Morality and Efficiency 59 



reling, it is his duty to stand up for his rights. He 

 must realize that the only man who is more con- 

 temptible than the blusterer and bully is the coward. 

 No man is worth much to the commonwealth if he 

 is not capable of feeling righteous wrath and just 

 indignation, if he is not stirred to hot anger by mis- 

 doing, and is not impelled to see justice meted out to 

 the wrong-doers. No man is worth much any- 

 where if he does not possess both moral and physical 

 courage. A politician who really serves his country 

 well, and deserves his country's gratitude, must usu- 

 ally possess some of the hardy virtues which we ad- 

 mire in the soldier who serves his country well in 

 the field. 



An ardent young reformer is very apt to try to 

 begin by reforming too much. He needs always to 

 keep in mind that he has got to serve as a sergeant 

 before he assumes the duties of commander-in-chief. 

 It is right for him from the beginning to take a great 

 interest in national, State, and municipal affairs, 

 and to try to make himself felt in them if the occa- 

 sion arises ; but the best work must be done by the 

 citizen working in his own ward or district. Let 

 him associate himself with the men who think as 

 he does, and who, like him, are sincerely devoted 

 to the public good. Then let them try to make them- 

 selves felt in the choice of alderman, of councilman, 

 of Assemblyman. The politicians will be prompt to 

 recognize their power, and the people will recognize 

 it too, after a while. Let them organize and work, 

 undaunted by any temporary defeat. If they fail 



