landmark in dealing with the real. A man's loftiest and most ideal notions must be of a singularly ethereal and, shall we not say, senseless kind, if he can never see how to take a single step that may tend in the slightest degree towards making them more real. If an ideal has no point of contact with what exists, it is probably not much more than the vapid outcome of intellectual or spiritual self-indulgence. If it has such a point of contact, then there is sure to be something which a man can do towards the fulfillment of his hopes. He cannot substitute a new national religion for the old, but he can at least do something to prevent people from supposing that the adherents of the old are more numerous than they really are, and something to show them that good ideas are not all exhausted by the ancient forms. He cannot transform a monarchy into a republic, but he can make sure that one citizen at least shall aim at republican virtues, and abstain from the debasing complaisance of the crowd."[1]
And we might add, "he cannot instantly make
truth the life of the nation, but he can be loyal to
its commandments. He cannot make political
leaders honest and patriotic, but he can refuse to
profit by their dishonesty or to regard them as
honest men if they will but wear his badge and
seek their own ends by promoting his. He can
form his own ideals of honour and glory and live
by them whatever way others may go."
In the seventh place, compromise increases in peril as we draw near the highest. If you take a man who is down on the lower levels, com-*
- ↑ Morley, "Compromise," p. 226.
