St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-28
A PERENNIAL DEI1s,oN

There seems TO be some direct con-
nectlon between hard times-financlal
depression and the immortal, ever
recurrent theory that things terrestrial
are on the eve of sudden, Impromptu
and unavoidable collapse. We are In
the midst of most tremendous finan-
cial and industrial depression. The
second advent theory in spiritual mat
tiers is again becoming rampant. Let
political economists and religious theo-
rlsts lay their heads together and see if
there may not be established some
scientific reason for this kinship be-
tween these two incidents-the one a
painful. substantial, material fact, and
the other an immaterial, occult. vision
airy theory.
Mankind. and the destiny of the
human race, has been entrusted to
small globe which swings through
space, accompanying one of the medium
sized liked stars which people and en-
Tighten universe that is boundless in
extent. We human insects-great only
In our sublime and limtleSs egotism-
came from we do not know where, and
our future landing place can only be
guessed at. We are subject to certain
apparently fixed laws = moral and
physical-which are only dimly COM
pretended by the wisest. From the
cradle to the grave. and probably after
ward for an Indefinite period, we are at
school, listening to the guesses of every
man and woman who may be able to
persuade US that they are competent to
teach.
This being so. there is no lawful OBJ
lection to any poor human worm pre-
tending to prophesy that the grain of
sand which we call the earth is on the
eve of great and sublime change: that
the fountains of the great social deep are
to be broken up; that wars of the most
destructive character are impending;
that earthquakes, cyclones and a varied
assortment of portentous cataclysms
are upon US; and that finally, in few
months, or few years, or a few centu-
ries, the devil is to be finally chained,
and great and sublime peace settle
down upon this erstWhile wicked and
unrighteous world. History tells us
that the life of the race has been cruel
and sanguinary. Science indorses his
tory. and asserts that human life. in
both Its moral and material as
poets, has been hard. perpetual
and Wear1Some struggle. 1t would
be comforting to be assured beyond
peradventure that there was soon to in
tervene that millennial period of rest
which all races in all ages and chimes
have longed for; and, the wish being
father TO the thought. have believed to
be approaching.
The other day, in Michigan, a COM
pany OF enthusiasts began to sell all
their worldly goods at hard-time prices.
bestow the proceeds On the poor, and
prepare for the rest promised in the
Scriptures to the people of God. In
New York, too, and Ohio, there seem,
from the newspapers, to be whole COM
munities giving themselves up to the
| ecstasy Of pious anticipation of an i'm
mediate opening of the pearly gates of
a long-promised New Jerusalem. These
people have been, and are reputable
citizens = honest, laborious men and
women. who have never before mani
| tested any symptoms of insanity. 1t Is
pitiful that i'll these days of books, and
schools, and scientific societies, such
abnormal mental idiosyncrasies should
| be developed and coddled to disastrous
maturity.
The writer knows no more than any
| other common man what the future has
In store for the people of the earth. In
this respect the wise and the foolish,
the adult and the infant, the sage and
the idiot are upon common intellect
ual level. But there is fair reason to
believe that the earth in its diurnal rev.
olutions will bring US the seasons of
sunrise and sunset; that in its circuit
AROUND the sun we shall continue to
feel the cold Of the winters wind, the
warmth Of the genial spring sunshine !.