The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-08-15
The Literature OF Discoutent.

had to be characterized in a single
word, it would probably be most aptly
called the literature of discomfort. .
AS mass, it Is q literature with an
aim, and that aim, in its broadcast
statement, is the aim of making peo-
pie other than they are The means
adopted to this end is that of making
them Disconnected with what they are.
The makers of this literature would
probably claim that their object is that
of making better than they are, and
claim for themselves tho character of
apostles of an angel of reform.
Whether the state of affairs actually
had in view by these gentlemen and
ladies would or would not procure a
greater share of general happiness
may be left out of view for moment,
while we dwell upon the means adopt
ed to lead up to that state of bliss
namely, that as many people as posi-
bic shall be wrought into state of dis
content. 1t is only fair summary of
the implications of much modern teach
ing that the mass of mankind may,
when all things shall be properly
ordered, expect comfort and ease, if
not luxury; that hardship may be abol-
ished, and universal well-beine estab-
lished. Yet the preachers of the doc
trines which underEe these deductions,
ignore are, possibly, themselves often
ignorant of-the fact that every man
in civilized state enjoys uncounted
and countless privileges, both Of
material comfort and personal rights
unknown, to people less advanced
in yiliZation-unknown therefore,
to the whole series of generations that
have gone before. In spite OF proof to
the contrary, the assertion still contin-
ues to be made that the rich are grow
ing richer and the poor poorer; against
proof to the contrary, the doctrine is
taught that poverty is an accompani-
ment and fruit of progress; and it is
asserted that there are men, or classes
of men, among us who have no share in
the gains of ciyilization-the fact being
that all but small margin of the gains
of civilization enters into common
stock, which nobody can appropriate,
while that small margin which is APP
propriated is divided between capital
and labor in a steadily diminishing
ratio to capital, and a steadily increas-
ing ratio to labor. And still the cur
rent of literature flows on-a literature
Of discomfort. And thus far the dis
cernble effects of this literature : this
doctrine-in political and social Life
have been purely bad. Happily, the
great mass of mankind pays small at
tention to it, goes about its work, and
does its duty in the estate in which it
finds itself. But, all the same The
preaching has had some effect, and that
effect appears to be altogethei. bad.
For the whole of this humane"
morality Gas it calls itself) consists in
nothing else than exhorting us to put
ourselves in other peoples steads, ac-
cording to an all-leveling abstraction,
which, from its very nature, must al
SO mean putting other people in our
stead "Wben man ceases thinking on
what he has to do.' says DIR. Karl
Hildebrand. sin order to think that he
has to do it, good-bv to all content. !"
But the whole machine of humanity
would stop if we wanted continu-
ally to put ourselves in the place of
others, and endeavor to insure for ev-
cry one, according to the exigencies of
an abstract equality, the same condi-
tions of life. So, in consequence, we
stop short at good wishes sufficient to
men who, in former times were quite
happy in this limited existence and re-
tleated but little on it, disconnected with
their lot, but insufficient to change this
lot. For the literature of discomfort
does not press home to them the cues
ton: us there any other man in the
world to blame for the fact that | am
poor?" The achievements OF the hui
man race have been accomplished by
the elite of the race. There is no ground
at all in history for the notion that the
masses Of mankind provided the wisdom
and did tie work. The dogma that all
men are equal is (says PROF.. Sumner)
the most fragrant falseheod, and the
most immoral doctrine which men have
ever believed. FsIt is, on the contrary,
q doctrine of the first moral and socio-
logical Importance that truth, wisdom
and righteousness come only by pains
taking, study and striving. These things
are SO hard that it is only the few
who attain to them. These few carry
on human society now as they always
have done.p And it will be good
thing for human society, and better
thing for the less prosperous classes in
ii, when these truths come to be recog-
nized by the makers of literature, and
some apostles shall arise to enforce the
homely doctrine that most people do
not know when they are well off. If,
on all the face of the earth, there exists
a people that is well of, it is the people
of California. To them, before all 9TH
crs, it ought to be (but is not) needless
to preach the eyangel of content, pur-
suit of the enjoyments that are within
reach, the practice Of making the best
of things. ''For there is nothing either
good or bad, but thinking makes it 50, !"
said Hamlet. And he was a very wise
man who wrote: ''He that is of con-
tented heart hath continual feast; a con-
tented heart doeth good, like medicine,
but complaining one drieth the
bones." 1t is not easy to find grounds
for believing that the wisdom of the
preachers of discomfort is any better
than the wisdom of King Solomon. -
San francisco Call.