Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-12-01
MEMBER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday, December I. 1920.
Guiding Personalities"

Half the tragedy of our times is
probably due to the singular absence
of guiding personalities cast in the
heroic mould of the Gladstones,
Cavours and Lincolns of the nine
teenth century. The consciences Of
the people seem to be blunted. their
souls half dead. we are, indeed,
passing through a period Of great
spiritual WEAKNESS. How we are to be
reused from it it is hard to say, but
we can imagine how Gladstone
would set about the task."-Liverpool
Post.
Undoubtedly men are moved to
wonderful enterprise by appeals to
their ethical natures. Tremendous
results were thus brought about dur
ing the great war. but the heights at
tanned have not been held. We have
been slipping down; exaltation isn't a
fixed state of mind. Rather it is the
stimulant that enables one to pass a
crisis. Such q crisis may be on us
but subjected for so long to stimulants
we do not respond to mild ones and
there may be some question whether
stronger ought to be applied. What
the patient needs is an opportunity
and the will to regain robust health
through the slow processes Of nature.
Man today is by no means lacking
in guiding personalities" though
just at present they do not seem to
be classified under the head of states
men. and of course statesmen are al
ways needed, though not always .ap-
preciated in their day and generation.
Gladstone and Lincoln were not,
probably would not be again. But
there are many personalities which
should be guiding ones that seem to
have been overlooked. A famous
French specialist gave up his life the
other day to the cause of science and
little attention was called to it. In
perfecting X-ray apparatus he re-
ceived burns which after years of
suffering caused his death. which he
foresaw but paid no heed to, keeping
on the even tenor of his way until the
end. If people were animated by that
kind of spirit the waters would be
stirred and man would see therein
other than his own reflection.
Our vision is defective; doesn't
recognize the guiding personalities.
which exist and are all about us:
When General Haig animated the
British army with his indomitable
courage and stood with it in the last
ditch his name was in the mouth of
the man in the street. who had the
vision to perceive him and admire
him. Then when Haig refused re-
ward until justice might be done to
his comrades he again stirred the
waters. But how is it today? Has
the world vision that may compre-
bend, admire and be inspired by the
Haig WHO is devoting his life quietly
but nntiringly to obtaining for his
soldiers their due? Does it recognize
that as never before this gallant gen.
tlcman is guiding personality along
the path which the peoples must pass
if they come to their own?
When at Verdun the French de-
clared the enemy should not pass the
world had vision to comprehend Has
it the vision to comprehend the mean
ing of that same honor and courage,
q like steadfastness applied to the
daily affairs of men? 1t would seem
not. otherwise the broken pledge. the
,Iisregarded contract. the neglect of
duty would not be of such common
occurrence. We may not be in the
mood to stone the prophets, but we
ere not recognizing them: the trouble
is with ourselves. Is it surprising
that people impressed by these con-
ttions turn to prayer for guidance?
And isn't it plain that more ought to
be<mpressed?