The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-05-02
GENERAL AMERICAN TENDENCIES.

Henry WattersOn has always something
interesting and pointed TO say when he
~speaks. This is especially true of the adj
dress which he delivered in Charleston on
Wednesday evening. before the southern
Press Association on the subject of money
and morals. The editor of the COurier-JoVF-
nal professed himself to be a decided optim-
ist in his views as to the future of American
institutions in spite of all the evil influences
abroad in the Republic. Tariff reduction.
ne thought. was inevitable. Already, as he
expressed himself "high tariff was taking
many furtiye look into the face of the
stareyed Goddess of Reform and it was only
Il question of time for her Establishments TO
produce a complete submission"
As TO the political issues of the present
hour. .'there was never period in the his
tory of the country" in the judgment Of
Mr. Watterson, "when there was less TO ap-
prehend from the drift and tenor of current
partisan contention This opinion may
well cause surprise. unless the explanation
offered by Mr.. Watterson is considered
sound. namely, that the parties are 80
evenly balanced that in spite of unscrui N
lous legislation and extreme innovations
through the agency Of the Republican party.
no permanent harm can be done to the well
fare and prosperity of the whole country.
The real danger to American institutions,
according to Mr.. WattersOn, 'arose directly
from the relation Of money to the moral ma
ture of the people" The money devil, a.
r the distinguished editor termed it. was the
chief obstruction in the path of the Ameri-
can Republic, and it can not he said tha;
he exaggerated the degree Of evil which ii
is doing in lowering the whole tone of our
political life.
Mr.. Watterson complained ''that the ge-
Mus Of the country is no longer engaged in
works of patriotic duty, imagination and
humble piety, but in construction and d.
yelopment in money making" but we are
disposed 10 think that he drew too broad
deductions as TO the general consequences
Of these materialisic tendencies. The ma
terialistic spirit abroad in IL country at
the present time is precisely ~ hat was 10
have been expected on account of the vast
field still remaining undeyeloped. IL is a
sign Of robust health and interchangeable
yigor. II is entirely natural that in this
age, when there are no great political move
ments or rumblings Of future strife that the
genius Of America should be absorbed in
what Mr.. Watterson has referred to as
..constructio'l and development in money
making"
In this line, are now exhibited the most
earnest thought, the highest energy Of the
American people, because it furnishes the
most seductive opportunities for self adj
vancement and elevation. But the time
must come when the development now
going on so rapidly will reach its limit.
Long before that hour is arrived at, there
will be- new impulse which will have a
powerful effect in modifying the material
istic tendencies of which Mr.. Watterson
complains 30 forcibly, and, TO certain de-
gree, so justly. In the meanwhile there is
reason 10 think that the pre-, ailing material
istic spirit, with all its evil influences, is
far more 10 be desired at this stage Of the
development Of our natural resources than
u materialistic spirit very much moderated.