Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-01-21
The Remedy.
-MiIadelphta Press,

To the Rer H-m. Short, Rector Of St
Peters Church, st, Louis, No:
KIND SIR-I have enjoyed very re-
Gently the unspeakable pleasure Of
reading il this paper what purported
to be a report Of an excellent address
Of yours on the subject of .'Christianity
and Social Reformers. : | would be
most happy to agree with you that,
the problems of life human and Soc
ial life you mean. of course. '.were be-
coming more complex as civilization
advanced" but l cannot admit that the
advancement of our form of civilization
in recent years: or. indeed. at any other
time. is the cause Of such growing COM
plexity. The restlessness and dissatis-
faction in certain portions of society,
which are seemingly the ground of
complaint in your argument is. to my
mind. only an incident. but very nat
ural one, ! admit. TO the rapid growth
of the general forms of civilization eX-
isting at the present day. The unpre-
cedented distribution of common, and.
indeed, higher education, among all
classes OF. the people. in this country
and elsewhere. is the real factor at the
bottom of the uprising and general de-
mand for the greater need of the eQui-
ties of human life. The battle, as you
very properly term it, may be a severe
one between the contending forces in
this struggle, but the victory will ulti-
mately be on the side of the oppressed
and down-trodden. There is a spirit
moving within the inner wheel in this
conflict that viii not down in its de-
mands and aspirations at the instance
Of either threats or promises. The
masses of mankind are daily yielding
to the conviction that some decided
measures of Social or Political Reform,
leading to q more equitable distribution
of the means of wealth and comfort.
provided that such desirable ends could
be attained on principles equally just
and reasonable to all parties.
regret that am not able to agree
with you in the statement that 1.-The
question of poverty or the alleviation
of hard conditions" were not before us.
Neither did it concern the issue wheth
er the condition of the poorer classes is
better now than it was years ago.
Justice. you say. lis the real ques-
ton before Us now" | am at all times
in favor of the largest measure of jus
sons. but | cannot be oblivious to the
great questions Of poverty and human
sufferings and perhaps other hardships.
as the first and noblest incentives TO the
human breast, and awakening within
Us q strong desire for the discovery of
the best and speediest means by which
they can be relieved. Is it not the Bit
terness of poverty. the singing of ex-
treme suffering and want, that send
forth the first successful cry for relief
into the ears of either God or man?
Holy Writ is in entire agreement with
this. sentiment: i have surely seen
the Affections of my people, and have
heard their cry by reason of their task
masters: for I know their sorrows.
The justice or injustice done to this
people, for the time being is not as yet
thought of, it is their suffering. But
you further aver that. If sociaireform
had only to do with poverty. then
Christian teachers might well stand off
and allow the matter to be settled with |
put their interference. but if the ques- /
ton was one of justice, then the Christ /
ian teachers should be found fighting in /
the front ranks" For brevity sake,
would just say that tony way of think J
ing. the converse of this proposition
would look like the true one The true
rule here as in other things should be,