Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-12-09
The Dark and Bright Side.

In an article under the heading apoVe, INC
New York Journal of Commerce says Cna'
sit is the pessimist who looks at the wofio
and what he regards as the increasing nope
lessness of its condition and takes INTO az
count no over-ruling Sovereignty .na'
"ffom seeming evil still educing gooo Is
working for a noble purpose and better
ends. Man within is more or less foul, end
his works when he is unrestralned leave a
sad imprint on the pages of history. Wrongs
and cruelties, crime and lust, the long biacK
catalogue Of woes that spring from human
selfishness, make the study from the earth
ly side depressing lesson. The eye thus
fixed sees only the knots and broken threads
and unfinished figures of the piece that is IN
the loom, and asks to what end is all the
anxiety snd toll. In that estimate each
hand but wastes its energy, each life is
spent in vain and goee out in darkness.
Empire after empire has failed, the world
is growing old, man will at last become
effete and night will settle over all.
But there is another and brighter side.
We do not hold with the poet that ''Truth
crushed to earth will rise again" because Of
her inherent vitality; nor that Error will
Idle among his worshipers'' because he has
in him the seeds of decay. Place the IN
aided man in their presence, let both ap-
peal for following, and he will embrace
the plausible lie and leave the pleading
| white robed beauty without a convert. This
is sad statement, but the history of the
race through nearly six thousand years es
tablishes it beyond all denial. Will truth
and righteousness ever become triumphant
nd falsehood and vice 60 to the wall? Yes,
but not because it is in the heart of unaid-
ed man to establish himself in the love OF
holiness. If this could be done it weuld
have been long ere this and We should have
radiant list of spotless saints who have
walked the earth unstained. There is no
inscription on that sanity roll of any of the
children of men. The best, and those who
to human eyes have come nearest to the
standard, have covered themselves with
sackbloth, and with trembling hands have
written "chief of sinners" against their
honored names.
| Truth will triumph, not for Its attractive
power, not because it is natural for men to
choose the right, but because it has an AL
mighty Champion, who will at the last have
His own way in regenerating His chosen,
and putting an end to the triumph of Evil.
This is why the optimist can walk amid the
wrecks and wrongs of earth with uplifted
head, with cheer in his heart and song Cd
his lips The Arm that is guiding human
destiny has in it the might of Omnipotence,
and Righteousness will come to the throne
because this is the purpose of the Worlds
Great Ruler. And this is why it is wiser
| to study His character and ways than to si'
and weep over the depravity of man and the
tangled threads of human history. There
il progress in the grand design, as We may
see for ourselves if we can catch a glimpse
of the weaving from the upper side. Ano
the outlook across the continents to eyes
that watch the Ruling Hand is most en-
couragiug. Whsrs it was once but mid
night blackness there is the gray of the
morning stealing up the eastern sky. What
matter that below the token of promise the
fields still wear the old sombre hue; the
day never rolls back, and the sky will be
radiant ere long with the rising suu."