Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1901-08-14
Men Of Ambition,

The men who bring things to pas.
have an inning just now. This is {
I,favorite phrase. 1t is employed tc
describe the builders of fortunes an6
cities, Of railroads and stock corners
These are the men who are in the thicE
of the strenuous life-the strenuous life
being another phrase which is being
overworked. The present age witnesses
the apotheosis of the practical. He who
does things is king. Successful which
the whole world is a seeking-is accom-
plishment. Failure is not merely in a
low aim but in lack of result. We may
hitch all our wagons to a star. but if the
trace chains break or the wagons ;stick
in the mud it makes no difference in the
worlds esteem. We are counted TO,
what we have done, not for what. we
think we can do. The ideal is playing
second fiddle in the modern orchestra to
the, actual. We build monuments to- the
men whbmake things, We have only
contempt OF at least consideration for the
men who merely dream. In political
parties there is always a conflict between
the dreameTs and the doors. The one
represents thedoclrinaires, the idealists,
the high-visioned:. This element stands
for principle without any regard for prac-
ticability. 1t holds certain noble rever-
Fence for truth and will not compromise.
1t believes in the ideal government and
Edees not stop to consider the practical.
The other element represents the oppor-
tunists. They care for no principle or will
lay principle aside for victory. To win is
their purpose. They are the policy men
laying largest stress upon the result.
The end justifes,the means in their re-
gard. They are inpolitics to do things
and people. The battle Is on contin-
ually between these two classes. The
opportunists ridicule the doctrinaires-
indeed that very word rstauubs them in
the view of the multitude - ustless and
in the party's way. On the other hand,
the toctrinaire holds the opportunist in
high contempt, often .unconcealed.. To
the man whose head Is in the clouds all
below him are clods. The antithesis of
the idealist in politics is the demagogue.
In every party the leaders in the majority
are opposed to the idealists. This does
not prove, however, that all political par
ties or any political party is controlled by
the, majorityfof its leaders. In fact, the
reverse is true. In politics, as in all else,
the ideal,st has large,and continuous in
fuence, however MUCK he may pass un-
noticed in the hurly-bnrly of the hastings
and the convention hall. Even the op-
portunists themselves recognize idealism
as valuable for political. purposes, and
put into the party platform principles
which they, believe will appeal to the
latent sense of idealism in the masses of
the people, catch votes and bring about
party triumph. They do not intend to
put these principles into effect, however.
From this fact arises the frequently ex-
pressed and hence somewhat stale with
cism that political platforms are con.
structed as are the platforms of railroad
coaches, asa means to get in and not to
stand upon: The. :idealist, on the con-
trary, would stand upon his platform
whether or not he gotinto Office. 1t may
be remarked in. passing, that there is
danger in both extremes. As in all else
the truth lies in the golden mean. Ideal
ism should not be permitted to obscure
accomplishment, and mere accomplish
meht without an ideal is barren of value.