It will appear to the idealist who has contemplated the heavens more
closely than the earth that the policy I advocate is one which only
tardily could be put into operation, and would be paltry and inadequate
as a basis for society. The idealist with the Golden Age already in his
heart believes he has only to erect the Golden Banner and display it for
multitudes to array themselves beneath its folds; therefore he
advocates not, as I do, a way to the life, but the life itself. I am
sympathetic with idealists in a hurry, but I do not think the world can
be changed suddenly by some heavenly alchemy, as St. Paul was smitten by
a light from the overworld. Such light from heaven is vouchsafed to
individuals, but never to nations, who progress by an orderly evolution
in society. Though the heart in us cries out continually, "Oh, hurry,
hurry to the Golden Age," though we think of revolutions, we know that
the patient marshalling of human forces is wisdom. We have to devise
ways and means and light every step clearly before the nation will leave
its footing in some safe if unattractive locality to plant itself
elsewhere. The individual may be reckless. The race never can be so,
for it carries too great a burden and too high destinies, and it is only
when the gods wish to destroy or chastise a race that they first make it
mad. Not by revolutions can humanity be perfected. I might quote from
an old oracle, "The gods are never so turned away from man as when he
ascends to them by disorderly methods." Our spirits may live in the
Golden Age, but our bodily life moves on slow feet, and needs the
lantern on the path and the staff struck carefully into the darkness
before us to see that the path beyond is not a morass, and the light not
a will o' the wisp.