COUNTY COUNCILS & SMALL HOLDINGS 223 



Coupled with this spirit of unbelief there is the power- 

 ful spirit of self-interest, which bars the way to many a 

 scheme of reform. Financial interests, political interests, 

 or other personal interests always have something to say 

 against any measures necessitating alteration in existing 

 conditions, and these vested interests will surely rise up in 

 wrathful judgment against the scheme propounded in 

 these pages. 



There are those living to-day who remember the fierce 

 opposition and the derisive contempt with which steam 

 was received years ago. 



Steam is a mighty power to-day. 



Then it was only yesterday, as it were, that Marconi 

 met with so deadly an opposition from those who had 

 something to lose, or fancied they had, from the adop- 

 tion of his scheme — opposition that would have broken 

 down a weaker man; yet wireless telegraphy is an ac- 

 complished fact to-day. 



And so it is all along the line. Those who build up will 

 always find many who are ready to pull down; always 

 doubters and deriders; always those, who, for some 

 reason or other, will surely bar the way to progress and 

 reform. 



But in spite of this let us be loyal to ourselves. 



" This above all — to thine own self be true; 

 And it must follow, as the night the day. 

 Thou canst not then be false to any man." 



Let us banish from our minds all these doubts and 

 fears, which those who have some purpose to serve would 

 make us entertain, and believe firmly and steadfastly that 



