The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-07-17
STRENGTH.

STRENGTH.
From the plea of the unjust steward OF
old, who, to escape the censure OF his con-
science. the moral sense has been drugged
with the falsehood, 81 have not strength.
We will detatch this phrase from its set
ting in the parable and regard it as ex-
pressing very we'll the excuse most natural
to make for wrong doing of any sort, or
retaining from right-doing of any sort.
Very much in our lives turns upon this
simple phrase. 1t accounts for most of our
delinquencies, most of our failures. Yet
the truth is we have strength, strength to
meet all right demands upon US. 1t is true
some have better opportunities than others
for faithfulness to conscience, but all have
opportunity. Men are not like acorns, some
of which are in the ground and some on top
of it. The acorns at the surface sprout
and endeavor to grow, but succeed only IN
breaking the shell. Those we'll in the
ground, having something upon which to
feed and fasten, become oaks. Yet every
man, so to say, has his soil of opportunity.
In one case indeed it is better than in
another, but each man has opportunity
enough to grow in; enough to make his
moral nature strong and vigorous, fruitful
of right conduct.
On all sides this specious plea, 81 have
not strength" is made. Public opinion
declares, 1--WE cannot suppress this vice or
that wickedness; it ought to be put down
at any cost of money or effort, at any per-
sonal risk, but we have not strength. p"
"This demagogue ought to be driven to
the wall, that machine destroyed, that trust
regulated and controlled, says greatState,
but | have not strength.
Many an evil, commercial evil, political
evil many a social wrong, binds govern
ment like Samson of old with its withes,
and, unlike Samson, government often lies
helpless, fast bound by what it both fears
and depores. Some day government will
put forth its strength, then the withes OF
the wrongs that bind it will part as thread
of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire
Men know the right, but are disinclined
to do it. | ought to do this thing, but 81
have not strength" is the plea that fits
most of the evasions of duty.
"Once to every man and nation
Comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth with falsehood,
For the good or evil side.'
How may one best qualify for any pro-
fession or occupation in life is expressed ir
these simple words of advice to a young
writer by William Dean Howells: "Ge
first of all and be man.
81 have not strength" says the lawyer
who descends to trickery and sharp prac'
tice. 81 have not strength says thu
yellow journalist who cares more for a large
circulation than for decency, more for PEG
pies pennies than for their morals; 8"
have not strength" says the business mar
to breast the dishonesties of trade, to at
tempt the reform of abuses as old as hu
man barter; 81 have not strength" say
the political leader, ''to embody in mysel
the ideals that have always so exalted thu
countay; / cannot be the grand man
ought to be and would like to be.' So w
might write over the doorway of every pro
fession and occupations: eco first of al
and be a man, And we might sadly writ
upon the curbstone the excuse so familia
to every heart, 81 have not strength"
Yet how much can be done to destroy tn
bad and perfect the good in US. Method
of getting rid of all sorts of evils are mul
tiplying. We kill weeds by electricity
make changes in government, in education
in social laws and customs, in hundred
things thatare radical, that involve change
in human nature itself. In the engineering
sciences men fear not to attempt the solu
tod of any problem, the undertaking 0
any work. We know the story of how natur
has been circumvented; made to thwar
many Of her own original designs; mad
to take up arms against herself. So W
have power to array one part Of our natur
against another, to suppress bad propen
sity, to expurgate noxious, wicked habit
to effect radical moral changes in ourselves
The power Of a man over his own natur
may rise to the grandeur of mans powe
over nature. Is it not strange, then, tina
one endowed with such capacity shout
ever say, to the reproach of his manhood
81 have not strength"
When we rightly put forth our strengt
another strength meets ours.