Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-10-22
A HOPEFUL FORECAST.

Colonel Chesney contributes to the
Fortaightly Rerie,u an article in which he
takes the most hopeful view of the future.
He believes that the prosperity OF the hu-
man race, or perhaps we should say OF the
civilized part OF it, is about to become
greater than at any former time, and that
this is to be the result of the opening up
of new and rich productive areas in North
America. He says: "There are marked
indications at the present time that the
production of food in North America is
now about to undergo a rapid and enor-
"mous expansion, far exceeding for the
time what is required for the normal
increase of the worlds population. Ii
this forecast be correct we are on the eve
s'of sudden access of general prosperity,
which, although not without its Incl
dental evils, among Others the depres.
sion of the English agricultural interest
suntl the conditions of English agricult-
sure are modified and become adapted
'sto the new state OF things, may have the
" effect Of raising in marked degree the
general standard of well being of the
"whole of Europe. 1t would seem, IN
deed. that we are about to witness the
beginning of grsat commercial revolu-
ton, of kind wholly beneficial to man.
kind, when the rapid extension Of the
cultivation of new soils on an enormous
scale will stimulate in a degree never be-
fore witnessed the demand for all other
"kinds of production, and viii put off the
slime OF general over production of the
" only possible kind-an over-production
"of men-into the indefinite future"
This certainly is very optimistic way of
looking at the situation, and while it con-
tains not little Justification. it is evil
IDENTIFY also marred by extravaganza.
That the sudden and enormous expan-
sion of the food products of the world must
result in the creation of new and great
masses of surplus capital is clear enough.
It may also be admitted that the we'll
being of mankind generally cannot but be
increased to some extent by such a
change. But it must be borne in mind
that if the tendencies of the age are toward
the expansion of the productive area, they
are equally marked in the direction of the
concentration of capital in the hands of a
Feu- nt,,;,,rr Az ,1resarI oep+nrx- &ba con.
dition of the masses of men in Europe and
this country has gradually improved, but
the improvement has been much greater
here than in Europe. In that period the
people have been provided with multi.
tude of comforts and Injuries Their food,
their clothing, their habitations, have all
been improved, and their health has i'm
proved at the same time. It is undeniable
that the prosperity which has followed
the development of new lands has filtered
down to the lowest strata of society. But
the candid economist will be forced to ad-
nit that when all is said that the facts
warrant in regard to the extent of the
benefits enjoyed by the masses, the truth
will remain that they have only tasted the
good which has been availed Of to the ut
most by small minority.
The work of the world is done by those
who profit least by it. The prizes of CIV
ilization are won by those who suffer the
least. In the coming expansion of the
productive area, therefore, assuming Col
onel Chesney to be right in his belief, we
must expect that the tendencies now in
operation will continue to control the situa-
ton, and that the concentration of capital
will proceed even more rapidly than now.
This does not imply the cant phrase about
the rich becoming richer and the poor
poorer. No such expression as that is JUS
titled by existing conditions. The actual
fact is that the rich and the poor are both
becoming richer together, and that the one
ground for dissatisfaction is the difference
in the rate of advance. The rich grow
richer rapidly. The poor improve slowly
in their condition And as the develop
ment of new productive areas involves
the investment of great bodies of capital in
the agencies of transportation and distribu-
ton, it must be anticipated that the present
situation will undergo no radical change,
unless it is changed by some important
movement Of which so far there are no indi-
cations. But there have for several years
been such tokens of growing Impotence
with the slow growth of prosperity among
the masses as should have opened the eyes
of the wise to certain danger appertain-
ing to the future. There is time in every
civilization when the masses seen content
with their condition, and do not envy their
rich class. Presently this content disap-
pears, and gives place to a mutinous
spirit. As the people gradually acquire
power and knowledge their condition i'm
proves, and they begin to progress visibly.
For time this kind of progress satisfies
them, but as they become more intelligent,
less dazed by drudgery, and more capable
OF reflection, they are apt TO ask Them
selves why, possessing political supremacy,
they should submit to inferiority of any
kind.
They thus become impatient of their
progress. and even because that progress
is real they grow intolerant of the sue
cesses of the wealthy minority. So far
we have managed rather to drift than
to steer clear of this rock, but it is seri-
GUS question whether we shall always be
so fortunate. "The people, said
prophetic Southern statesman many years
ago, twill not always consent to remain
"poor with the ballot in their hands" In
the past decade there have been many
mutterings as of coming storm, but it