Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-07-05
Is Society growing Better or Worse 2

VI Autioh oFOuIs anu chSL MS 1nHu-
once on the side of right.
SO far as our own reading, obser-
vations and experience is concerned,
we should reply to this perplexing
Interrogative by saying that in some
respects society is advancing both
onward and upward, and in others,
retrograding backward and down
word in proof of which we suboin
q statement Of facts.
BY reference to carefully collected
Life Insurance statistics, in both this
country and Great Britain. it is
abundantly evident that the average
length of human life is gradually in
crearing. The masses are certainly
better educated than at any previous
period Of our history, with public
sentiment in favor of improved edu-
cational facilities steadily increasing.
The sanitary condition of society
has been very greatly improved of
late, and the public health better
protected than at any previous time,
though the medical fraternity still
lind enough suffering and disc ase to
keep most of them in professional
employment. In general. the people
are better supplied with food, wear
more comfortable clothing, and live
in more comfortable houses than in
former years, though in this last par
tlcuar We must make some allowance
for large cities, which does not leave
US very broad margin for Boosting.
Science and art were never more
progressive than at present. Moral
and religious teaching is as ever on
the ascendant, though the lines of
demarkation between religion and
irreligion are being more clearly and
distinctly trswn-the christian ele-
ment becoming more thoroughly
christian, and the opposing element
more bitter and exacting. That
large and hitherto undecided class of
people denominated "outsiders" are
gravitating to respective centers,
some rising higher, others sinking
lower. "lnfdelity," says Robert
Laird Collier of Chicago, "is not
spreading, but everywhere waning p
also, that "the better class among
the spiritualists all over the country,
are dropping away from their socie-
ties and becoming assimilated to the
liberal christian views and fellow
ship" The increasing liberal senti-
ment among the different religious
denominations toward each other,
points to the grand unifycation of
the christian world, at day not far
distant. The work of reconstruction
has become q matter OF fact, and the
government rests on a firmer basis
than ever before. The recent debut
of Mr.. Revels in the U. S. Senate
Chamber, proclaims the mighty rev.
olution which has been accomplished
ia the political status of the country
during the last decade.
Thus, in brief, we have indicated
some of the principal evidences of
progress, and now reluctantly turn
to the darker and and less pleasing
side of the picture.
The almost prodigal expenditure
Of money by the government, SOL
diers and civilians, during the recent
rebellion, created an enthusiasm for
wealth, and recklessness Of expen-
diture perfectly bewildering. Money
must be acquired either by fair
or foul means, and when obtained it
is expended ia the most ruinous ex-
travagance, in luxury, fashion and
dissipation,
Speculation. a fashionable name
for gambling, is gnawing like an I'M
dying worm at the heart of the ma
ton, whitening and blasting every
branch of industrial pursuits. A de-
sire 10 obtain wealth without render
ing an equivalent in word, thought
or deed is fearfully on the increase.
Intemperance like strong man
armed is marshaling his hosts on ev-
cry side and making rapid progress
in vice and fearful inroads on society.
Turf and table gambling has be-
come a regular vocation for a large
class Of our citizens. The sacredness
of the marriage relation is openly
disregarded to an alarming extent,
and divorces are multiplying with
fearful rap;dity. If the growing in
difference TO matrimonial alliances is
not speedily checked, no husband or
wife can live in conscious security.
1t is an easy matter for a gentleman
possessing superior wealth or attain
ments to the husband of lady, to
offer his hand to her, provided she
will get divorce, and equally easy
for her to demand separation on the
ground Of ill-treatment, and, accord
ing to plenty Of precedents, easily OBJ
tain the desired object. Such is GER
tainly the abominable sink of inioui-
ty to which we are rapidly drifting
Courts Of justice are becoming lit
tie more than legal farce, and MUIR
derers have nothing to fear in this
country if they are only shrewd
enough to lay claim to insanity. 1t
is becoming very fashionable of late
for young ladies to shoot their faith
less lovers, even sometimes in the
house of worship, and for lady advo-
Gates of woman suffrage to blow out
the brains Of The first man who in
suits them at the polls. Legislative
enactments are degenerasing into
mere money specuiations. Popular
elections are becoming vast hot-beds
of corruption and fraud. In a word,
| during the last ten wears nearly every