enemies, it will take away one serious ground of complaint against it.

12

(7). We must not allow ourselves to become discouraged because of the obstacles which our enemies are constantly throwing across our pathway. These obstacles, if we are made of the right stuff, will help to strengthen us, to make us more resolute, more determined. It is in breasting opposition, in overcoming difficulties that we develop strength.

(8). Nor should we allow ourselves to become embittered by the mean and persistent opposition of our enemies; by the studied efforts that they are ever making to insult and humiliate us. Unless we are watchful, unless we are tolerably sane, it is so easy to allow such things to rankle in our breasts, to engender feelings of bitterness and hatred. Natural as it is, however, we must resist it. It is bad business for an individual or a race to allow itself to become embittered against another individual or race. Such a spirit will destroy our own happiness, our own peace of mind, and will not help to win over our enemies. Out of a spirit of mutual hatred no good can possibly come to either race. The result is bound to be evil; and the evil will grow as the hatred grows.

If we are to fight successfully, fight in the most effective way, we must be calm, we must not be spurred on by bitterness, by hatred, but by the consciousness that what we are contending for is right, and, therefore, is best for all, even for those against whom we are contending, who are foolishly trying to obstruct our way. Let us possess our souls in patience; let us be calm, self-possessed. These enemies who are fighting us deserve our pity. The course which they are pursuing, in the long run, will prove more injurious to them than to us. The more they fight us, the more they resist us, the more they seek to insult and humiliate us, the more are they injuring themselves, the more are they sinking to lower levels, the less are they becoming worthy of the respect of decent, right-thinking people. We may suffer in our feelings; we may be deprived of our rights for a time; but they are suffering in a way that is eating away the only thing of real value—the only thing that is worth having—character. We may suffer, but the penalty which we pay is not near so dear, so costly as the penalty which they are paying.

There is something really pathetic in the spectacle here presented, 13of vast numbers of people claiming to be intelligent, claiming to be civilized, some claiming even to be Christians, allowing themselves to be dominated, to 

 Prev. P 12/26 next