The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1904-06-10
THOUGHTS.

Theory aud Practice rarely 90 hand
in hand; though the one is born Of the
other. Our theorist finds out n OF
Natures carefully guarded secrets and
holds it up to the wondering gaze OF
humanity; aud when the first gasp OF
establishment il over, the astOnished
eye turns again to familiar things, and
the inyariable question arises, What
is the good Of it?"
Our practical man then steps IN and
adapts the new discovery to the needs
Of humanity. Sometimes he forgets to
acknowledge his Indebtedness, some
times the world at large forgets it for
him.
Even the blind groupings Of false theo-
rists haye produced useful arts. The
ostrologers paved the way for the art
Of navigation, the Alchemists for the
science Of chemistry.
Seldom can the pure scientist HIM
self subscribe directly % practical needs.
The most beautiful theory ever evolved
from the subtle brain Of the deepest
thinker, set forth with the soundest
logic and most attractive y~erbiage, falls
most previously until purged, ampli-
fled, qualified by contact with reality.
Our Declaration Of Independence, 3
H.
We have seen, embodies many OF the
most attractive theories for which man
kind has ever been willing to suffer, to
labor and to die, and we have been
over a hundred years trying to u
their practical Interpretation. Some OF
our worst faults today are due TO u
lingering desire TO read things literally.
The newly arrived emigrant, freed from
an old world tyranny, hears that all
men were born free aud equal and In
his ignorance expects the rewards OF
talent and diligence to be thrown into
the lap Of stupidity and ~laziness, and is
apt to seek advancement by the broad
and easy paths Of pull and politics"
The man who positively refuses to
believe there can be two sides 10 a
question, is the same a. the man who
would say the moor is the same all
round because she turns ever the same
face earthward.
1t is doubtless true, a. theories go,
that all wealth is derived from the
land, and if that were everything, the
farmer should be paramount in the
community. 1t is also true that, with
present-day labor.saving appliances
and cooperation, enough Of the neces-
saries Of life to save every human being
from poverty can be and are most
easily produced. Yet few but enthusi-
asts and dreamers can be found to wish
either undue prominence to the agri-
culturist or an equal distribution Of
surplus production.
The invaluable ability to look square
~ at both sides Of every question Is a
rare possession. Were it more com
mon, we should hear less Of strikes or
theI tyranny Of Trusts or the abuses OF
Trades Unions. Capital has its rights.
Labor has its rights. II each could
appreciate the other, and could consider
the other, all would be well. But the
ACQUISITION Of wealth and the gain OF
power only whet the appetite and con-
centrate the gaze upon the n aspect
or the other.
, OF old, Capital had everything ii
own way. Nowadays Labor Seems
( likely to usurp supreme power
Neither can secure absolute poweI
without danger to the community.
I The evils resulting from the unrestrict
ed rule Of Capital are obvious. Thej
e have been exploited in language tina
appeals to all. None can resist TN
pathos Of "The Cry Of the Children
or "The lSong Of the Shirt" Labo
has seemed so powerless in the hand
Of Capital, that the sympathy Of al
has gone out to the helpless innocen
B. struggling in the grasp Of the grin
d and cruel giant.
Some day another Mrs. Brownin.
K shall plead the cause Of paralyze
e Capital. For the dangers Of triumph
ant Labor are a. fatal a. those {
omnipotent Capital. Even now
Trades Unions put a premium on un
skilled labor; take hope from tn
r earnest and diligent, and supply 1t
IL the shirker and the slothful one. Eve
{. now the spirit Of individual Initiative
IL which has made the AnglO-SaxOn Kin
= of the universe, is seriously Threatened
- Even now the two free nations OF IN
world see the shadow Of a tyrann
L which. in some respects, surpasses tia
Of the benighted countries they :
f. so openly despise.
&c High wages are good if they go
those who know how 70 spend them
leisure is good for those who kno
how 10 use IL: but money and idl
-, hours are the devils most dead
weapons.
" The laws Of nature are inexorah
and ruthless, but the world moves y
ne them and nan cannot 60 against the
NJ long with IMMUNITY. The weakest
:. Inc wall. the httest u survive; 80 RAJ
the Supreme Decree, and VINO Is III
that he shall disregard IL!