Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-12-25
AN EQUAL CHANGE
The Profound Craving of Modern
Times-Favoritism Is Decried on
All Sides Some Questions Con-
sidered An Illustration of an
Equal Chance Given-The Results.
By W. t. Williams

BY w. T. Williams
This is the profound craving of
modern times. 1t has taken deep
root in the soul, and we hear it on
every hand. 1t is hard for US to turn
in any direction without hearing some
thing concerning it, for the innumer-
able hosts have been veritably charm
ed by it. They have felt intensely the
eloquence of this proposition. Their
bosoms have been heaved by it, and
they are willing to run all sorts of
hazards in order to secure the prize.
Surely the multitudes yearn more and
more for an equal chance in the
world, and that, as we think, because
they believe vehemently that they
are entitled to it. They have gone
very far already along this line, i'm
somuch that their sacrifice has been
immense and their sufferings inde-
scribable. Never have the children Of
men fought so patiently, eagerly and
savagely for anything as they have
done for this. 1t is to them a pearl
of very great preciousness.
Favoritism is decried on all sides,
as it should be. 1t is true that it has
played large part in our history, and
perhaps, we are justified in saying
that it is not dead yet. 1t is not easily
killed, because it is by nature so
shameless that it crawls within the
bounds of the most sacred precincts.
Every channel has been contaminated
by it, and it is guilty of every crime
in the catalog. Nevertheless, the
fact that it is looked upon today with
such scorching derision, is sufficient
to prove its unfairness, and, it might
signify too that it's wings, although
strong, have been cropped. 1t has
merited the blow of death more than
once, and, unless we have been made
irrational by what we have seen and
heard, it ought to be slain without
delay in every heart. For it is one of
those things which must not be allow
ed to develop within US. Every man
is entitled to a fair chance, and a lit
tie besides. How beautiful the char
acter that has become gentle enough
to consider the children of men from
the point of view of the Nazarene!
Such character is more valuable to
the community in which he resides
than army of ten thousand times ten
thousand. Let US hail the man when
ever he is seen. He is worthy of our
most sincere admiration.
Taking for granted now that an
equal chance is given to every one,
will this make us all alike in circum-
stances? This question is pointed,
but it strikes the quick of the issue;
and before it can be answered, there
are some things which must be taken
into consideration. Is it right to say
that all people are equal in capacity !?
Is it correct to think that all minds
are on an equal footing? Is it ac-
curate to believe that all men are
equal in strength? Unless these ques-
tions can be answered in the affirma-
tive, an equal chance can never abol-
ish the unevenness of life, which is
entirely too evident even in these en-
lightened days of ours. Our capacity
for this or that is not to be regarded
as negligible feature in this matter,
for it is, whether we accept it or not,
the very quality on which the emphas-
is must be placed. Some men are
faster than others. Some men are
stronger than their fellows. Some
men are better managers than their
nelghbors. Human life is not all
level ground. It has hills, mountains
deep and shallow valleys in it just the
same as ones country. There are ele-
vations and depressions in it. Our en-
dowments are not all of the same size
and these variations are phases toe
important to set aside. They must be
understood before ever we can hope
to appreciate this issue which seems
SO divinely fair.
In order to demonstrate conclusive.
ly what we have in mind, we will re.
fer to that illustrious short-story
known as "The Parable of tht
Pounds" The author of it wanted tt
correct an erroneous conception which
he knew was working havoc within
the small circle of his nearest friends
A certain nobleman went into a fal
country, to- receive for himself {
Kingdom, and to return. And he call
ed ten servants of his, and gave then
ten pounds, and said unto them, Trad,
ye herewith till I come" These ser
wants received from the hands of tn,
nobleman an equal chance. They hat
from him pound apiece, and h,
started on his journey. Nothing coult
be fairer than this.
But, after he had returned, the da,
of reckoning dawned; and it wa
found that the first man by wise en-
deavors had multiplied his origina
ability by ten. This was certainly al
accomplishment worthy of the nam
and he was rewarded accordingly
"Well done, thou good servant; be
cause thou vast found faithful in
very little, have thou authority owe
ten cities"
The second man appeared with hi
report. He also had been faithful i
his stewardship, and upon finding tina
he had multiplied his original gift b
five, he heard from the lips of tn
nobleman: "Be thou over five cities.
He received in accordance with hi
ability to produce. Even though hi
increase was only half as much as tn
increase of his fellow worker, it wa
not sighted in any manner. It wa
duly recognized.
The third man came and said:
feared thee because thou art an aus
tere man; thou takest up that whic
thou layedst not down, and reapes
that which thou didst not SOW. Hel
is thy pound, which I have laid up
a napkin" Instead of being industr
GUS in season, he found fau
with his opportunity. The noblema