p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 29. (7/19/1905)

A Great Man—A Needed Man.

By Editor

In this time of crisis it seems hard indeed to have to spare a man like John Hay. Not alone did he shine brightly in diplomatic and government circles abroad,—he was a great conservative power at home. His keen sense of justice, of what was right, without doubt was a check upon Roman Catholic influence over the government. He saw Roman Catholicism at its true worth, in her harvest after centuries of sowing in beautiful Spain, and he said so, and was cordially hated because he had the courage to utter his true sentiments. His diplomatic victories were achieved because he demanded what was to him fair and right, and was persistent in his demand. In his own words of one of his dialect poems, > "He seed his duty a dead sure thing, > And he went for it there and then." One by one this class of men are falling, yet never did the world need them as now. Trained under Lincoln, Principle was more to Hay than Policy. Too many men in state circles, losing sight of the lessons of history, are reversing the order.

The vicious spirit engendered by the use of, and traffic in, the various beverages "fortified" with "ardent spirits" is generally manifested toward those who would protect the public from the demon of strong drink. This spirit of viciousness was especially arrogant and abusive toward the advocates of prohibition in the late Los Angeles municipal campaign. The greater part of the influential press—as is usual in most large communities—were on the side of the liquor traffic. And the newspaper abuse heaped upon the only influential daily that advocated prohibition was characteristic of the "ardent spirit" that was evidently actuating that side of the campaign. Another incident going to show that the traffic is disposed to ride rough-shod over everything that dares to lift a head against its cruel ravages, is related of some Chicago saloon-keepers. The pastor of St. Columbus' church recently advised his audience to refrain from indulgence in intoxicating drinks. Evidently there were some customers of the local saloons in the congregation, and there was probability that the discourse would have some good effect; for two saloon men have instituted suit for $10,000 damages against the priest. We are now having vividly verified the words of the prophet: "Wo to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." Rev. 12:12.

A City Evil.

One of the prominent dailies was recently ornamented with a large cartoon representing a farmer plowing with a pair of horses, while in the same field is a little boy chasing a young colt, supposed to be the foal of one of the work animals. Over the picture are the words, "Grown animals should work; young animals should play." Underneath is the comment, "How much better off the world would be if all the little boys and girls, like the boy and the colt in the picture, were allowed to develop free from the sweatshop and factory, from the grinding toil that stunts development." The suggestion is a good one, but all our great papers encourage the building of great cities and measure the prosperity of the country by city growth, and the enterprises that tend to that result. This, too, while apparently oblivious of the fact that it is in the cities where the "sweatshops" and other child-labor institutions flourish. Were it not for the popular craze for city building and city life, and the consequent tendency to desert the farms and country life, the evils of child-labor and social debauchery, which cause so much suffering in the land, would be reduced to the minimum as compared with the present conditions. If the cause were cut off, the effect would not exist so extensively. The overwork of young children is almost wholly a city evil.

THE PROSPERITY DREAM.

THE great "prosperity" of which much boast has been made in this country during the past seven or eight years, has been largely in the nature of a boom of great corporations. It has been a kind of corporation harvest at the expense of producers and private business men. In reckoning such conditions as prosperity and adversity at large, the statisticians are wont to take note especially of the earnings of railroads and banking houses, and such other institutions as make large profits through extortion and usury and taking advantage of the necessities of the masses. If these fall off, there is something wrong with the administration; and if these make large profits, there is prosperity. Large average crops are called prosperity, and it would mean such condition were it not that producers have no voice in the prices or in the cost of marketing. The prosperity that naturally should accrue to the producers passes over to the transportation companies and the market manipulators. The horticulturist and the agriculturist are often no better off with large crops than they are with small ones. It depends mainly upon the location with reference to the market.

Now all this is actual condition, and not mere theory; for theory would argue just the reverse. The prosperity of the past few years has been only a class prosperity, and this is proved by the fact—not denied anywhere—that never has there been a period of more unrest and discontent and bitter complaint on the part of the masses. As a rule, prosperous people don't complain.

A fact worth noting and remembering is, that a comparatively few men control the capital of the country. They are able to manipulate the finances of the country. They are able to create a panic on a few months' notice, in order to compel terms from the public satisfactory to themselves. They have done so. Then they are able to loosen the bands a little for a time when they have carried their point; this they do in order to make the public believe that to favor the capitalist means prosperity. This also has been done. But as time rolls on, the prosperous class grows smaller and richer, while their victims grow more numerous and poorer. All this is being practically demonstrated before our eyes continually. More and more is prosperity becoming a class privilege. Prosperity for the masses in this age of heaping up treasure is an "iridescent dream."

The natural tendency of city life reaches its climax in the great city—the metropolis. To say nothing of the slums and the poverty-stricken elements, which are inevitable features of city conditions, the business life itself is unenviable. Mr. Edison, the great electrician, says of the city, referring especially to New York:

I loathe its artificial way of living, its mannerisms, its ways of thought. It has but the one redeeming feature that it is getting so impossible that people must leave it or become crazy. A man in New York gets down to his office at nine, works until twelve or one, goes out, takes a couple of cocktails, eats a hearty luncheon, hurriedly goes back to his desk and works until five or six, hurries uptown, stopping off for one or two more drinks, goes out somewhere, eats an enormous dinner, goes to the theater and then supper afterward, and finally tumbles into bed. It is that type of man who often says to me, "I don't see how you stand the strain of working the way you do, day after day and night after night in the laboratory." Work? Why, my work is play compared with his.

The Japanese have advanced ideas of material progress, most of which are gathered from the United States and England. One of the aims of this imitative people is political power, and they are quick to learn how to secure it. They have made their political power to be felt the world over by their exploits against the Russian army and navy; and now a couple of them have entered "the gateway of politics" in the United States. One of these enterprising spirits seeks a saloon license in Oakland, Cal., and another applies for a position on the police force of the neighboring city of Alameda. Among the great political forces of the "civilized nations—if not the greatest—is the liquor traffic; and the police power in all its phases, is a close ally, as it would be a small affair without the liquor business. Whether the two aspirants succeed or not, they evidently have scented the path to political influence in America.

A New Book.

In our Mission department of last week was an article by a dear old friend and brother concerning a new book by another dear old brother. It is a book of history, a book of experience, and such books are always among the most interesting books of the world. We have not seen the book, but we believe you can rely upon Pastor G. I. Butler's experience of the same. We are sure that those who order it will not be disappointed. Many of our readers are acquainted with the Advent movement of 1830 to 1844. This book will give you a correct history. Read what is said of it by Brother Butler.

Socialism and Romanism.

Cardinal Gibbons, in answer to the question: "Does your eminence fear any evil from the spread of Socialism?" replied: "I fear nothing for the American people, nor from Socialism nor any other organized power, because the American people are, before all, a practical people, and allow every hobby to go the length of the tether. No hobby ever can go farther than that." But all Catholics do not share this opinion. Socialism is one of the strongest foes of the church to-day, tho Socialism will yet unite with the Papacy.

Contrary to general opinion that larvae can not live in oil, the Hesperian tells us that Mr. Edward N. Moor, in the Kern River oil district, found countless insects in waste oil. Two of these were placed in refined coal oil, where they lived for two hours. Constantly the conclusions of scientists are upset, and yet men prefer their uncertain guesses to Bible truth.

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

By Editor

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CAL., JULY 19, 1905.

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