The herald., 1894-04-01
M A HUNDRED YEARS.
A Prophecy Us to Labor's Part In the His
tory of the Twentieth Century.

TORY OI tue AWChtiCAh AOHOuEys
We Of the nineteenth century now
drawing to close ask ourselves; What
changes will the world experience in the
social and political autonomy in the next
100 yearsG What will be the history of
the twentieth century, and who will
make thas history?
In the past great movements have
often been wrought by the predominance
of ono man, ambitious and autocratio,
who for his own aggrandizement has
caused the blood of thousands to flow
like water and in the pursuance Of his
own selfish ends has created for mankind
a thousand woes. Such man was Ma
poleon, the greatest accretion of conceit,
unscrupulousness, arrogance and knav-
cry that the world has yet seen.
The time has gone past for this sort Of
thing, and the history of the future will
be, must be, made by the people-the
common people. In all the nations the
leaven is working toward an ameliora-
tiun of tho conditions under which the
majority of mankind are existing, and
the indications are that the people who
live at the end of the twentieth century
will see o world so different in its essen
tials that we Of today, were the changes
prophesied, would regard them as Chi
merical and visionary romance.
Though many predict that certain
changes in the history of the world,
which now seem to bo inevitable, will
not take place without bloodshed and
struggle, the very ideas that gave rise to
these changes prove that the world is
becoming better instead of worse, liberal
rather than anconservativs generous rather
than selfish. s1ia 1a
Today most men believe that every
man should not only theoretically have
the right of "life, liberty and the pur.
suit OF happiness" but that he should be
subject only TO conditions tending to the
conservation of these rights.
The battles of tho future, if any such
there be-which God forbid-will not be
battles between nations, Of potentnte
against potentate. They will be tho
struggle of brother against brother, of la
Dor against capital, of the sweat of
mans brow against the almighty dollar,
and if that spirit speaks truly which
breathes its influence ON the eve of all
great events the dollar will not be the
victor.
For great occasions are great men
made. The great men OF the future will
arise as they are nseded, and their
achievements will not be for their own
Individual aggrandizement, but for the
forwarding Of all the better and larger
interests of humanity.
During the next 100 years there will be
great revolutions in our social, econom-
ical and industrial conditions.
II will be remembered that Edward
Bellamy, in Looking Backward" claim
ed that the changes which he foresaw
would all transpire within hundred
years. Though it is probable that the
world will not advance directly along the
line which he predicted, yet doubtless as
great changes as he foresaw will be ef-
fected.
At the end of the twentieth century ii
is probable that mon will not be satisfied
with an eight hour labor day. No one
will then work over five hours at the la
bor which procures him q livelihood. Tho
rest OF the time will be devoted to social
and intellectual improvement.
Mon invent machines that men them
selves may not work. At the end of the
twentieth century all men will claim
half day of leisure every day.
There will probably be some great wars
in the twentieth century, but they will
be such destructive ones that all nations
will become afraid of war, and conse.
quently all war will be abolished AL
this may happen within century.
May the history Of the twentieth CEN
tury read fair, and may it not be written
with the swords. Watterson Ford in
Yankee Blade.