The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-11-17
The Hostility TO Change.
az DR.. FRANK CRANE
Copyright. 1915. by Frank Crane)


enthusiasm for change.
We not only have one political party
that styles itself Progressive, but In
every field Of endeavor there IS Vigor-
Gus element that is for new methods new
ideas. and new conditions.
In medicine the average physician
aims To be up TO date, which means THAT
he knows the latest theories OF disease
the latest ways of treatment, and the
latest kinds of drugs.
In every science the hypothesis OF
twenty years ago are already out OF date.
Biology. psychology, chemistry, are an
nouncing weekly the new discoveries.
The business world is alive with mod
eTn ideas Old-fogy manufacturers, rail-
ways, and banks are left behind.
Religion abounds in new sects, new
ways of spiritual culture, new attitudes
toward human depravity. a significant
movement is called New Thought.
BESIDES we have the new education,
new economies, new principles of govern
ment, new programmes of international
cooperation.
When the young idealist energies from
college and looks about for the best direc-
he is usually fred with the ambition to
change something. He sees the world
is all wrong Ancient customs are full OF
wastes and error. Old institutions sadly
need going over.
And yet in spite Of all this spirit OF
change in the air, the reformer sooner
or later finds out that mankind does not
want change, and the world is both or
gained against it and opposed to it with
a dull and permanent passion.
Everybody is willing to find fault with
things as they are. but when il comes to
alteration. everybody is in favor of
changing anything and anybody except
himself Nobody grows hot over the
proposition 10 change his own ideas, his
own tastes, and his own manner Of life.
Consequently when the young knight
of progress touches his lance and charges
against things as they are he finds HIM
self attacking an almost impregnable
putty-like mass. He is apt TO become
discouraged He usually grows sour. The
world is full of pessmists Men wouldn't
listen TO them.
1t might be just as we'll therefore to
bear in mind that politicians don't want
politics different from what they are, re-
ligioniSts as a rule want old truths and
not new ones preached to them, drinkers
don't want prohibition, lovers don't want
eugenicS the old way is good enough for
the cooks, a lot Of women don't want to
vote. the slums don't want 10 be cleaned
up.
WI ye all want is TO have things as
they Always were The very best reason
still eXtant for doing thing is because
we always have done it. The Chinese
are not the only people who worship their
ancestors Do you know that Lord
Northcllfe. the editor Of The London
Tmies. once called US "The American
/ Chinese"
Dr. Albert S Gray says that, while we
pride ourselves on our individuality, -
! matter Of fact Americans cultivate
what Emerson called "the virtue in most
demand -conformity. II is vastly easier
/ to follow in the rut of others ideas than
/ TO originate ideas Of our own. THE ideal
of the American home" he asserts, sis
/ to protect the developing child from hav-
! ing 10 assume responsibilities. Every
where the child is hedged about with
/ projections and deliberately trained not
| TO stand on his own feet"
And Sir Henry Sumner Maine, in one
of his books, strikingly points out the
worldwide hostility toward change
"Vast populations" he declares, some
Of them with civilization considerable
/ but peculiar, detest that which in the
I language of the west would be called re-
| form The entire Mohammedan world
/ detests it. The multitudes Of colored
men who swarm in the great continent
of Africa detest it and it is detested by
the large part Of mankind which we are
accusomed TO leave on one side as barbar-
Gus or savage The millions upon mil
| lions Of men who fill the Chinese empire
loathe it. The enormous mass Of the In
dian population hates and breads change.
"To the fact that the enthusiasm for
change is comparatively rare must be
added the fact that it is extremely mod
ern It is known but to small part OF
mankind and to that part but for short
period during history of incalculable
! length"