The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-10
LEApERs THAT roLLow.

LEADERS THAT FOLLOW.
Perhaps there never was a. time in
America when we had more political
leaders They can be found in every
cross roads committee meeting and
in every delegation in Congress; they
throng every State convention and
their names appear on every
ballot. They are willing to lead
in anything. They invent new
theories OF administration and they
suggest new methods of return
ing governments to the people. They
flood the magazines and they litter the
newspapers with their political pro-
jects, their warnings, their theories
and their adInoniticns to the flocSs
which they would lead beside the still
waters OF political peace and into the
green pastures of Legislative novelty
These men never falter If one of
their pet plans is overthrown. they
are ready to lead with another, and If
e fine political expedient is rejected
by the people, they have others to
offer without pausing moment or
passing from the red glare of pub
Jicity They have their deep-seated
political convictions and are rich
in paramount issues" but when the
folly of these is manifest or their
novelty is outworn the leaders of the
hour reject them with alacrity
and harrow the field for others. They
are not men to educate the people
by their firm allegiance to principle,
and they never think for moment
that before great cause can succeed
1t must fail; their leadership is always
immediate and their expedicnts are al
ways temporary.
These men are called leaders, but
they are always followers. They march
at the head of the procession proudly
waving their banners, but their eyes
are always to the rear. They never
think of what they will overcome, but
of how large following they can
get and while they listen ito the
voice of duty" their ear is TO the
ground, listening TO catch the sound OF
following footsteps. Where others d,
not follow they do not care to lead, TO
they are only leaders Of the mob be
cause they are willing to be ruled b.
the mob.
Such statesmen as these may las
generation or they may ingloriousl,
perish after a single campaign. They
lack everything that would make then
true leaders and they must give place
TO men who have convictions and
never falter in the pursuit of these
convictions. They appeal not TO the
reason but to the passion of men and
they always disappear WHOM reason
triumphs over passion. To these men
and to those who have wearied of
leaders who follow, we commend this
eulogy paid by Representative Gil
lett, of Massachusetts,, to the late Con-
gresham William c. Lowering, of
Taunton. quoted in'' the New York
Evening Sun.
1t deserves a place in the classics
of the day.
'.He assayed TO be a leader and no
a follower of those hcrepresentod-con
tldercQ II his dulS, Hcl SlHip'S W y
the. n1onlelltary waves of public opinion
and waver with them, but to determine
what was for the permanent welfare
OF his constituents and OF the nation
and follow that and endeaNor to leac
them in the same path. He was no.
Eiven to elf-advertising;;>h he did no
curry newspaper favor and notoriety
hut in his thoughtful, Intelligent wa,
nc labored for the public good. ant
won his reward in the respect OF al
who knew him.
HE did net strive for popularity b
frantic pronunciation of every TEN
porary bogy or by fervent worshi
of every temporary idol, but he car
ried his head above the clouds o
temporary passion and prejudice an
tried TO look broadly into tn
future 10 discover what was stabl
and permanent, and regulate his con
duct by that and not by the whim o
the hour"
A man who possesses these auaiihc
will never have a large following, 70
he does not seek a following, but hi
life Will be remembered when the op
portnnist is forgotten and the mo
leader has only oblivion as a 1nonu
,nent.
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A JEREMIAH COME TO JUpG,IEN'