The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1889-03-21
OUR AGE AND OURSELVES.
lContribut,ad.I

the summit from which We
survey the past and the only
foundation on which we have a
right to base the fabric of our
future dreams. The repiner
who is signing for some happy
age, that is no more, is as far be-
hind the present age, as is the
age for which he sighs, and so
far as we eau see, would be
better in his shroud than in ex-
istence. He who whiles away
the passing moments, to await
the good time coming" must
at last awake to the gloomy
reality that call was a dream"
While he who would seek the
philosophy of life iu those who
have swept the arena before
him and apply it to the age in
which he lives, is guided on his
way by "the lights that never
grow DIM"
Thus we make the broad as
sertion. We are standing face
TO face with an age that is doub-
ly important, for it will 20 into
history as our age Of activity
of material and scientific devel-
opment. Then tits oar age But
where ? inquire the malcoutent,
and the man Of thought alike.
Yet with different minds and
notions, where are the evidences
Of our prosperity? Let Agri-
culture and Manufacturing and
Science and Metaphysics, and
Statesmanship and Monuments
from which plays the electric
spark of the spirit Of the age,
proclaim the truth.
August 31st, 1886, in Paris,
was celebrated the one hun
dredth birth day Of a chemist,
who has witnessed "the entire
development" of one Of the
greatest sciences known to men.
Startling is the answer to the
question. What has a quarter
of a century done for this sci
ence ? Yea, a revolution is
pending thereon to-day. Chas
Darwin the great apostle of the
Development theory, which is NOV
ing and stirring the world os
thought, has been dead but ten
years, his prominent successors
are men Of the age, and wonder ;
that long last prodigy, the econ
Meeting link" between man and
and the monkey has left his
tracks where the acute obserYa-
tion Of one of these scientists
has made the discovery.
Let that noble race who pride
themselves on their historic
genealogy, rather than their
common sense, erect to the hero
of discovery fitting monument,
and place upon its top-most pin
nacle a monkey Of the first edi-
tion, for their long sought link
in now perfect genealogY. But
whatever may be said Of the
theory of evolution, in its ranks
are men Of thought and activi-
ty; and those who would recon
cile it to the interests of Chris
tianity or overthrow it in de.
fence thereof, must be men OF
thought. Truth is mighty and
will prevail" but the instru-
ment that measures it must be a
fitting one. Naught but the
mental and spiritual activity OF
the men of truth could avert q
repitition of the "Dark Ages
But the forces are gathering
The lands that are a stranger to
all enlightened men, save the
explorers, together with the
cities that have been buried fol
centuries, are confirming the
story OF authentic history. Ir
the interest of benighted hu
manity, the heralds Of Christian
ity are increasing their ranks in
Mexico, in Asia, in Africa, i1
/ the isles Of the sea, even through
ont the world. This is an age
Of great political problems
The spirit of Anarchy that i:
troubling the waters today, il
but reaction Of a gigantic op
preston. 1t had not its birtt
in America, but America feel,
}. it. "NC man liveth to himself.
J. is a vital truth in PoGtica
Economy. We think it no
, presumptive to assert that h
who amicably adjusts the situa
tion in the political world, i
greater than Alexander or Caesar
Not only in the political aren;
is the combat carried on, but il
all the pursuits of men, eac]
striving with unrelenting powe
to fill his own Golfers, regardless
of the downfall Of his neighbO
: 'just across the street." Whe1
, in reality the success of one
, the success of the other. Men
nor the pursuits of men can n
more live to themselves tha
continents, islands and seas.
5 One Of the greatest geograph
7 ical truths, written and rea
9 upon all lands and seas, is tina
,. no part of the globe is sufhcieu
unto itself, that no tree or rocE
1 continent or sea was ever finish
e ed, that everything has a full
e ness that something else naed:
t and wants that some: hing els
oor e,,1.~1r Without ,,;o nm