Great Demand for Wise Leaders
There is a greater demand for a skilled and wise leader now than ever before, and in preparing for that leadership, let each man of the race look to himself as a possible aspirant and successor to the present leaders. The very thought of such a possibility, based upon the necessity for such leadership, is an inspiration, an incentive to action, and a motive to take advantage of the opportunities. The path has been cleared and you can not lose your course.
Let us revert to the question: “Who are the coming men?” Who will take the places of the men now leading the race, when they have done their work, fulfilled their mission loaded with honors and fame? They can not go on forever, for they are human and must yield to the inevitable.
Perhaps you are one of the possible leaders to reach honor and fame. Why not? Many a man living in apparent obscurity has suddenly come forth out of his retirement at the call of demand following opportunity. This is life and the natural progress of the world. You are living under auspicious circumstances, surrounded by events that must cause you to think, and know just what is required to advance along the lines of human betterment.
Every man thinks he knows just what he would do under certain circumstances if he had the opportunity, and that he has the power to do it. Very well, here are the opportunities, and if you develop your natural ability and capacity and take hold with a firm hand, you will attain the power. It is characteristic among all men, an attribute of modern affairs, that to obtain anything an effort must be made to get it. Everybody knows this by experience. It has been the experience of all men, and of all nations. A man must reach out and take what is before him within his reach. A wise man never attempts to try to take what is beyond his reach. Children do that, but a modern man is no child. There is an old maxim which says: “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” Wherefore, take the bird in hand and hold on to it, and you will get the two in the bush by and by.