The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-19
CAN PROGRESS BE CURsEe

CAN PROGRESS BE A CURSE?
IL a man should attempt to record the
progress that has been made in the me-
chanical world in the past few years. It
would require a volume OF many pages TO
contain II. Steam and electricity and
labor-saving machinery have accom-
plished wonders within the present CEN
tury.
What would our forefathers have
thought If they had been told that in this
generation conversation between men
in Chicago on the one hand and New
York on the other would be a matter OF
every day occurrence? What would they
have thought il they had been told that
in this generation a message between
New York and Liverpool would be deliv-
cred in a few seconds OF time? What
would they have thought had they been
told that in this generation It would be
possible TO make O trip in palace car
across the Allegheny Mountains and the
broad plains of the West and across the
Rocky Mountains TO the Pacific slope in
few days? What would they have
thought il they had been told that it
would be possible in this generation 10
make a trip in a palatial steamer across
the Atlantic Ocean in less than six days?
What would the men OF a hundred years
ago think of electric lights, electric troll
ley cars, monographs, and the thousand
and one inventions Of this character?
What would they think could they 60 into
the modern factories OF this country and
see the wonderful working Of labor-sav-
ing machinery OF every character?
Compare the old time stage coach and
the sail vessel TO our modern railway
cars and floating palaces. Compare the
old fashion spinning wheel and loom with
the machines Of our modern factories
which spin and weave az the same time.
turning out thousands OF yards Of cloth
each day. Contrast the old fashion
scythe welded by hand with the modern
reaper and binder drawn by n steam car.
A hundred years ahead Of Our ances-
tors? In the matter OF time. yes. But in
the light OF these comparisons thous-
and years in advance.
what does all this mean? Progress.
The progress Of the world during the
nineteenth century has been phenomenal
No other like period Of the worlds his
tory is TO be compared 10 II. Invention
has followed invention until time and
distance are annhilated, and about the
only use that the working world has for
iaborers is TO manipulate !abor-saving
machinery.
We can produce far more than we can
consume. 1t IS with us not a question
as to how much we can produce, but a
to how we can get rid Of our products.
The complaint is that modern invention
has so increased our capacity to produce
and has so cheapened the cost of produce
ton as to make production Improbable.
In other words. the necessaries OF life
are so abundant and living is so cheap
as to make it hard for one to earn liv-
ing. Remarkable fact. remarkable con-
tradiction.
by our own inventions? Can it be that
our powers to produce abundantly are to
be our undoing? Can it be that steam
and electricity and labor-saving machin-
cry and all things that make life less
laborious and more delightful are to be
curse instead OF a blessing? Must We
save ourselves from ruin by destroying
our modern inventions and retrogradng
to conditions Of a hundred years ago?
These questions answer themselves. II
is unreasonable and illogical that such
progress as ours can be a curse to ma
ton. The simple trouble is that our pro-
gross has been so rapid that we have not
been able to keep up with it, however
contradictory that statement may seem.
Invention has followed invention so rapid
ly that we have not had time to prepare
ourselves for the changed conditions.
There has been a mighty revolution in
the mechanical world and we have not
kept up with it. But we are learning.
and we shall learn more rapidly as we 20
on. When we have learned how 20 ac-
commodate ourselves to the new condi-
lions which our progress has brought
upon us, then shall these great inventions
and this great progress which we have
made be a rich blessing. labor will he
lightened. those things which are neces-
sary for the body will be the more easily
attained and life will be the better worth
living.