Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-05-30

Ocfdl, pIo-sidfeigi dHbl-lchipcidncO, al
loggerheads with every movement that
we think is reformatory, and his old
age fell on period when much of the
leaven of reform was working in socie-
ty. Abolitionism, temperance, and
many principles that are now guiding
men in their conduct were then strug-
Cling for recognition. But the DR.. was
one of class of men who are always
looking on the dark side of things. We
have those now who think the world is
moving down grade with an accelerat-
ed velocity. Their look is backward
and their chief comfort is found in med
itating upon things as they were. They
look upon human society now and they
see political corruption, insincere mo-
rality, religious hypocrisy, degenerate
manners, superficial education, kind
of lawlessness of spirit that refuses to
submit to authority. Things are not
managed as well as when the country
was new. Bishop Potter touched this
strain IN his Washington centennial SER
mon. We catch some notes in a null
titude Of occasional discourees and mag
azine articles. 1t may be well enough
to consider possible dangers in order 10
avoid them, but continual watch for
and fea- Of them takes a great deal of
comfort out of living that we cannot
well afford to spare. There are plenty
oil things in the world that war against
the peace of society, but like the Brigh-
ton rector we ought to be able to ex-
tract good from things evil. Call the
world as bad as we please, we shall
find that after all much Of the coloring
is in our own minds. In these times
and in this country we certainly have
a right to take hopeful view OF things.
1t is true, the sun may be obscured by
a thunder cloud here and there, when
it shines brightly in the regions all a
bout. There are local disasters and
disorders that throw passing shadow
over communities, but the general out
ook is bright, the general tone is
healthy. There is no urgent demand
made upon us to spend much of our
line in standing off and gazing at the
,ther side. We have social and polit-
cal evils to contend with, but one way
o do this is to work up to the fullest
sxtent all that makes for good, and by
his process crowd out the evil. We
10 not expect to make a paradise of the
earth, but if we work matters shrewdly
we can keep the devil out of full posses
sion for several generations to come.
There has never been a time in our his
ory when our political condition was
more favorable. The friends of the ad-
are hopeful, its enemies
,an only utter the faintest growls. Our
prosperity has never been sur
passed at any former period. There
nay not be a perfect adjustment of la
Dor and capital, but there are only few
abor troubles. There never was a pc
.iod when fewer men and women need
o go hungry. We have reached
higher degree of civilization than any
nation ever attained before. We have
secured the enactment of better laws
the evils of society than ev-
II existed before, and these laws are as
we'll sustained by the sentiment of the
in which they prevail as
uch laws ever have been. Life and
are as secure as at any pre-
-ious period. Work is constantly push
d in the field of reform. Churches
re increasing in numbers and size
Theology may be discussed less but the
'ital principles of religious faith take a
tronger hold upon the hearts and con-
ciences of the people. New customs
rise, old ones become obsolete, but
hange is not necessarily decay even
hough it may not always mark prog
ess. 1t is better for a people to con-
niue hopeful than to sink into despon-
ency which is almost certain to bring
le troubles that are feared.