The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-10
Two Types of Reformer.

In recent book on the literature OF
the Hebrews, Lyman Abbott makes a
point which is worth the attention of the
general public, even those who are not
particularly interested in Hebrew ltera-
ture. He says:
Thinkers may be roughly divided into two
great classes, one of which lays emphasis on
truth. the other organization. The first fix
ing its attention on truth, forgets that to be
efficient in society truth must be embodied the
second. fixing its attention the mediating
( organization. forgets the truth which alone can
yitalize il.
/ In this DR.. Abbott has stated briefly and
clearly, vital fact, and one which until
! recently was scarcely recognized by any
/ body. There can be no society without
I differences of Opinion-that we know-but
only recently has it come to be under
stood that this does not necessarily mean
that one shall be entirely wrong and the
other entirely right. Nowadays it is
freely admitted that il is far better for
the State that there should be two op-
posing political parties than that one
party should have a monopoly of power.
Yet this cannot mean that one-half of
the community shall hold wrong opinions
for the good of the other half
How, then, is the competitive spirit to
be encouraged? What is the danger to be
avoided in this conflict? Simply the dan
ger Of dishonesty and of intolerance
Each OF the two temperaments to which
DR.. Abbott refers carries with it pc
cular dangers The institutional rnoralist
is in peril of sacrificing truth to expedi-
eLcy, of preYaricating for the sake of the
cause dearest to him. as the easiest way
out of a difficulty instead of trying to
make the organization in which he works
conform to his convictions Of right. The
constitutional moralist. his opponent-the
man who does right because he is con-
WINGED that he ought to do it, no matter
whether anyone else does SO or not-is in
danger Of intolerance, of accusing others
of dishonesty and coward ce. of conceit.
and Of stubbornness Each must strive
to avoid the perils incident to his way of
thought. and if each does this. it is by
no means impossible for both to be
equally honest, good, and useful men
Though they may never think alike, these
two will continually act and react on each
other, and lift the thought of the COM
munity to higher level. First. the or
ganizer will inspire all the men whom he
can gather into his society with that wish
to act rightly and wisely which comes
from contact with others who are wishing |
the same thing. Then the truth-seeker !
viii, by his personal magnetism and devo- |
ton to right, draw to himself those whom |
the organization cannot hold, and Incl |
dentally ne will arouse the organization |
itself to further action. Each can do |
something which the other cannot.
But this is only possible when both |
forces are good of their kind. The or |
ganization may become so corrupt as to |
drive from it all healthy life, and de- |
generate into a poisonous and noxious in |
fuence sitting all honest endeavor and |
clogging free thought and action, good or
bad. The truth seeker, II he gets out of |
touch with his fellow-men. If he is not |
reasonable as well as earnest, If he is
not brave, wise, humble, thoroughly hon
est with himself and with others, may be
a dreamer, a doctrinaire, a tyrannicaI
and unbalanced leader. or anything else
that is bad, and possible to a strong.
magnetic. and impractical personality.
When society becomes thus demoralized. |
one or the other of these forces must
come to the rescue, and as it is easier to
End one powerful man than a large body
81 fairly good men in a corrupt society. |
revolutions generally come about under
he guidance Of great leader And an
his is the natural history of reform.