The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-26
As TO SOCIAL DIsCONTENT.
Dr. Huntington Thinks the y~ndcrs or Qpscn
Remedies Magnify N-Thc Heal Remedy.

Dr. Huntington Thinks the Vendors OF Qusck
Remedies Magnify 1.-THE Heal Remedy.
The Rev. DIR. william II. Huntington OF Grace
Church. speaking at the Church Club Wed.
ncsday evening in n discussion Of Social Dis
content, Its Causes and Remedies" Expressed a
vigorous disbelief in tho ideas promulgated by
the Bryanitcs and Bellamyitcs. He did not dwell
upon causes, ms he was not prepared to admit
that there was deprecated discomfort with the
fundamental. underlying principles upon which
our present system is built or any demand for or
prospect Of a radical and immediate change In
them. The only cure he advanced for such indi-
vidual dissatisfaction AZ there might be was
integrity and u closer relationship or inter.
course. governed by right Christian principles,
between man and man. Great changes In social
customs were probable, he thought, but they
would come, rs they had come in the past. as n
result Of altered Industrial and economic condi.
tions. He could soc no justification for the vio-
lation OF contracts any more now than in the
carly days OF the Israelites.
Taking for a moment a light view OF the sub
ject. he said. in substance: 81 apprehcnd
that there Is really much moro social discomfort,
In the strict and literal sense OF the phrase.
among tho people whose names appear In the
blue book uhc New York. not the English
book than there Is on the east side. A gives a
dinner, ID gives n ball; G Is disappointed because
he IL invited to the dinner and not to the hall.
and T. Is hurt because he has been asked to the
ball and not TO the dinner. or that kind OF social
discomfort there is doubtless much to be found
I'm this city"
ID. Huntington questioned the depth OF the al.
legged, social discomfort in the country. He be-
licvcd IL To be due to hard times, rather than to
any general dissatisfaction with the form under
which life Is organized In the United States. As
10 the state OF feeling on the east side. he felt
thHt ms could HDlAk IN N certain HpnAn with AN
thority, as he came In contact with many Wis.
itors Ia that locality and was conversant with
their views upon the subject.
The other day had occasion to ask about
the matter" he said, and to my surprise and
qualification ! heard the unanimous opinion OK.
pressed by these visitors that they believed that
there was very little real discomfort among the
people with whom: they came II. contact. There
was some scolding whom certain ones were out of
work. and possibly u little frciting now and then
at the hard times. But az 10 any. desire for u new
order Of things. the visitors had observed no
such prevailing discomfort, even among people
of tiermanic origin. as had been represented"
great a"I,i" shSng ss" ensuing sn IN seS1o tima iro %,
the discoveries. and inventions OF the present
lowed upon the invention Of firearms and the
Reformation upon the invention Of the printing
press; but he believed that these changes would
same great principles Of individual ownership OF
property and OF the sacrcdncss OF contracts that
were recognized Ia the days Of Abraham would
he recognized still.
Under the rather vague term OF Brynnism,'
he said, he presumed that there was, doubtless.
much discomfort throughout the country.
The only " remedy, that DR.. Huntington had
to propose WIS an increase OF friendly inter
course between man and man. lie believed the
Christian Church TO be working In the right
direction and by wise methods; what was chiefly
needed was more OF this work.
II believe 1t 1.-The remedy will he found in
promoting right Christian feeling among all
men he said. Solomon In the Proverbs says
Dor. That is The trouble. We don't Know each
other. II there was more intercourse between
the different classes OF society there would be
lcss social discomfort
He commended the three rs, toll. thrift, and
temperance; as being OF equal importance with
the three RS, reading. 'riting. and 'rithmetic;
and maintained that while we ought to look for.
| ward, and might not unreasonably look forward,
to n state OF things In which no really sober and
honest man, willing to work, would ever go un.
fed, or any old man live unhoused. he did not
believe that there was any earthly paradise In
store, even ut tho remotest date In the millcn.
NAL future, for the drunken, the lazy, and the
improvident.