Practical Agitation

By the Same Author
PRACTICAL AGITATION
BY JOHN JAY CHAPMAN
NEW YORK CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS 1900
Copyright, 1900, By Charles Scribner’s Sons.
UNIVERSITY PRESS · JOHN WILSON AND SON · CAMBRIDGE, U. S. A.
DEDICATED TO The Memory OF THEODORE BACON
This book is an attempt to follow the track of personal influence across society. The first three chapters are taken up with discussions of political reform, the fourth chapter with contemporary journalism. The results of these discussions are then summarized in the chapters called “Principles.”
I know that there are as many ways of stating the main idea of the book as there are minds in the world. That idea is, that we can always do more for mankind by following the good in a straight line than we can by making concessions to evil. The illusion that it is wise or necessary to suppress our instinctive love of truth comes from an imperfect understanding of what that instinctive love of truth represents, and of what damage happens both to ourselves and to others when we suppress it. The more closely we look at the facts, the more serious does this damage appear. And on the other hand, the more closely we look at the facts, the more trifling, inconsequent, and absurd do all those reasons appear which strive to make us accept, and thereby sanctify and preserve, some portion of the conceded evil in the world.
J. J. C.
New York, February 5, 1900.
PRACTICAL AGITATION