The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-11-22
OPTIMISM VERSUS PEsslMlsm.
Rev. Or. paIton's Third Saturday
Lecture.


What is known as the pessimistic view of
life has always had its advocates never. per-
haps, more numerous than now who refuse
TO be eomforted by the cheerful pictures of
the optimists. They contend that our sunny
landscapes are illuslye and ensnaring. AT
best. we are saved by hope" which is sell
dom realized, while the hard facts of life am
ply support their view of it. Pessimism
finds its wittiest, if not its wisest, exponent
in Voltaire, who in Candide satirized opti-
mism as a dream and delusion. But all
this is fiction. Pessimists should be satisfied
with actual life. To this, then, let us ap-
peal. Is our boosted progress fact or de
fusion? Are we of this generation better off ?
How is it in France, Voltaire's own country,
and what in this regard Of the French Revo-
lutiona What its effects first and last? Are
they good or bad? Was it a blessing or a
curse to the French people and to the rest of
mankind? Doubtless the answer will de-
pend on our point of view. The old nobili-
ty will give one answer, the people, another.
Which shall we believe? Granted that il
the one has been elevated, the other has been
correspondingly depressed. Who are the
more important, few princes and noble
men, or the whole people? Even in Eng
land large party, perhaps majority there,
regarded the French revolution with dislike,
and many with hatred. On the continent
the alarm was immense, calling out armed
resistance on every hand. SO that France
was assailed on every side. The French were
compelled to arm in self defence. and note
the superiority of free people who have
just sense of their rights. Compare the
French peasant and the people of France
today with the same classes under the old
regime Consider the comfort within the
reach of all, the general thrift, and the uni-
yerSal compulsory education. The dimin-
lshed power OF the Church is cause of con-
graduation, seeing how that power was
abused. No doubt the French have gone
TOO last and too far. The last election nam
ply furnished proof of q reserved force. n
large conservative class, able and ready to
restore the balance.
Turn to England, and consider the changes
there since the revolution of 1888. Before
tnat date England was ruled with a rod of
iron by her kings. Norman and English. her
Plantagenets, Tudors and Stuarts What
have those ages to show that we should re-
call them if we could2 England in the reign
OIL Elizabeth was less populous than London
today, and not fifth part as powerful veal
thy, Intelligent, or free. After the reyolu-
tion OF 1858 England was really governed by
an an, ollgarcny-a lew great families, Tory or
wing, down to the passage of the First Re-
form Bill In 1892 Since then, by the mid
die classes through ministers selected from
the old families. 1t is remarkable now few
OF the late Liberal cabinet were men of the
people. Yet the people have had their say,
and IN the main, their way, since 1882. Their
power was greatly enlarged by the Second
Reform Bill OF 1867, brought in by Disraeli IN
dish the wings, the Tories led by Disraeli.
going beyond the Wings. The same thing
ries resisting further reform as long as thew
safely could, and then outbiddng the Liber-
ais In the completeness of their Concessions
to the people. The result is household suf.
irage which, with few exceptions, is real
ly manhood suffrage.
Compare now England of TODAY with the
England of the First Beform Bill, the Eng
land of Tory rule. The landlords were then
In clover, for they could impose high duties
on the peoples bread that their own produce
the press was unknown. So was popular ed
ucatlon. Dissenters were crowded To the
wall and subject to many petty annoyances.
Inc masses were Ignorant, brutal, rebellious
and miserably poor. The upper classes were
arrogant, selfish, domineering cruel. man
was hung for stealing sheep-the jails were
crowded with wretches whose misery was
enough to move heart of stone. But great
as the changes OF the past fifty years those
OF the next fifty, or even fifteen, will he
scarcely less. These three things are in the
air, will soon be formulated, and carried in
due time; the abolition of primogeniture.
free sale of land, and the disestablisbment
OF the Church. Primogeniture is conceded
sisted the end will be compulsory sale either
under the form recently proposed by Mr..
Chamberlain, or some other still more strin-
gent. So Of the Church. Now the Church
might retain most Of its endowments and SO
make good bargain. If longer delayed,
Demos becoming irritated, will demand and
carry abandonment as we'll Popular edu-
cation Is now advocated by all, though long
delayed. The only question now is-shall It
be wholly free. to the people? Strange to
ervation to free institutions, is not seen even
by Liberals as body. Many are against
it and cite the United States as a warninp'
Meanwhile the, cost Of living has diminished.
creased-nearly doubled. The masses are
better fed, clothed and hammered. In fine
England is now republic In all but the
name. A great uncertainty hangs over the
pending contest concerning home rule. But
whatever the immediate result, of the end
there can be no doubt. The people free and
in possession OF power, will freely exercise
1t there, as here, whenever they feel that the
republic is in danger.
Italy is another example showing the be-
IL
rection of unity and popular government.
once a geographical ex-possession, only n
prey to every foreign invader Now. united
and free, Italy takes high place in the fam
ny Oh nations. She has large and efficient
army, the most powerful warships in the
world, and above all, system of free schools.
compulsory education being the rule.
Spain, too, is waking up. She has now
1900 miles OF extraordinarily all built with
IN twenty years. These railroads have al
and
for the country than Church and State to-
gether. The people of Spain are no longer
content with the old cry of Santiago Cresso
Espana! Having discovered the folly of
down the musket, turning their backs on
Don Carlos and the priests, and taking up
the shovel and the hoe, are now pressing for
ward in the path of inustrial progress Not
only has agriculture improved, but manufac-
lures have increased, and iron itself is now
Goals to Newcastle
But If the uprising of Spain is marvellous.
the renaissance ofGermany is more magnif-
cent. For ages oppressed by petty prince
ships at home, and torn by. internal dissen-
slons, and without weight in the councils of
Europe, she suddenly rises from the dust,
gathers up her strength, arrays her forces,
conquers France, and becomes the Dictator
OF the Continent in the person of Bis
marck, whose rule at home is toll
of the success which he has achieved abroad
But Of the future there can be no doubt
Within generation, liberal principles will,
doubtless, be as ascendant in Germany as in
France and England. The intelligence and
morality Of the German people are sure
pledge Of this. And with government of the
people by the people, Germany will not
again lapse into the imbecile condition
which Is common to every country when it
falls prey to factions and divisions. The
low, mean and enslaved condition Of the
German peasantry made them the easy dupes
of their own mobiles and a certain prey to in
vaders, more especially the foxy Frenchman,
who always counselled the German TO MAIN
tain Provincial Independence and integrity.
at the expense of National independence and
integrity. 1t is education, more widely diff |
fused and enthusiastically pursued than in
any other country, which has elevated the
German people and secured them signal |
triumph over their hereditary foes-a lesson |
to ALL
Even Austria, dominated by the south and |