San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-06

ply. Jesus Christ was put to death
because OF his fearless teaching Of
purest morality and fundamental
truth.
Nearly all the great reformers and
advanced thinkers were tortured and
put to death. Such seems to have been
the perversity of human nature in all
ages. We do not understand 1t, we
cannot explain 1t.
We find the same perverted human
nature in modern times, but in a
somewhat modified form, owing to
changed conditions but the same Bit
ter antagonisms, the same political
and religious hatreds exist today as
in former times.
People are largely governed by their
feelings, their likes and dislikes; their
opinions are based largely upon preju-
dice, ignorance and error regardless
Of truth and justice. New ideas, new
truths are discredited and fought Bit
terly for no better reason than mere
qualification of their vanity In defense
Of their preconceived opinions. They
reason unconsciously thus: 1T can't
be SO because i never heard of it be-
FORE" or, II can't understand it.
therefore it can't amount to much"
Also there seems to be an unexpressed
feeling of envy and a reluctance to
admit that someone else had stated
q fact or thought Of an idea that was
strictly original.
All men of great achievements,
noble, generous men with big ideas. be-
come hated and meet with stubborn
opposition from the ignorant and con-
ceited who strive to rise by pulling
others down. Woodrow Wilson was
killed by the bitter hatred and opposi-
ton OF his political enemies. Henry
Ford, one of the squarest men Of the
present day, Is hated and bitterly OPP
posed in his altruistic endeavors by
a large number of men in public life.
When he equipped the "peace ship"
at his own expense he was ridicnled
and his motives impugned. Abraham
Lincoln did not escape the poison
shafts of his political opponents.
This criticism of his immortal Get
tysburg speech appeared in the Patriot
and Union, a newspaper printed at
Harrisburg. Pa, in 1868.
"The President succeeded on this
occasion, because he acted without
sense and without constraint in PAN
Drama that was gotten up for the
benefit of his party. We shall pass
over the silly remarks Of the Prcsi-
dent. For the credit of the nation we
are willing that the veil of oblivion
shall be dropped over them and that
they shall be no more repeated or
thought of :" Even George Washington
met with much opposition and abuse
from his own fellow countrymen.
1t seems to be the pure cussedness
Of human nature to oppose and belit-
tie everything which is great, noble
and really worth while. All the really
great inventions Of modern times were
perfected for our benefit by few
men, and they met with much discour-
| agement and sometimes ridicule,
James Fulton could get no encour-
| agement or assistance to perfect his
steamboat. Napoleon Bonaparte would
not buy il although he could have con-
quercd the world had he done so
When Stevenson first demonstrated
| his locomotive there was crowd OF
town clowns on hand to ridieule his
| expected failure. When Morse was
working on his telegraph and trying
to get government aid the secretary
Of state tried to be humorous by ask
| ing Morse how large bundle his tele'
graph would carry.
When Graham Bells telephone was
exhibited Mt the Centennial EXPOSE
ton in 1876 it was looked upon as be
ing a mere toy. Professor Langley. in
ventor Of the airplane. died of
broken heart because our government
would not mid him in perfecting hi
machine. "Young man, we are not tc