Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1865-12-26
THE FUTURE.-There are, SAYS the

they make between the two, will de-
pend their prosperity and happiness.
On the one hand they are invited to
follow what enthusiasts call the path
of progress" and on the other hand
they are urged TO continue in the safe
| way, marked out for them by wise
fathers.
The path of"progress" has many at.
fractions, and men are apt to be led
into it by the bright view which is
presented to them. They see the
beautiful fields through which they
are invited to walk, cleaning with
flowers, and rich with vedure. Streams
flow through them full Of sparkling
waters; palaces shine resplendent in
the sun gold flashes up from the
depths of the rivers, glitters in the ra-
vines of the mountains The path
leads, in fact, to a land of universal
wealth, universal equality, universal
peace and prosperity. If human ma
tnre were as good, and pure, and holy
as the progressive school of politicians
believe it, there might possibly be
something in their vision of this glo.
rious future.
1t would then be at least within
the scope of imagination that men
and women could be found, who, not.
withstanding their wealth, would de-
scend to the filth and drudgery of the
vier occupations for pure love of their
fellow-men. It is just possible to
think that there might be some who
would work in the cutters, where some
one must work if the world goes on,
while Others rested idle in the luxurious
homes, which the workmen could have,
if they desired, quite as luxurious. In
short, If human nature were perfectly
lovely, the Utopian equality might, by
a remote possibility, be realized, and
no one covet another's property,
while all the trades and occupations
went forward to supply the necessities
and Injuries of mankind. But until
the nature of man becomes thus pure
and perfect, the future toward which
these advisers lead us is the widest
vision of fancy. Every step taken
toward it is dangerous step. Every
plan adopted on the faith of its posi-
bility is sure to fall, and bring disas-
ter with its failure. The fields toward
which they point US will be deserts
when we reach them. The streams
will be found foul and stagnant; the
palaces but rocky heaps; the gold
red indeed, but with the redness Of
blood.
The other path seems less pleasant
and attractive in the prospect. The
view before US is rugged, the ascent
attended with difficulty, to be over
come only by steadfast labor and toll
The path is that which our fathers
walked in, and by which the
the nation arrived at substantial pros
perty and large measure of happi
ness. 1t leads to nobler success in the
future if we follow it. It is the path
of cautious, conservative advance. It
is marked out on the theory that hu-
man nature is weak and erripg as well
as sinful. There is no such doctrine
on the way-marks as this notion Of
universal equality. 1t is constantly to
be kept in mind, all along the road,
that great spring of human action
is the relation Of the dependent on
the supporting, and the necessity Of
the serving to the served. Men help |
one another on this path not because
they are equal, but because they are
mutually dependent. The worn shoes
of the pilgrim are replaced by bis
companion, not because he lovessthe |
pilgrim, but because he will get from
him something which he wants or de-
sires. They are very foolish travellers,
who, tired Of labor in their particular
vocations, put their heads together and
claim the Injuries which others seem |
to have without labor. The future of |
the nation, on this conservative path,
is future of industry and consequent
prosperity. 1t is not likely that it
will ever lead to universal wealth, and
it is certain that it will never lead,
either in this or any other state of ex-
istence, to universal equality.
The view of the two paths is practi-
cal, and the test of the new political,
financial, and commercial theories is
good one, which judges of them lby |
their tendency to one Or the other Of
these paths. The future of the ma
ton will not be prosperous if it is
guided on theIidea of general equality.
1t will be prosperous if the nation be-
comes economical, steadfast, industri-