The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-26
Know Thyself.1

'
Men have, ut times, accepted certain beliefs
without taking tho trouble to find out whether
or or not They We're based upon authenticated
i .1.e,s Thus tho belief that majorlties are
right, ana minorities wrong, has taken such
firm root In the minds Of men thntsIt hns
como come down nigh ,unchaIlcnsed through the
ages. It has been smagnifed Into an automatic
truth tr the application of which to the prncti-t
cal affairs of life was expected to prove n
panacea for oil political and economical Ills
and hasten the coming Of the millennium. In
republics and constitutional monarchies It be-
came the very basis Of government The
party that. reprNents the majority OF the
nomical and financial policies OF the govern
n , ana casts Its vote for peace or war
That this 5ist nc ideal way Of arriving at q
fair and Just solution Of problems that affect
tho hnpptness8 and prosperity OF n people no
ono VIII gainsny. provided that the majority
in each case Is honest and Intelligent. But
experience has taught Us that such majorities
and not tho8g5 exception. Mnjorltcs nre
governed by5appetites and applaud chnrlntnn-
Ism, md atheS State Is. therefore. too often
at the mercy of taccldcnt or passion. As far
back MS Biblical times II we ponder the adj
mot considered d safe guide for the Individual
to follow: 1T houSshalt not follow a multitude
to do evil, neither shalt thou speak In n cause
tice ."rn aSao a'tsr multitude = Wfes' JUS
Observation Y teaches that multtldcs arc
more readily swnyed by appeals to their prejn-i
dces and pm ssiOns, than by appeals to thc>:9
ntel lgencets This is due to the fact that Incst
linen do not think for themselves and nre,
Ssi leaa
ers who know. the human material they are
1denllngF with can achieve almost anything
hold Bosses our Political lie upon as tho
masses Occasionally when good sense and
honesty Asserti ITEMS elves, the leader who
of pelf and prAJudTte, finds himself torsakcn
and forsottens y Hut these instances arc rare
ffesm shon sn NTH soon
| indifferent and accept the leadership Of the
| most corrupt. 81
slowed upon men who are thoroughly worthy
| of that distinction, the more fact that a
tmajorlty Is voring n certain cause or meas
| eide, and that those who are outnumbered
nre In tho wrong.3 Studying tho history of
human development. especially the chapters
| that deal with the origin8of tho great move
ments that have helped mankind so materially
| In Its onward march, we learn that the true
sa nenn hs
torcal truth when he says IA people great
action ordinarily proceeds from the minority"
tics science and religion stood tho few opposed
to the many. Multtudes do not take kindly
| to innovations. which make obligatory some
creep within certain bohnds, beyond which they
| have no desire. Reformers were always; un-
popular with the masses Ter e arousing them
| n Though bitterly opposed the power OF the
! minority faithful ms truth and strong In
righteousness, has ever accomplished the work york
| Ut prevailed for any length Of time, for tho
world is ruled by n Providence that makes for
in Israel who spoke in the name Of God, and M.
from Him derived their authority and all tho
i men and women who carry within their bosoms
fire taken from Gods sacred affairs. have ever
| been In the minority In their struggle for the
| nobler things of life. Michalah is an almost
4 forgotten name in the history OF ancient s.
/ tiers in that immortal volume Of noble souls;
He was at the court Of Ahnbi and his wicked
consor Jezebel But the a9o psop aea
i pair and sanctioned all the CYL ana rlco
perperttnted In their very sight, Michaiah, IN
and Soh h So 81 A hn
for this servant Of tho Lord would not prophesy
as Ahab wanted him Before no left TO fight
i "a dungeon with orders that but little bread
and water should be given. him: Like another
i Elijah, Mchniah was fcnrless Of consequence
4 Justice. = ! H.,
The reason that prompts men to follow blind
ly others Is due to ignorance o. themselves |.
4 OF their capacities and certain defects. II i
like clay in the hands Of others and pre-.
endes all serious moral ~ tha
4 self knowledge ~ asserting that know thy
self" tho maxim OF their philosopher Thaes
had fallen from e. 4e psop,e seet
"
7 search their hearts and try their ways 1" tx
arrive at the knowledge OF ones nature ~
z wolves self-exnmnation, which 10 q cure o. w
Z soul It was Goethe, tho pnrd o. Welnn =
who snid: "Mtn may try many thlhGs ON,
Il not live at random. and tf you would not ny
Mt random It would bo necessary Tor you y
fix set times for calling yourselr 70 nccount.
Tho most pitiablc life Is tho aimless NE
the life devoid OF divine purpose. Heaven he!l
4 the man or woman who Is not interested J.. y
anything outside of his 81, her own immedint'
z comfort md that related thereto: Man neea
4 the broader vista Of life.-the. lifat that throp
i with love and sympathy for others ana is ~
tuned to honesty and purity. 70 make g, mn
a TT child OF the CREATOR q great nehl 4. .
human wrecknge found b sreWn along !, o.,
i shores Of fe.sf ocean Is the result OF man
Y Ignorance of himself, and OF his aim and ipur
pose OF life Life cannot bG laid out on line
= Of uncertainty and Ignorance, Just as little a
Z no one will think Of sending ship acros
the ocean without charts and compasses an
g someone who is able to consult them an
Knowledge Of self will also lead to golf
4 control Our passions. by their very nature
like the winds, ara not easy TO control, an
our actions ara generally the outcome OF ou
passlons TO control them that they ma
serve lIfes noflest and highest PURPOSE ough
to DO tho ambition OF every man VINO wishe
to make tho most OF his 9lite, tor the conn! l
!. OF self in all the same ana great happohlnE
Z Of life makes for independence ana s're'ise
L OF character. Gg5( Ts&Sa7s 81 III -,
lesson for man to lay 70 heaFt y ~ - 20 w
his lfe the golden glft q aS ,a hSesy a.,