The herald., 1894-02-18
THE FALL OF NATIONS.
THE LESSON TAUGHT BY THE
WORLDS HISTORY.
The Weaith and Power of the Few
Lead to the Oppression of the
Many and to National
Dissolution.
LEY G. MdLHoLLANp.

BY c. MJLHoLLAND.J
The history of the human race is an
unbroken record of the gradual rise OF
tribes or races, from rude conditions to
wealth, power and splendor, followed
by decay and ruin. From the earliest
ages to The preeent time this is the rule.
The great empires OF Asia we're followed
in the same course by the mighty pow
tSs that afterward grew up in Europe.
In every one of those nations spirit
OF enterprise moved the whole people to
act with energy, whether the object
gas foreign conquest, manufactures and
commerce, or any other pursuit that
led to wealth and power.
No matter by what means any one OF
those nations acquired great wealth and
power, at certain stage the wealth be-
gan to accumulate in the hands OF
few, This concentration OF wealth went
on till the great bulk of the people were
sunk in abject squalor and wretched-
ness. The wealthy few, with emperor
or king at their head, maintained splen-
did courts and gorgeous palaces. Here
the utmost magnlfcence was displayed,
and all the powers OF genius were stimu-
lated to invent new forms OF enjoyment,
to increase luxury, to suggest or procure
varied ways of indulgence in anything
that could CRAFTY the senses.
But while luxury, splendor, magni-
fcence of ceremony, dress and Gil the
glitter OF courts were at the height in
each of those nations, decay had al
ready advanced 80 far that national
death was inevitable.
All the eplendors that Augustus and
his successors bestowed upon Rome
were but as gorgeous dresses upon
corpse.
There has never been wanting in any
OF those nations men of clear vision who
saw the sure result OF robbing and de-
grading the mass by class privilege, by
laws or customs fsvoring the Jew at the
expense OF the many. But in every
country and in all agee, the moment
that any man raised his voice to de-
nounce class privilege and to utter
solemn warning, he was assailed by the
privileged class. Traitor, hereto or mad
man, death, a dungeon or expatTlation,
has ever been the lot of the reformer of
political abuses. In our own enlight-
ened age and happy country we do not
90 to such extremes; those who de-
nounce class privileges and predict evil
from their continuance, are only called
cranks and calamity howlers.
1t was only after ruin had come and
destruction had swallowed up kings and
courtiers, palaces and temples, that the
crank" who had given warning, the
calamity bowler" who had pleaded for
reform, came to be recognized as the
wisest men and the purest souls OF their
time. Among Aeiatic races the ruin of
nation seems to leave the people
without any power of recuperation.
When any of those races have succeeded
in building up great nation, that gu.
preme effort appears to have exhausted
all their powers, and when ruin came
it was overwhelming and final.
Among European races the same
course OF national growth, elimination
and decay has been run as among Asiat-
ic races, but with an all-imporrant diff
ference.
Destruction of any European govern
ment has never meant more than a
change of political conditions. The
greatest social convulsions, whether
produced by foreign invasion or inter
nal revolution, has never destroyed the
courage and energy of the people.
On the contrary, the calm that
has always succeeded each great polit-
icel storm in Europe, has found the peo-
pie more sef-relisnt and better able to
take care OF Themselves and protect their
own interests than before. Even in the
thickest night OF the dark ages, among
the brave, rude races that wrecked the
Roman empire, were better ideas OF
personal freedom, and more courage to
maintain that freedom, than had ever
been seen among the polished nations
of former times.
II - g
come valuable reforms. The races that
have brought civilization to what it now
is are more vigorous, more self-reliant,
more intelligent, in everything better
able to- push along the great work OF
progress than ever before. And all the
aspirations for hig her conditions OF life,
all the love OF freedom, all the self-reli-
Rnce ever possessed by nations or races
OF men are concentrated and intensified
in ourselves.
Whatever obstacles to further pro-
gress may exist, will be removed, but
just how, the wisest may not be able to
tell. That there is great disproportion
in the distribution Of the profits of our
marvellous industry is not denied, even
by those who profit most by this in.
equality. The toilers who produce
those vast profits are fully conscious OF
buc uAcqudl pOitiOh bhoy lSCoiNeJ bu6y
are every day becoming more conscious
OF their own power to remedy that in
equality. 1t should deeply concern all
who have become enormously rich from
the fruits of labor, that when tho great
macs OF the people earnestly set about
the work Of reform mere curtailment
of gain, simple OF further accummu.
lation may diminution not be
the only result Perhaps the people
may determine that the frat step in re-
form should be to prevent political ad-
veuturers, men without knowledge in
great affairs OF state and destitute Of
honor, or even simple honesty, from
having control OF the machinery of po-
litical parties.
New suits Filed.
Preliminary papers in the following
new suits were filed yesterday with the
county clerk:
James Hammell VS.. F. L. Goldsperry
and wife; suit on an unpaid judgment
for 1886 30.
Ellen Tanhey VS.. James Small ct al.
ottft To-