The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-11-02

work OF mcdaniel invention. Our daily
life has been literally revolutiOnized ~
mechanics. What our ancestors did by
hand we do by machinery. This trench
dous force brought into play by cranks
and wheels and levers is ii new prOblemn
tie development OF the worlds life. The
bureau OF statistics in I.erln estimated
in 1887 that the steam engines at that
time at work in the world represented
not less than 900, GOO, 900 wOrkingmen
that is to say. the steam engines at
work in 1887 did more than three times
the working force OF the entire earth.
Their earning capacity at that time was
three times greater than the muscle
power Of the world.
The advance in the application OF me-
chanical power to the problems OF life
since SS7 has been most marvellous OF
al. Since that time electricity has taken
in large measure the place OF steam i'll
ii thousand avenues OF life, and whore the
steam wheel made one revolution the
electric motor makes ten If we increase
nj this rate during the next generation
the working force Of the world, it will be
possible to do all the work necessary
Tor the production and distribution OF
economic goods within a few hours OF
every week il society can be organized
upon the cooperative rather than the
competitive basis.
\ DISTURBANCE ~ EXISTING CONDITIONS.
1t can be seen at once that it Is lmpOs-
sibIe 70 society to receive each day this
tremendous army OF wheels and levers
without causing n radical disturbance III
| the existing social order within the near
| future Labor organizations III their
| blind ignorance have fought the intro
| ductiOn of machinery in the labor OF the
| world. But as they become educated
| they will not be slow in seeing that the
| work OF the world can be done by ma
| chincrv in few hours when that ma
| chincry is harncssed by IL cooperative
| social order.
The developments OF science during the
| past generation have been so marvellous
that we literally live in Il new world be
| cause of those developments. Each day
reveals new wonders. The present rate
| OF progress, il maintained, will give Il
civilization i'll the early part OF the
| twentieth century the very outlines OF
| which no prophet can fOrctell to-day.
| The only problem is, Can the present rate
| of progress be maintained in the dlScOv-
| crv of natures secrets by those who are
searching for them The probability is
| that it will not only be maintained, but
accelerated, for where there was one man
| in search OF the secrets OF nature Tor use
full ends 30 years ago there are Il thou
| sand men today searching with might
| and main for these secrets to give them
| immediately to the world as II practical
| contribution to its social and economic
| life. Speculative science has everywhere
| given away to practical science, and the
| man OF speculative mind can not refrain
| from making the application even on the
page OF his philOsophic speculation.
THE GROWTH OF CITIES
The growth OF cities has been so re
markabIc within tn" past generation
and il so rapidly increasing i'll tn" pres
cut that it prCSlgcS Il new lie iii the neal
FUTURE; new life, social, economic, re
ligiOuS \ glance at the development o.
the cities within the past decade and {
COMPARISON OF each decade in the cen
fury will reveal that the growth OF TIN
city has been one of the marveIs OF mod
rrn lie. In 1890 the population OF TIL
'nitcd States Was i'll round number
l,O0O,OOO. Th" population OF the elite
at tnat time was in round numbers ID
OuC-3.35 per cent. of the whole pOpula
ton, leaving Il rural population c
90 90 per cent. In 1890 we had il pOpu
Iation OF 81 SOC, 900, The population
OF the cities had grown to 1S,2oO,OOt
about 30 per cent OF the entire pOpula
/ ton as contrasted with ; per cent. il
1870. The city has grown, i'll short, t
/ | dominate the life OF the century Th
= rural district has lost its power. Th
i scepter of import has been transferre
! to the streets OF the great cities, an
| from the streets it has sunk to the gu
+ tiers, and the dives, and sewers.
: The domination of city life over rurf
|. | life is one that can not continue Ion
; without IL radical change i'll the who
Y social order. The growth of the cit
!, means the growth OF the darkest 81
t mcnt5 OF our life, at the expense, for t!
g time being, OF the saving elements. III
;, growth OF the city means the growth
II the active principle OF our civilization
: The city is the center OF activity. 1t
the center of good and the center of CIV
1t means, therefore, the necessary int
sifcatiOn of life. 1t means tn" intensi
:. cation of crime The development
u crime within this latter part OF our c"
! fury has been out OF all proportion
- the progress OF law and order. We ha
" 1000 murders in America and 100 leg
: executions.
:. The daily record OF our crime is SON
- thing appalling to the heart of tho
=, that love their fellow man. The gcner
= ton of criminals who have served the
II term in penal institutions is increasil
!" with marvellous rapidity. \ penal color
within the body of civilization is son
~ thing with which we have never been co
frOntcd before The number of cOnyiC
81 of various degrees which are at prese
- adding to the Stun population of o
y; cities is something beyond computatiO
= Corruption in society and in govel
-, ment and Ill commerce has increased
=, geometrical proportion to the pressu
y of life.
If CORRUPT MUNICIpALITIES.
he We have to-day the most corrupt civ
in ZatiOn in some respects that the WOI
III has ever seen. Ii we take our own ci
of New York as an example in the dev
a. Opmcnt OF political life in the close of t
a. nineteenth century, we will have TO
in for the philosopher and the philanthl
ne plst. In the past generation in this ci
e. corruption ruled in municipal life, |
OF 1t was Il corruption so manifest til
Is public Indignation could be aroused a
tn | the criminals brought to Justice. I
Tweed regime was routed in short ore
Id when once its raScality was made
III matter of public comment and pub
r. suspicion. But this generation |
I'll reached Il point of scientific dcvelopme
nj in public crime of which Mr.. Tweed ne,
or dreamed. Tweed was thief who +,
is from the lowest walks OF life to roll
IL luxury, to sport his diamonds and
carriages out OF public plumber. But
er was clumsy thief
he Today his successor in office,
at Richard Croker, is the boss of our 20
on zeal life. He is the most important fac
re in our American politics to-day. \
e. years ago he was a prize fighter, a .
ser eral sport, and he was poor. To-day
nd lives in a palace, he owns magnitic,
1t rural estates, he sports the finest bloc,
in horses i'll America. and his wealth m
rs be estimated by the million. He no
or no public office and has no visible mes
all OF support save as the boss of a politi
he club organized for plumber in Il ct
Id. city.
IS. Not only have We such corruption
Is, fore our eyes and absolutely master
mt our municipal life, but more-they 8