The Van Buren press., 1873-10-14
New YoRK, Sept. q. 1873.

d. WESLEY Il Co Publishers,
New YoRK, Sept. 81 1873.
ID. WESLEY & CO.:
GENrLEMEN-The article entitled "A
Modern Prophet, appearing oa page
lo0 OF the Modern Hmker No 3 was
dictated by me to a1Cred Ford. we'll
known stenssrapher and journalist II
this city, in September, 1872, and was by
him Transcribed for the press, and pub.
llshed in the magazines, as you state, in
the following December
| would not say anything about this
matter, were it not that the prediction
has been claimed by the spI itualsts as
being in some way obtained from super
mundane sources.
| have no relations whatever with spir.
itualists. | entirely dsbeleve the ex-
plantations they give of certain curious
phenomena that have been observed. |
believe the time is not far of when all
these phenomena will be explained in
way to satisfy the scientific world. !
ha' no faith in "spooks," ghosts nor
mediums; nor do believe that there is
a solitary veritable instaace of the mani
festation ofntcllisence by dead person.
The predictions which l made in Sep.
tember, 1872, were based on facts OBJ.
vious to every one.
1t is worthy Of notice that we have .
new department Of literature sprineing
up, which involves speculations concern
ing the future. Bulwcr's COMING Race,
the Battle Of DorkiAg, Maitland's Bye.
and Bye, G,eeaAo,n. and such works, are
specimens Of this kind Of vatcinate lit
erature.
When everybody realizes that the
course of human events are entirely con
trolled by law, and not by Supernatural
Wills, it will be much easier to forecast
future events than is now generally sup
posed. DAVID CRoLY,
l62 East 3S street, New York.
The following are the pred dctons re
ferred to above;
From Modern Thinker No. 3, published Dec. 1872 !
1t is now commonplace Of modern
thought that ability to predict establishes
the validity of any science. To prove
that sociology has made some advance
in the direction of certainty, vcntul e
upon few gcneralizatons touching the
future:
FirSt-I predict tha' the Democratic
party will never contest another Presi-
dental election under its old name and
organization. The new anti-alministra
ton party will have another name and
will fight under new leaders.
Second-I predict that questions of
ad administration, such as civil service re.
form, minority representation, the con
troll Of telegraphs and railways, and the
extension Of the powers of the central
government, will he the main issues in
future political campaigns
Third predict that within the com
ing two years this country will expert
ence the worst financial panic known to
its history. 1t will be mere wide spread
and disastrous than even that OF 1897
All debts created by our paper money
era will be wiped out or compromised.
Land will temporarily fall to ono. half its
value.
Fourth-The panic will be precip.tatad
in all probability, by the failure Of the
North Pacific railroad, and, perhaps, the
bankers who manage it, This will bring
to light such AN amazing amount ffraud
in connection with our railroads as to
discredit ali stocks, good and bad. The
bears viii hold high carnival The men
of most rcpute in financial circles and on
the street" will prove to be common
cheats While the panic will commence,
from all appearance, in railroad circles,
and will be confined for n time to the
new western enterprises, it will spread
finally to the national banks, and will de-
vclop an amoun. Of rottcnness in those
institutions which is now beyond the
power Of the Imagination to conceive.
Fifth predict that in ten years time
tho Northern Pacific railroad enterprise
viii be regarded as one of the most as
tor, ,dine instances Of human eredulity
and folly. 1t will be matter ofprofound
astonishment that among business
community tens OF t'.ouIands OF sensible
mon could be found to invest money
with hope Of profit, in railroNd "''icn
began nowhere, and ran for the most rart
through bowling wilderness. That this
road may be built is possible, that 1t can
be made to pay, for the present genera.
ten, is too crazy a chimera to be for a
moment entertained
SIXTH predict that when all the
great Pacific roads break down, as break
they must, and immediate demand will
be made for the government to control
and run them. This will be the entering
wedge for the final control OF all means
of rapid transit by the central govern.
ment