Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1889-09-07
"A MAD WORLD,MY MASTERS."

Has the worldly which we mean
the people and not the globe-gone
mad? 1t would seem so, with its rush
ing trains, its ocean greyhounds, its air
ships, its noise and hustle and confu-
sion, enough to take away the breath of
any disinterested mortal who can stand
by the highways of trade and see the
grand procession go by. 1t may be that
man is permitted to spy out the secrets
of nature for the good of the race, and
wander in imagination among the starry
hosts in search of wisdom, for in doing
so they adapt the earth to human needs,
and better conditions of life tend to
make the world happier. But in the
struggle sometimes the conditions are
worse after the improvement than when
nature and natures children occupied
the fields and forests together, and
wants were few and easily supplied.
What does it profit if we subdue the
whole world and half the people starve,
the other half being engaged locking up
their corn-cribs? Or what part of life
shall man give in exchange for cleo
trio appliances and improved machinery
if he works as many hours as before,
and has none of the benefits of these
great discoveries? These are the great
problems which loom up and must be
worked out Man is ordered to subdue
nature, and is supposed to benefit by
the conquest. But when the spoils are
enr 81 &c thn
case that only the captains of fifties and
hundreds have any part in the distribu-
ton, while the hosts of fighters must
still keep their longing eyes on the New
Jerusalem, for hope is almost dead in
this world. When city is builded the
land it is the landlords by virtue of
document with the word forever"
truly a long time) written thereon, and
thus the burden of rent begins, but
never ends. Gaze on the beautiful idea.
1t is a rude but practical way of illus
trating intinity, and shows what infinite
| fools we are to let one man control abb
solutely portion of the earth for
ever" But it is $50 nominated in the
bond" Mad! Do we not see chron-
icled every day the self obstruction of
men driven to frenzy by cast-iron laws
and rules of trade? But the great
world closes over the places where their
lives were wrecked, and the mad
throngs rush on after some new CHI
mera. Suicides increase as trusts null
tiply, and insane asylums fill up as mo-
nopoly tightens its grip upon the strug
Cling people. But the world is learning
all the time. The printing press is
throwing its rays of intellectual light
into every darkened corner of the
earth. Literature is spreading the
truth everywhere that humanity 10
more than boarded wealth; that to be
free indeed all must enjoy the blessings
of freedom-freedom to live and enjoy
life, freedom of opportunity, freedom to
occupy portion of the earth which the
Creator has given to the children of
men. 1t is mad world, my masters"
1t seems to be getting madden, and to
have lost its balance wheel. But no
doubt somewhere there is a guiding
hand that will direct the way; that
there are influences at work which will
ultimately lead us to the time which
will behold all men as brothers of one
great family, and in looking backward
all will wonder how the world managed
to remain mad and foolish for so long a
time.-Quincy Journal Of Industry.