The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-02-05

but if SO, they are necessary nuisances.
Not the multi-mfllionaire, nor the cap
tain of industry, nor the "boss" of this
or that political party has either the
will or the power to make his country
great, or the world better. Very near
all the progress man has made since
he quit the "monkey-business" is due
to reformers. Now, reform comes
about somewhat after this fashion:
We feel there's something wrong
somewhere; we try to locate the exact
spot, but fail; we grow uneasy, restless;
we take patent medicines, and grow
worse; we call in this or that quack
who only seeks his own interest; he
bleeds us, he doses us, he poisons us,
but he does not cure us; we try the
water cure, and the fire water cure,
and the gold cure, but to no purpose.
But all this while the true physician,
the reformer, has been watching the
symptoms Of the disease, and, seeking
not his own good, but only the good OF
his fellow men, he, with clear-sighted-
ness beyond the reach of his more
selfish brethren, has not only diagnosed
the disease but has also discovered a
remedy. But the remedy is not always
to the peoples liking, and the reformer
and his remedy are often rejected by
the multipartite patient. Frequently
the first reformer dies without being
understood by more than bakers
dozen. His disciples may possibly
convert few hundred unbelievers,
and these in turn will make. known
the remedy to Others
By and by the remedy is applied-to
the less virulent manifestations of the
evil at first. But even if the efficacy
of the remedy be undeniable, a long
time may yet elapse before it is gener-
ally applied. For, be it known to all
whom it may concern: Man hates to
reform! He will rather suffer untold
agonies rather than adopt reformatory
measures which have a1eaO ideas among
their ingredients. He most always
consoles himself with that old legend
invented by the Father of Lies, "It's
never too late to mend" And when
at last he perceives that, in order to
live, he must swallow the remedy, the
chances are about ten to one he'll take
an overdose, or in his great haste he'll
forget to read the label on the bottle
and swallow poison by mistake, and
serves him right!
But if everything passes off smooth
ly; if he gets rid of the evil that has sc
long weighed down his soul, then hi
begins to think of the original reform
: er, and he lauds him to the sky; ht
erects monuments to his memory; hi
, gives his name to streets, and cities
and counties, and race horses, ant
pleasure yachts; and shows his appreci
J alton of the "Great Reformer" in {
thousand other ways.
Lou tAO Woy tuO WOIlu ways
Karl Marx was exiled, Liebknecht i'm
prisoned. Twenty years ago they wer,
} classed with the enemies of society
, ten years ago they were called Utopial
, dreamers; today we style them philos
, ophers; ten years hence they will b.
referred to as farsighted statesmen
t whose prescience was marvellous; be
7 fore the year Of our Lord 1850 our pub
/ lie places will be adorned with thei
> monuments. Il started out to prov
} that the reformer is necessity, bu
: have wandered somewhat from tn
! subject: But it matters little, you cal
! easily prove it yourself. Take you
: own case, for example. You know
! perfectly well you will never amour
! to tinker's dam unless you reform
r Be your own reformer. And remem
/ ber, It's never too early to mend.)-
r Every sincere reformer should we
! come persecution. There is an India
r plant which gives forth pleasan
d odor when trampled upon. The II
!! former resembles that plant. Whe
8 abuse is heaped upon his head; whe
vituperation is his daily portion; whe
: he bears all, suffers all, for the sake Q
J, the reforms he is advocating, th