Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-02-27
ON SOCIAL PROGRESS.
Mr.. c. S. DaPrOw'S Lecture at Central
Music Hall Chicago.
The Development of Society Under the
Law Discussed at the Final
Economic Conference.

The closing session of the economic CON
ference brought together an audience
which filed the Recital hail to overfowing
and left many to be denied admission
The address bye. S. Darrow on Social
Progress Under the Law was worthy of the
occasion and the audience
1T has been said that there was no labor
question, said Mr.. Darrow. The pres
ence of this audience and the success of
these conferences demonstrate its existence
and that it will continue so long as one
class of humanity is rich, powerful and
great, and by far the greater class In the
depths of poverty and want.
THE SAVAGE AND CIVILIZED BEING.
Between the savage clothed in skins and
fighting with his fellows and the civilized
being of to-day is a chasm broad ana deed;
so broad that it seems as If no links CON
meet the present with the past The
savage centuries since emerged from his
cave and saw the rising sun dispel the
night watched it with fear and wonder
as it passed across the sky; he saw it, as
the evening hour came on, sink slowly
from his sight and leave the world all cold
and dark. He thought that this was living
thing, god who thought and moved and
she'd his light upon the EARTH and he pray
ed that it might come again
to fill the earth with hope and
cheer. The savage saw the lightning
fash and trembled at its power; he heard
the thunder's voice and fed in terror to
his cave. There were the weapons and
the voice of an avenging CODA god that
must be appeased by sacrifice and prayer.
The cililized being of to-day sees the
sun go down and knows it will rise again,
and can tell the reason why. He sees the
lightning's flash, but it brings no terror
to his soul, for he has learned the cause.
He has even dared the gods by bringing
these wonderful elements to do his will
He looks on nature in all its changing
forms, and In 1t sees no miracle or mystery
save the one great mystery that lies back
of all. The difference between the savage
of long ago and the civilized man of to-
day has all been brought about by knowl-
edge of and obedience to law.
The savage of ages since was an individ-
ual; he stood alone. In his weak mind
there had not yet been born the thought of
the strength that comes from associating
with his fellow man. He was the prey of
the elements of nature, the prey of the
wild beasts that surrounded him, the prey
of other barbarous men like himself. He
was a slave, although no masters hand
had ever yet been raised above his back,
although no human law had ever yet been
made to fetter him, although no social
customs had been formed to curtail his
acts. This savage was a slave. He was a
slave to heat and cold, to hunger and want
to the elements that surrounded HIN, to
all the forces of nature. All these de-
manded his whole time and strength, and
in the end they eft him, after a short and
precarious existence to starve or die
through violence.
MAN CANNOT STAND ALONE.
Self-preservation is the first law of
nature, and even before this man appreci-
ated the condition in which he lived, even
before he began to think, the law of self
preservation drove him to association with
his fellow-man. He did not know the
reason why; he did not know the wonderous
power contained in association with
his fellow, but the law of self-pres-
ervation drove him to do it. He associat.
ed with others of his kind that he might
defend himself from the heat and cold
from the elements of nature, from the
beasts that wrged war upon him, and from
others of his race. Around the strongest
chief there naturally gathered followers,
who united with the rest and made COM
mon cause.
The speaker then traced the progress of
civilization through the primitive stages
to that in which the invention of machin-
cry and the Investigation Of industry
made it impossible for man to longer toll
alone and forced him to become a servant
of those possessing the improved nipple
ments of production. With this improve
ment there had arisen a natural monopoly
which was, as all laws of nature, not to
be contended against, but rather made to
conserve mans use and happiness. This
was the problem of the age. Man could
not prevent monopoly, but it was in the
nature of things that he could make this,
like all natural laws, subserve the happi-
ness of the race.
MONOPOLIEs CONTROLLED BY THE PEG
PILE.
The control of the natural monopoly
could be secured by the extension of pow
ers of the state In the direction already
taken. The government has already shown
its power In the management of schools, in
the transportation of mails, in the supply
of heat, water, and light; and it was pos
sible for man to further extend these func-
tions until the value of all these natural
monopolies should be gained for the people
to whom they belonged.
In closing the speaker said: these
questions are before us; they must be set
tied; we cannot dodge them or avoid our
responsibilities. We hear upon the one
hand laughter and music and Joy. upon
the other the cries of woe and suffering
We cannot close our ears to those cries.
We cannot close our eyes to this misery
and want 1t is earnest sincere work that
is needed. It is for all who are patriots;
for all who love their fellow-man; for all
who have a heart that feels for others
woes.
The close of the address was greeted
with long-continued applause.
CONGRESSIONAL.
EaI 1S