of that term would be whitening.
Two or three dignif1ed and moderate
letters of protest impressed me with the
conviction that 1 had not fully convey
ed my meaning.
Ny idea was not that every man
should wait until every other man had
been taught Self-control before he
preached reform, nor that the work of
reformation should confine itself to in
dividuals.
This has been the method of the ORTIZ
odox church. and We see what a poor
factor it is in improving social condi-
tons Instead Of inoculatfng business
and society with ChristIiness. it has put
and formed a syndicate of orthodoxy
which regulate society.
But what I do maintain, and will with
my dying breath, is that no man has
beauties Of brotherhood and unselfish-
ness until he himself lives as true to
those principles as is possible at the
present epoch.
He can at least illustrate chem in his
home life. with his employees. or with
his employers. and in his relations with
his friends Here he can be considerable,
liberal minded, just and human, how
ever he may be obliged to push and jos
tie in the business mart of competition.
Some of my critics may contend that
because Of this competitive system.
mans nature has become too warped 10
enable him to use his better qualities
until he IS forced into their use by
changed conditions That may be to a
degree true of the unthinking many but
it IS to the thinking few to whom these
words are addressed Any man who has
the brain to think reform in religion
politics or economies, has the will power
10 teach himself reform.
He who is q. niggard with a wife. a
petty tyrant with his children. a slave
driver with his domestics, a backbiter
with his nelghbOrs and a cruel man to
when he attempts to talk reform Co
operation or brotherhood. What do
these words mean2 Merely unseTfsh-
ness, regard for the rights of Others
mand, Love one another.
me man VINO employs none of these
principles in his domestic or social re-
Iations will rot be fitted to a7apt him
self to his dreamed-of millennium when
il arrives 1t viii require qualities he
has not cultivated The boy who will
not learn to read cannot enjoy his
Shakespeare when it is presented to
him
It would be only consistent for such
a boy to say. Shakespeare IS q won
derfuI book I have been a stupid ana
INDECENT fool. and I have not learned TIC.
read. so I cannot speak from knoszI-
edge Beware of my example and all
learn to read Just 50 it IS perfectly
proper for the greedy. ill-tempered and
intolerant man to say to the public:
Avoid my example I am a type of
what your present conditions produce
Men like me are the cause and result OF
your system Flee from me and work
for socialism and brotherhood If we
are determined to preach to our fellow
men. to carry force in this world. we
must either be a warning or an example.
We All have ideals beyond cur reach. to
be sure vet we can at least struggle
toward their attainment
Some Of us are trying with might and
main to reach the standard we believe
fail, but We rise and try again Others
are only talking standards and making
no effort to attain them They viii tell
you it is net their fault, but the fault Of
modern conditions Just as sensible is
it to say that the fault OF the temper
ance lecturer who walks the streets in
a state Of inebriety is not in himself
but in the law which allows drink to be
manufactured and sold
Ny dear reformers, I know you would
far rather preach to others than TO be-
gin practice at home but your words
are doing nothing Ter humanity if you
are nagging or negIecting your wives,
making q Wretched home for your chill
dren or mIsusing your servants, your
animals or your employers
I believe in a universal brotherhood.
in the principles OF modern socialism,
ard in cO-opes alive methods IN business
But I maintain that no man can ac-
cCTnplish anything Of value on these
lines for his fellows who does not begin
his Illustrations at home
Make thy life better than thy work Too
oft
Our artists spend their skin IN rounding
soft
Fair curves upon their statues. while the
rough
And ragged edges Of the unhewn stun
IN their own natures s1arlle and offend
The eye Of critic and the heart Of friend