Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-03-09
OMINOUs INDICATIONS.

The Southern Curchman in referring t.
an article it prints this week from the
Christian Union on the rapid increase o.
communistic and other kindred societies
throughout the world, and the distress and
perplexity everywhere encountered, says
editorially:
1--WE have been saying for several years
there was danger ahead but in the main
we have been speaking to deaf ears. Any
one who has eyes to see what is going on In
Russia, in France, in Italy, in Germany, in
Ireland, in England and in the United
States ought to see there is wider and larger
dissatisfaction than ever known before. 1t
is not very likely there would be this un-
rest unless there was cause. What Is the
cause? We have said the cause is-our
modern civilization. Who is TO blame for
this civilization? Nobody, or rather every
body. Herr Most, the anarchist, is as much
to blame for our present civilization as the
kings and queens and emperors and presi-
dents and senators and judges and rich
people, The blame is not on this or that
person, but on all persons.
care we aware that during the past fifty
wears, which bounds what we have called
modern civilization, there has been accom-
plished O silent but gigantic revolution ?
Fifty years ago Speaking largely there
were no railroads or telegraphs or huge
factories in the United States. Every COM
munity was its own manufacturer. All the
clothes and shoes and hats and undergar-
ments were made at home. All the houses
were built by home people; they quarrled the
stone and burnt the brick and sawed the
\ A.
away from home few locks and nails and
panes of glass. For home consumption Of
all kinds everything was raised at home.
And in every community there were large
numbers of respectable mechanics, who were
as high in the estimation Of the community
as any of it's citizens. In every community
there were mills to grind the corn and
wheat, and the surplus was taken away by
horses.
I'VE laugh at all this. Herr Most laughs;
all laugh; all agree to call it slow, and old
and easy times. But what is the best civi.
lization Is it not that which gives plenty
and conteutment to the greatest number :?
Such was the civilization of fifty years ago,
and it accomplished good to all. But this
slow age has passed never to return. We
have now in the counties no tinreTs, nor
hatters, nor tailors nor shoemakers we
have huge factories, where tineware anu
hats and coats and shoes and garments are
turned out by the million-and all war! 1T
so. Papers are now read by the millions !;
so printers and pressmen and editors do not
wish to 90 back to the old hand-pccss that
printed few hundred papelsa day; these no
more want to 60 back to the old times than
Others. There has been silent but gigantic
revolution through railroads.and steamships
and factories and machinery. These have
so charged our civilization, that large
numbers of men and women have become
like the machines they work, and must rise
early, herd together in the factories, and so
are no longer like their grandparents,
whether in speech. or thought, or feelings,
or doiugs. Who is to blame? Nobody, or
everybody. The man turned into u ma
chine, he has helped and does now help on
the present civilization. He wants to travel
fast and wants to buy cheap. II it costs
Herr Most ten dollars to get clothes made
at home and nine dollars to get equally good
made away from home, he will buy the
cheaper. All are to blame, or rather no
person is to be blamed the invention OF
machinery and the building of railroads !;
the discovery Of steam power has revolu'
tionized society and society has not been ad-
iusted to this revolution. This is the trou-
BILE now. This has been going on for fifty
wears silently, but it will be silent no longer.
"What is to be done? If nothing is to be
done, then we shall have revolution as
certain as the sun rises this latter will not
be slow but swift; not bloodless but sharp
as amid the throes of dissolution.
To prevent this, and to adjust our civli-
zation to the present needs ofthe communl-
ty, is the problem which has to be solved by
our law makers, but which they seem un-
concerned about, or stand looking OH with
hands in their pockets; discuss silver dol
lars. discuss how not to pay debts, how TO
make presidents and who shall be Senator
from Illinois,"