Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1895-01-15
ONLY SIXYEARSMORE
THEN THE END OF THE PRESENT
CENTURY.

Six years from next Tuesday will
round out the nineteenth century, the
most stirring century of this old worlds
existence
With what momentous possibilities
these six years are freighted!
Science has been pushing her lines Of
discovery farther and farther into the
unknown, and since last New Years
day has announced that she has flying
machine that will fly.
Six years may see it developed into
practical use.
| Medical science has been busy with
her culture of bacilli and her study Of
microbes, and hardly year passes that
some new disease is not mastered.
Since last New Years day antitoxine
has come into use to stop the ravages of
diphtheria.
In six years time what diseases, rich
with the spoils of past generations, may
not be driven from the fair face of the
earth!
Japan, with her new civilization, has
been transforming herself during these
last few years and marching on with
marvellous rapidity to take her place in
the line of progress by the side of the
most advanced nations Of the west.
Since the last New Years day she
has taken her place in the worlds trea-
ties as a civilized nation and bids fair
to prove in her war with China her abil-
| ity to dominate in the old and caste
| bound orient.
What may not six years more witness
in the destruction of caste, the uprear-
ing of public schools, the emancipation
of manhood in the far east?
The world is moving onward and up
ward, and even it's most alarming symp-
toms and most painful struggles are but
signals of progress in the near future
and of the workings of ideas that will
yet regenerate the race.
Six years left to us of the nineteenth
century; that is all!
But it is time enough to change the
face of civilization!
Six years after the Republican party
was born it swept its way into national
power.
Today the current of life moves more
swiftly than then; ideas fly faster; men
move more quickly.
A century of achievement of former
ages may be compassed now in half a
decade.
/ Men talk with each other between
New York and Chicago.
Our ships outstrip the locomotives of
40 years ago.
/ Our locomotives 60 four miles where
they used to go one.
Our horses trot faster than horses used
to run, and the bicycle and the trolley
car race with each other over the high
ways at a gait of 80 miles an hour.
Six years at the close of the nineteenth
century is almost equal to GO at it's be-
ginning.
/ The minds of men keep pace with the
march Of events.
What is today new social or political
idea, struggling for expression in the
mind of an obscure man, tomorrow has
a senate struggling to transform it into
law.
This week the handful of grain is
sown upon the mountain top; next week
the fruit thereof is shaking like Leba-
non.
The next five years in American his
tory seem especially promising ones for
political and social reforms.
( The awaking municipal spirit, evil
denced by swift growing civic fedora
tions. good government clubs, munich
pal reform associations and law enforce
ment leagues, shows that administration
Of the American city is no longer to be
the crying disgrace Of popular govern
ment.
| The political tidal waves SO rapidly
recurrent are manifestations of power
no longer held in leash by the guiding
strings of politicians, and which is pre-
pairing the way for magnificent things a
little further on.
Six years is time enough for the con-
science voters of the land to unite for
the true and earnest reformers to get to-
gether and throttle the onopolies-po-
litical, financial and industrial-and de-
stroy the ginmills that are holding the
masses in FOOLS paradise while the fet-
tiers of servitude are being riveted upon
them.
Do the railroads gobble up all the
coalfelds and dictate the price Of fuel?
Do the bankers push for perpetual
monopoly in the issue of a nations cur
renoy?
Do the trusts grow greater and stron-
ger year by year?
Then 60 to the nearest ginmill and
drink and declaim until your manhood
is soaked, and your conscience is drown
I'd, and little child might bind you
hand and foot.
No, no!
Self interest, common sense, patriot
ism, love of home, Christian convictions,
are all against such idiocy as this
The minds and hearts Of true men al
over the land are moving today toward
a common purpose and center.
The interchange Of thoughts win &C
on. and out of it will como the union
for political action ON q basis like this:
The saloon must go.