Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-28
Sunday Morning Talk.
elf-Reliance VS.. Reliance on Another

Self-Reliance VS.. Reliance on Another.
The amazing haste of many persons to en-
list the sympathy and support of President
Roosevelt in their respective undertakings
is one of the striking phenomena of recent
days. If any set of men are in trouble or
have grievance, or want to secure some
Special legislation, off they rush to WASH
ing ion, In the expectation that the man who
settled the strife between Russia and Japan
viii be able to apply his magic wand to any
disturbed situation, and evoke order and
peace. Candidates for office, even for that
OF village constable are sure they stand a
better chance if 1t can be whispered about
that President Roosevelt privately hopes
that they will win. And the most amusing
recent development of this sort Is the re-
port that in a pending political contest in
Great Britain, one asplrant for a seat In
parliament claims that he is a man after
Roosevelts own heart. and that the prin-
ciples Of his party are Endorsed by the
American President.
All this must be very gratifying 10 MI
Roosevelt. unless it is carried so far as to
become wearisome. No doubt he is asked
by persons impatient with the present social
order to do a thousand things that would
take him far beyond the limits of his con-
stftutlonal authority. Moreover. even his
fund of energy and persistence, is probably
not exhaustless- Yet 1t is significant that
in these days of rampant democracy, when
the masses are being educated and elevated
to be their own masters and guides. there
should. nevertheless, be this almost IN
paralleled confidence in one man. 1t shows
that the individual is still TO play inn
portant role in shaping the destinies OF
mankind, and. that the heart Of the people
Will ever yearn for the right sort of leader
snip. The man of vision, the man of nerve.
the OF power will command the
admiration and arouse the enthusiasm of
the populace. And II to great mental en-
dowments be Joined probity OF character
and a genuine devotion to the public veal,
he often becomes the hero of a nation OF
the entire world
But getting a great man on your side is
not the same as getting on the side OF a
great man. Almost any one might be glad
to link with his own designs the name and
Endorsement OF a trusted and powerful
leader, but to ride into office on his reputa-
ton, without being heart and soul COM
mitted to his ideals, Is despicable. The first
thing for every worthy citizen to do is to
get on his side in just the measure that he
represents decency and the square deal.
And when you come to take the right stand
on those issues you are relying not so much
on an individual, noble as he may be, as you
are on all the forces in this universe that
make for righteousness You are IN league
with the saints and heroes OF all the ages.
You are on the side Of God himself.
And pushing the thought little further
you are thrown bAch upon SouIsS4l AZ
very wholesome fashion, for are all too
much inclined to lie down on stronger per-
sonalities in our homes and communities,
or to wait for society in general to do the
things for that Ii was never meant to
do that we ought to be ashamed to ask
anybody or any institution to do for us
He who has fully committed himself 10
right courses of action does not need 70
hasten feverishly after some renowned
leader and implore his assistance. with
RhodeTlck Dhu. he can say:
'sC,ome one come ALL this rock shall ny
From It's firm base as soon as l.
And the truly self-reliant man Is God
reliant mar also. THE PARS0N.