endless armament of the nations is exactly the right route by which we ought to go, that it is very possible that we have lost our way, and that, therefore, it might be well for us for a time to stop moving in that direction which is evidently wrong, and first of all to consider, by means of the universal and eternal laws of truth revealed to us, what the direction is by which we intend to go.
No one replied to this, not a person said, “We are not mistaken in our direction and we are not gone astray; we are sure of this for this reason and for that.”
Not a person said, “Possibly we are mistaken, but we have an infallible means of correcting our error without ceasing to move.”
No one said either the one thing or the other. But all were indignant, took offense, and hastened to quench my solitary voice with a simultaneous outburst.
“We are so indolent and backward! And this is the advice of indolence, sluggishness, inefficiency!”
Some even went so far as to add:—
“It’s all nonsense! Don’t listen to him. Follow us.”
And they shouted like those that reckon that salvation is to be found in unchangedly traveling a once selected road, whatever it may have been; like those also that expect to find salvation in flying about in all directions.
“Why wait? Why consider? Push forward! Everything will come out of itself!”
Men have lost their way and are suffering in consequence. It would seem that the first main application of energy which should be put forth