The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-11-22
FRIDAY EVE'G. NOV. p. 1872
IS THE NIGHT COMING OR THE DAY 2


IS THE NIGHT COMING OR THE DAY9
The Dispatch answers the cry of the
New York Tribune for "puriication OF
politics" by replying that there's no hope,
and says:
The pbilanthropists and philosophers may rail
about it, but they can't mend matters The evil
is lise Aunt Jemima's plaster, tine more you
try 10 null IL of the more 1t sticks the faster.
we feel no dependency on the subject; we re-
sign ourselves to things providenuai Inc pou-
tics of this country will be degraded untli tne
day for political transformation comes
transformation that will grow out OF accumu-
lated evils; and then we shall indeed have some
thing A century or two may DC em
hausted in the process, but 1t Will be accom-
pIished. Ours must be q repetition OF tne late
of other nations. We are now repeating anu
must continue to repeat history, anu IN ooIhs ~
we shall have q publication OF American poh-
tics.
From this gloomy prediction we appeal.
The sky is bright Nth better onsens than II
sees, in its cloudy mood to-day. 1t mis-
takes the movement of nations and races
when it sees only circle lying forever in
one plane. The pathway of humanity IS
an ascending spiral. 1t comes near its old
experiences but always reaches little
hiqher. The manifestation Of human ac-
tivities in politics is not exceptional. 1t
partakes Of the common frailty of mail.
There is selfshness, intolerance, insinceri-
ty, cowardice and hypocrisy everywhere.
These bad qualities confront US in poll
tics, in trade, in social life, and even in the
Church. There will be no publication OF
either until we can secure symmetrlc de-
velopment of men and women. An edu-
cation which trains body and soul in har-
mony can alone do this. such an cduca-
ton only, will lift us above slavery to the
animal nature, and give us control OF dis
ciplned powers. 1t will reveal the perfect
harmony of all interests, and show how
beaerolence and intelligent selfshaess point
to the same line of conduct.
This is the teaching of our Christian
faith and it is also the fundamental law OF
social science. 1t is possible to make the
intellect apprehend it, and men accept 1t
practically, Just as they accept the law OF
gravitation, or the elasticity of gasses.
Science will come to be the guide of man
kind more and more. Her grandest truth
is but the formulated expression of the
Sermon on the Mount.
No fact is better established, than the
complete unity of our race. We cannot
escape mutual care and responsibility.
We cannot lead perfect and happy life
while others are miserable, poor, and de-
graded. So that intelligent selfshness leads
us to care for others. If we neglect the
poor and lowly, and bring up their children
ignorant and brutal, they annoy us in a
thousand ways, thwart our plans, startle
US with bloody crimes, and keep over our
heads the sword of Damocles, every in
slant. Wealth gains in vain, for blind sell
iishness to spend. Power used for self is
only a source of torment. This is the
plain teaching Of experience, and oil over
the world it is coming to be recognized as
never before, as man becomes truly enlight-
ened.
From the few it will become general, as
popular duration enlarges its field. twill
take some generations to eradicate the
blind and brutal selfishness which causes
the corruptions Of Church and State, and
which crops out everywhere around us.
But Il aciH surely come. The great instru-
mentality to hasten it is the education o,
our children. The Free School stands be-
side the Church, aiding its glorious work,
redeeming religion itself from superstition
and sectarian narrowness.
The Dispatch has fallen into the error Of
generalization upon too narrow data. In
cidentally it strengthens the popular delu-
sion that politicians are more corrupt than
other men. THIS, is not true; but their
prominence brings their faults into bold re-
lief. That they are not worse than they
were thousand years ago, but better
even, is also demonstrable; what change
the evolution Of society will work out
during the next few hundred years cannot
be well predicted. We agree with our
n,ishbor that much will be new. We veI-
ture to assert that it will be vastly better.
Astonishing social changes will occur,
but they will be i'll the direc-
ton of improvement. We have not come
all the way from barbarism in twelve hun
dred year s, to 60 back single step. This
nation has an undying vitality, which will
throw off the disease, and correct the errors
of its childhood. Its system of popular
education guards all its past achievements
and prepares new triumphs for the people.
Its sky is not fully clear, but it is clouded
with the mistS of the morning, and not the
erening Twilight, and through all, the seeing
eye can catch glimpses of radiant future.
ENCOURAGEMENT TO MANU- ACTURERs
By FAX EXEMPTIONS.
The Lynchburg VGgnian strikes The