Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-04-17

mOrasS on, aud also because there is
really no ground for any such gloomy
and sensational forecast. As, however,
many timid people are liable to be
alarmed by the signs OF the tines and
by such dark predictions rs the above,
it is worth while to show the unreason-
ablencss OF all grave apprehension con
corning the future. The current OF
ciVilZa ion is a broad and powerful
stream. fed by innumerablc t'iCu'ar es
OF inherited tendency, ard flowing W tn
incalculable weight and force in the
direction of aggregated present social
, evolution. Now, present social eNolu-
ton, being the sum of social efforts at
advancement, shows clearly the lines
of greatest energy, The great mass OF
men are plainly working up
toward Letter conditions by thor
oughly peaceful. legitimate and
natural methods. Development, in
fact. is the characteristic of modern
civilizations; and since education is
more diffused than ever, and since be-
cause OF tn the common mind is less
conservative and more receptive Of
new ideas, the obstacles to necessary
reforms are feeble, and change for the
better is so easy as to justify all reason
able expectation.
This is why there is no ground for
alarm in the present symptoms of dis
content and disorder appearing here
and there. These symptoms merely
indicate surface disturbance. Trade
and industry all through the world
have been depressed for considerable
period, As consequence there has
been much suffering, and this has bred
discomfort, and some turbulence, Bat
whoever desires 10 comprehend fully
the sign ficance of this surface agit.-
ton should study English history from
1878 to the passage of the Reform bill.
During that period all England suf-
fered from disturbances which in these
DAYS would seem to imply hopeless an
archy. There was no dynamite then,
but ineendiarism did more mischief
than dynamite has ever done.
FAMINE, riots. organized outrages,
brigandagc. epidemic disease, made
the country seem PandemO-
uium. and this continued for years, and
grew worse instead of better, until the
timid had some excuse for thinking
that general breaking up OF society
was imminent. But all that condition
of disorder passed away so quickly
with the return OF prosperity that if VT
had not historical records to inform u:
we m chit doubt the facts.
The great current of civilization wen
steadily on, unaffected by the foam anC
the ripples and swirlS which agitatei
the surface of the stream. Ant
Just so will it be with all the presen
disturbances. Civilization is too iirml,
/ planted in the hearts and natures o
, men to be shaken By the lawleSsness o
} few restless people. They may max
; A good deal OF noise for their numbers
, but they can not upset anything. Evo
} luton, not revolution, is the process b,
, which Ill necessary changes will b
I made. Dynamite will play no import
ant part in the future. unless it be a
the servant of engineering science
I, There is no bass Tor apprehension
' The world will go on in its slow bu
, sure way to improve its conditions. an,
g il will neither be builied nor hurrie,
=. into the adoption Of abnormal methods
0 And in the future, as now, the infnenc
: of American institutions. the spread o
e democracy in Europe, will prove in
: valuable in preventing dangerous eS
1 blossoms N, J. Tribune.