New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-18
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTIONS

Tho deconerocv Of the times Is n favorlte
theme for pcssimiStS now. as IL always mas
been; but seldom. at least in American histoi!'
have there been so many signs OF inor'h IT,
generation and the quickcning OF puphc coi'-
science as are to be witnessed in WHAT Is !"
very truth this year Of grace. Never nave 'ii'ic
been more grounds for encouragement 1or 'hoSe
who believe that the world is steadily SroWihS
better as well as older, and that there IS heaven
working which will inevitably lcayen the WhoIc
lump Of civilization.
Adversely offers the supreme test Oh ch'il
nctcr for nations as for men. The American
people have beer passing through the gravcst
financial crisis in their history during the laSl
wear and what resources Of patience, c0nScrVa-
tism. good sense and generosity have Dech re-
vcaIcd, With enormous shrinkagcS OF values
with almost every industrial interest paralyzcd
with factories closed. wages falling ana nun
drcds Of thousands Of workmcn ont or employ
ment. with what sclf-poSscss0n. good h'lihor
and hopefulncss have all classes adapted them
selves to rcvcrscs Of fortune. The hardest WIN
ter known in forty years has passed without
bread riots and with few labor disturb
anccs Terrible as the suffcrinSS and privationS
of the unemployed poor have been. relief meas
urcs have been adopted on scale which would
not have been possible in any other country
and rich and poor have been brought into close
fellowship through works of mercy ana en-
lirbtcncd charity Who can regard the steadi-
ness and fine temper shown by the American
ncoplc In this blacklist Of economic years. or
recall the wonderful works Of Christian bcnevo
lcncc in these hard times. and not be CON
WINGED that the world is growing better:
Panic years are ordinarily seasons Of religious
revival. Signs Of this kind have not been lack
ing. although they are less conspicuous than
ardent cvangclsts might have expected But
there has been an unmisakablc reaction from
one end of the land to the other against the
worst tendencies OF political life. There has
been a popular rccoil against the ignorance or
dcmacoc,Ics and the yagaric' Of Socialist fanat-
les. LEGISLATORS Mt Washington may be- blind
to the rapid changes which have been in prog
ross East. West and South, but there has been
nothing short of a revolution in public opinion
There has been. moreover, Il genuine revival
Of public conscience in political affairs. There
has been n general awakening to the duties ana
responsibilities Of citizenship. The revolt against
misgovcrnmcut in Brooklyn, the prosecution OF
Mckanc aud his Gravcscnd gang. the impend
Ing collapse of Ring power in this town, the
restoration of responsible home rule in Buffalo
the overwhelming condemnation Of Maynardism
In this State and the righteous Indignation OK
cited by cXccrablc election crimes in Troy are
indications of Widespread reaction against
ntolcrablr evils in American politics, which
have been foStcrcl and aggravated by public
Indifference - The responsibilities Of citizenship
Politicians who have spent their lives in learn
ng the tricks Of their trade may be slow IN
discerning the signs of the times; but whoever
mngcs with men feels the pulse Of Il more
vigorous and hcalhful public life, and knows
that crimes against free suffrage, the tyranncal
domination Of party bosses like Croker, Shcc-
han. Mclaughlin and Murphy. the scandalouS
misgoycrnmcnt Of American cities. the control
If Legislatures by turf gamblers ana the deg
radiation of executive government by foul
mouthcd creatures Ike Waite will no longer he
tolerated by an aroused public conscience \
kccncr. more intelligent and more virtuous ciii-
zcn>hip has been evolved from the degradation
and chcancry Of recent politics. and ii stands
for morality and good government. Preachers
may be sounding jcrcmadS oh the dcgcncracy
Of the times; newspapers may be- aiming main
IS 10 entertain u public that is not as ippant
and cynical as they suppose; but good citizen
ship IS a greater power for Righteousness than
it has been for many years. The moral world
is moving surely, if not rapidly, and in the
right direction.