The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-07-30
thursday, JULY 80, 1914.
LEADERSHIP.

LEADERSHIP.
It cannot always be said of the leader, as
it has been of the poet, that he is born, not
made There are, of course, born leaders
like Washington, Jackson, Calhoun, Clay,
Benton, Yancey, Toombs, Breckenridge
jefferson Davis and the peerless II. +. Lee
recognized instinctively and followed i'm.
plicity. but there have also been leaders, OF
a secondary rank, to be sure, who have De-
come such by slow toll, patient persistence
and gradual requirement Of the requisite
qualities. The really great leaders have
been born so-leadership originally was
self-ordained. The recognition OF leader
ship is found not only universally through
out mankind, but among the higher orders
of animals. 1t first became essential for
attack and defense as between rival tribes
and clans, and when the social organism
began to develop was Indispensable to
fashion and direct it. Primarily it was
based chiefly on the possession of physical
prowess. AS organization become perfect
ed and effective to compass its ends leader
ship came to depend more on cunning,
supplementing and controlling physical
strength and the power OF numbers, until
at least it fell under mastership and guild
ance of will power and the higher intellect
ual qualities.
Evidently any sentiment, theory or pur-
pose to become effective must find embod-
iment in person capable of giving it ex-
preston and of concentrating behind it the
full force of all its advocates; Of inspiring
them with zeal for its success and with
confidence in his ability to bring it about,
and of bringing opposing forces into har-
mony with it or overcoming them.
Kingship used to mean leadership, but
it does so no longer. With one or two con-
spicuous exceptions political leadership has
existed by popular choice, and, while that
choice is sometimes mistaken, it must be
said that, as rule, the selections of the
people have been good ones. They have
realized that, the only way to get things
done is through leaders, and they have
generally designated superior men for the
work There is evident now, however, in
some directions, disposition to believe
that the world would get On better without
leaders, and to get rid of them. Hitherto
progress has been attained by the compell-
ing guidance of superior personalities,
superior not by any artificial human dis
tinction, but by natural endowment The
attempt is being made to organize society
in such a way as to eliminate the ineqali-
ties growing out of this natural order.
Socialism proposes to carry on not-only
government, but the great processes OF
production, manufacture, exchange and
: distribution, by means of machinery which
will recognize no difference in the capacity
or any individual in his reward Allincen-
tive to individual excellence will be remov-
ed and all recognition and compensation
for superior ability and industry denied
Captains of industry will be unknown ane
every social unit be compelled to remain or
the same dead level.
Needless to say that with no possibilit.
open to any one beyond living, on exactl,
the same scale of every one else, progress
would come to a standstill.
Growth under leadership, which is Ma
lures method, with its prizes for the com
petent and the deserving, has given u
everything We have that is worth having
and promotes the steady Improvement o
the race. The fittest come to the front ant
survive and pass on their good qualities tt
posterity. Not only SO, but if we look at tn,
great industrial and commercial leaders 0
to-day in this country we shall find tina
they are not where they are by accident, o
by favoritism, but by force of their owl
uudtlttcS. AIulOSt every udu pFOIuiucu
now in commerce and finance began lif
poor, showing that, despite all the complain
and discomfort, this is land of exac
equality OF opportunity for every one-tha
natural leadership, the outcome of superio
qualities, prevails, and when the vast ant
growing beneficence of those who hav
been conspicuously successful is consider
ed it cannot be said that they have faile,
to recognize their obligation to the socia
order which made their success possible.
A glance at history will show that every
thing Of moment, everything of advantag
to the race, whether reached by militar
force and the agency of government, or b
intellectual achievement, has been unde
the direction and inspiration of capabl
and worthy leadership, and instead of at
tempting to discard it we should recogniz
and cherish it, whenever it appears, an
yield ourselves to its guidance.
FUSS AND FEATHERS
John Marks of Assumption, and w. I