Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-12-07
The Unhnppiness OF Modern Progress.

tCatholic Univcrsc.1
We certainly claim TO be an advanced"
people full Of the modern "progress." II
this advancement, directed to eternal happi.
ness II might scarcely be worth while TO
consider how far progress develops happi-
meas IN this world, life Ia 40 very brief.
But that IL not the claim. Modern prog.
resS smiles at such iar-sway ventures as
the lille after death. IL avowedly confines
itself to the affairs oil time. II is, then,
only so far ns progress affects life bounded
by the grave, that its disciples will permit
this modern advancement 10 be judged, it's
measure Of happiness or unhappiness de-
termined.
The Catholic can well object 10 80 one
p,ded standard Of judgment. He fee's,
knows, that there can he no true progress
or happiness except with pious regard TO
the Divine commands and promises; yet
the Catholic can with tranquil security ex-
cept the progressionist's criterion and from
our modern hot bed forms Of life deduce
the utter emptiness and unhappiness of
our Al. called progress.
Everything is a rush and whirl and bit
ter coniest, not at all for mastery alone,
hut even for the bare living. Content ia
almost unknown; and that whicl, should
bring comfort brings more often heart.
burnings aud increased striving. Yet If
progress can not make us happy here he.
low, in what consists its claim to advnnc-
ing mankind?
The more advanced" our populations
are, the more unhappy they have become.
There Ia absolutely no peace. Take what
| the progressionist would call retrogres-
sive, backward American section There
you will still hnd The family In It's integ.
rity; men content themselves with reason
able gains aud exertiour; differences Of
stmtion are not jealously disputed; the dis
tribution Of wealth is more equal and not
oppressive: ihe wear and tear Of life In
less, and all Of Tomorrow is not crowded
into to-day.
But where "progress" reigns supreme
the family is undermined by divorce, chill
dren are few, parental authority and tilial
greed of gain; multitudes crowtlng to be-
come rich fast and without labor, eaci,
seeking to rival the other, and when sue
cess follows the hnrly .burly the grave il
about open for the successful. No one
takes time to be happy even pleasures
like meals, are "bolted down." and lIk,
these are indigestible. II is one mt
din, drive, fret, excitement and worry.
Vexntious rivalriss are perpetual in tn,
different strata of those communities; e ,cl
household seeking to outvie the other !,
appearances of wealth and fashion. Thes
jealonsies carry families beyond their hon
est means, and neighborliness md tru,
hospitality depart. Meanwhile, the grind,
ing inequalities of rich and poor are mon
umen,al; millions barely living 'fron
! hand to month";" hundreds regal in for
tunes and oaieniation. but rs a rule as bur
:, dened with their princely plenty Ms the Ia
!, borer with his narrow dole. Capital
willing TO commit manslnghter and Ia
;, bor to retaliats with murder.
What happiness can there he in thi
. perpetual strain and unnatural tension
Yet 1t is the height OF progress and o
=, tentatiously parades teeming cities wit
streets, sometimes miles in extent, line
> with palatial residences, and other mill
1" of novels, a great "free press" with in
e mense circulation ceaseless volumes
~ new publications; an incessant turmo
y. y, of political activity great manufactu
=, :, ing industries f; vast workshops and war
" houses; clusters of railroads, telegraph
'' and telephones, crowded wharves NAV b,
=. colleges and theatres, public librari,
'e and gorgeous public houses, and, crow,
NJ ing all, myriad public schools-"unse
= tartan edncation," the vaunred corne
y, stone oil this entire fabric of Progress
~ From snch horrid striving, from o
'e these arti6cialties and frettings there W
y certainly be no relief lend and su
81 cease," until society again recognizes th
u its proper conditions are ordained
70 God and that it can create no god of
u own.
10 True progress would now mean a
&c. turn to first principles.