PRESENT PROBLEMS OF TECHNOLOGY 575 



practical fulfillment necessitates a large accumulation of means, 

 men, and materials, and their intelligent coordination in certain 

 prearranged sequences, at definite times and under favorable en- 

 vironments. Moreover, it is essential that all of these factors should 

 work together harmoniously under a single controlling head, im- 

 pelled by an earnest, zealous, generous, and humane desire to secure 

 the best effects. But it, unfortunately, too frequently happens that 

 vested interests, jealousy, ignorance, cupidity, conservatism, strikes, 

 and physical obstacles conspire to delay or defeat the best-laid plans. 



It becomes the part of wisdom, therefore, to consider both sides 

 of the equation before embarking on any extensive innovation, in 

 the nature of works affecting large interests, however beneficially. 



The successive stages which mark the progress of great enter- 

 prises may be conveniently formulated into a General Law of their 

 Development, of which the first step is educational. 



It is opposed by 



(1) Ignorance, on the part of the public as to its possibilities; 



(2) Indifference, as to its economics, after they have been stated; 



(3) Incredulity as to its feasibility, or utility before demonstra- 

 tion. 



The second step enters the forensic arena where efforts to secure 

 authority from legislative bodies are met by 



(4) Argument which, failing to convince, leads to 



(5) Bribery, instigated by vested rights or cupidity, and 



(6) Patronage, withdrawn as a punishment to the offenders, or 

 granted as a reward for opposition. But should the project out- 

 live these allied enemies and enter the third phase of active con- 

 struction, the opponents then have recourse to 



(7) Violence, by use of physical obstacles or force to obstruct 

 the works; 



(8) Persecution, leading to an impugnment of the motives, char- 

 acter, and credit of the parties at interest; 



(9) Murder, either by premature death from excessive futile, un- 

 requited efforts or by actual assassination or war, to remove the 

 guiding spirits of great movements and thus debar their consum- 

 mation. 



These psychological phases being outlived and the physical forces 

 being overcome, the way to success is at length assured. The former 

 elements are not so often taken into the account as the latter, yet 

 they are frequently the most subtle, uncompromising, and intang- 

 ible. Underneath many of the great achievements of the world, in 

 the arts of peace, there lies buried a romance of heroic endurance, 

 self-abnegation, and masterful resource, intensely realistic, which 

 would put the pages of fiction to shame, were they made public. 

 Truly, "Peace hath her victories no less renowned than war." 



