The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-18
THE IIicuEn oPrI,rIs,I.

thoughtful men are rising in protcs,
against certain aspects OF tho so -callcd
"uplift" and Its patter. No longer do
they swallow the physic OF those ply
sicians who would cure the ills of tho
world overnight: no longer do cdi-
tors throw open their columns 70,
lengthy eulosics OF those sclf-anoint-
cd apostles of righteousness. Doubts
of long standing have become con
firmed and the average man Is won
dering IL there be not something FUN
ldamcntally wrong with these hasty
lpropagandists
! inc reasons for this reaction arc not
far TO find. From the very outset
some OF these new crusaders have
promised to contend with monsters far
beyond their strength. Unmindfnl Of
| the fact that the world has Ind its
dragons since tho beginning. some of
! our reformers walked tho battlomcnts
OF the castle OF vanity and promised
TO conquer in the first encounter. The
great body of honest mon. over aux-
ious to aid In any effort for righteous
ness, badc these men Godspecd and lent
them help. only TO find their cham
pions soon routed. Admirers have be-
como cynics and supporters doubters
Then, too. the patter that has been
employed III much OF the agitation for
social reform has angcrcd, II Il has
not disguised. those who should have
been It's chief advocates. That much
quoted word "uplift" In particular has
given offensc. and with IL may be
ranked those stock phrases which be-
speak tho Service" those render who
engage In social work. Charity loses
It's beauty when Il exalts itself: vir-
tue is debased when ii asserts It's SUI
periority. The words arc bad enough:
the state of mind which they bespenk
is even worse
still stronger factor in discrcdit~
ms tho 'uplift" has been the Grass
and inexcusable ignorance of somo of
those who seek TO correct the evils OF
city life. Ono would think that the
very complexity OF the problems In
volved would suggest tho necessity OF
careful preparation TO solve thcm-or
adequate study before reform Is un
dertakcn. Yet one finds good men and
women with no training In such mat
tcrs, boldly Offering solutions for
questions that have puzzled the world
s.ncc the days Of the pyramid build
ers.
None would deter these mon and
women from consideration and study
OF these questions; none can honest
y decline to welcome their co-opera-
ton: yet those who must provide funds
Tor pressing reforms and those whose
votes must make reforms effective dc
lnand preparation and study as n pre-
REQUESTS TO propaganda and crusade
Sometimes we fear that this grow
ins distrust OF the present methods
and equipment OF the "upliftcrs" NAV
cause return of that social pessim-
ism which prevailed Il few years ago
Disappointed with tho scanty results
achieved where so much has been
promised, disguised with the self
righteous attitude of certain reform
crs. ana disgruntlod when Ignorance
SHOWS itself where knowledge should
be expected. the average man In tho
street may wonder IT, after all, the old
was not as good as the new.
| But VIC trust that good sense ami
1rm faith will prevail, and that a new
optimism will prevail Which VIII bo
more effective than our old lnhmnnp-
/ itN or our modern uPlift. Surely there
I is no just reason for pcssimlsm. no
cause 10 be discouraged. Passinr re-
! form movements may ebb and flow.
iaise prophets may rise. deceive even
the elect and he discrcditcd: but little
( by httlo 'he mass OF righteousness is
: growing, the good in the world IS in
crcasing, and mans humanity is be-
coming more deeply fixed in his soul.
Our belief is settled that with time
VIII come a moro settled program OF
constructive reform. founded on broad.
sane lines of Justice. 10 this program
there arc certain plain essentials
These are, in SONS measure, the cor
rection OF tho faults of the present
system.
There must. first OF ALL be cousnr.
vatism which will promise no moro
'''"' - Sd!i perform we must
forget that to no generation is given
the task OF solving every problem that
confronts II. One generation sows.
another reaps; one sees an evil an
other. corrccts it. We canno, proceed
safely on any other principle than that
of doing our very best and leaving to
God and to postcrity those issues wo
cannot determine
There must. likewise. be Il more pro-
found sympathy ana moro intimate
touch with human distress-not tho
sanctity CT the broadencd phylactery
nor the professcd desire to "uplft'
from above. but that love which hum
bles itself, that humanity which up
holds.
There must, last OF all. be earnest
preparation and careful study. 70
correct an evil. we must know it's
cause 10 cure tho diseases of society,
VIC must study, not the symptoms. but