The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-10-22

Mich; secretary, Rev. ID. +. Breed. In
diana.
Is the World Growing Better or WOrses
Herbert Spencer has said that lone of
the most curious ways in which common
sense differences about worldly affairs are
fatty cOntradicted by events is the way in
which the more things improve, the louder
become the EXPLANATIONS about there bad
ness" This assertion is full of truth and
the principal reason for such contradiction
of events among men is, to my mind. the
result of our inability to gauge the state of
affairs beyond our own limited horizon.
We are prone to judge the whole world by
events that transpire within the narrow linn
its of personal observation and dismiss the
subject as settled by what we see and hear
as individuals.
If we go back to ancient Grecian history
twenty-five centuries before Christ we will
see that there existed questions of sociolOgic
and economic natures identical with those
of the present day. If we study the man.
ner in which the people of that time en-.
deavored to solve these problems. and COM
pare their methods with the views Of
thoughtful men OF to-day, we will have
evidence of the fact that civilization has
made great progress; and If civilization has
advanced. how can our calamity walters"
reconcile us to the assertion that the world
is growing worse?
In relation to capital and labor. it is easy
for the candid mind to realize that the sOlu-
ton of this problem is progressing very ma
terially. Strikes are rapidly being super
seeded by arbitration as a means for set
thing grievances. Better laws are continu
ally being enacted throughout Europe and
in this country. Turn to the statute books
of Colorado. Maine. Indiana, Ohio. Michi-
gan and Georgia. and you will see recent
enactments that tend to a just consideration
of both capital and labor. What does it
mean when we see Mr.. Stanstield in Eng.
land, Emperor William in Germany. Pope
Leo Kill. Sir Henry Parkes in Austria
lasia. and many other high dignitaries
throughout Europe champiOning the cause
of the labOrer and at the same time recOg-
nizing the claims of capital? What does it
signify when we see the peaceful growth of
democracy in Europe to day in comparison
with the bloody wars of history in the same
cause? What does it mean when we see
Germany. Italy. and Austria, backed by
England maintaining peace in Europe? Is
it to thrust war upon Europe that this i'm
mense alliance is maintained. and quietly
but firmly upheld by England? One does
not gauge events thoroughly who says so. II
is TO keep down that hOt-headed French.
man and his ally (?) Russia and maintain
peace at all hazards.
The recognition of labOr's claim to capital
and the just consideration due capital; the
growth of democracy; the maintenance OF
peace: the establishment by peaceful means
of republics in South America, Australasia,
and Spain means that the people of the
world are becoming the actual rulers, and
this means that the world is better, moi
worse.
Socially and morally the world is growing
better. Time is past when people of high
standing in society can commit fragrant
abuses of the moral code without mourning
the publicity of their acts broadcast. Glass
distinction in society is rapidly giving way
to equality of all who maintain pure lives
and proper relations to their fellowmen
We cannot see this change very distinctly
in our limited scope of observation. but ii
we studiOusly read the current literature OIL
the world as it comes to us in reviews. we
cannot fail to notice the increasing demand
for higher morality and truer social rela
tons throughout christendOm.
New York and London have always beer
quoted as central points that tend to demon
strate the state of pauperism in this country
and England. If we look at statistics WI
will find that pauperism in New York ha
decreased nearly 10 per cent and the popu.
lation largely increased. In London it ha
decreased steadily from 1868 to the presen
time at rate of nearly 8 per cent per an
mum in proportion to the increase of popu
latiOn.
England is to have public schools simila
to our own. Education. no one will deny
is on the increase throughout the world ant
within the reach of the poorest classes.
Religion is undergoing battle o
creeds" that surely pOrtends the establish
ment of Christ's church universe in place
of gorgeous temples wherein the gospel il
subordinate to the vanity of a soulless form
of worship.
Political reform of practical nature il
the demand here and abroad. Municipa
reform is pregnant wherever the people
: rule.
God reigns supreme and the world il
growing better instead of worse.
SCRUTAToR.
Convict (reading a work on physiology
"Man starts from CELL" That's fraud