The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-12-09
A CLOUDY HORIZON.

much learned historical lore to back
up the statement. The theory has
not much in it, for the divisions of
time are purely arbitrary and care
full study of history will show that
periods of great turmoil may and do
occur at all parts of centuries, and of
course do happen at the close some
times. What set the theoriser to work
was that the close of the eighteenth
century was, in Europe, marked by
the Napoleonic wars, and the second
decade of the nineteenth century gave
the peace of 1915. These events made
a deep impression far into the middle
of the century, and it was natural that
one so impressed would argue as the
historian has done.
But while the beginning and close
of centuries have no influence upon
such matters, there are undoubtedly
recurring periods, at more Or less ir-
regular intervals, when the civilized
world does blaze forth into dissenslon
and turmoil. Buckle, in his unfinished
masterpiece. made the attempt to es-
tablish a philosophy of history, and
some great mind in the future will
take up Buckles work, and enable us
to see far ahead, when we now can
hardly see much before our noses.
1t is not difficult, however, to see
that antagonistic forces are at work
at any moment blaze forth and disrupt
existing institutions from one end of
it to the other. In Europe there is
the discomfort of the governed with
the methods of government. Tnls
discomfort has often been pictured in
these columns, and one has only to
pick up the various newspapers of the
world to see how widespread it is.
Outside of Great Britain, there is not
a European sovereign that does not
live upon the edge of dormant vol
cano.
Austria and its sister kingdom is
almost in the throes of revolution.
The Earring nationalities which are
politically known as Austria are, aft
er many years of military despotism,
beginning to disrupt In spite of all
the military force which can be dis
played, the cause of the people will
win in the end, and Austria as geo.
graphic designation will contract to
its real proportions, and the Hungari-
ans will go their own course untram-
meled by German domination.
In Italy King Humbert desires to re-
sign his uneasy and dangerous throne.
His life has been attempted and Is
never safe, even with guards around
him. But the sovereigns of Austria
and Germany are averse to his retir-
ing, and it is plain to see why, the
example in the present European cri-
sis is, from the point of view of SOW
ereigns, not good one. 1t would be
establishing very unpleasant prece-
dent, which neither has any intention
of following. Verify at the present
time monarch's, like the Policeman's
life, in the Pirate of Penzance, sis not
a happy one"
But when Europe has got through
with the problem of self government
and swept away monarchy, the prob
lem which faces the United States
will be before it. That Republican
government is the best form of gov
eminent for civilized and enlightened
nations is incontrovertible, but once
that is reached, comes the social prob
lem, which it is so difficult to solve.
How to distribute the wealth of this
world fairly among the individuals?
How to prevent the enormous accu-
mutations of wealth in single hands,
how, in fact, to prevent the rich from
getting richer and the poor, poorer,
among all those aggregations of hui
mainly which we call cities.
This is the great problem. Some
great mind may solve it. Bellamy has
tried to paint il, in words, but he has
not reached the solution. Henry
George attempted it and has many
followers of his tenets. 1t may be
peacefully solved, but the chances are,
that like all great questions affecting
the interests of the human race, it
will only reach solution through blood
and sorrow.
Looked at from the point of view
here taken, the future for some years
to come looks gloomy, but despite or
all such questions as are here indicat-
ed, there remains ever for us the sa-
<crednass of mnfher love tho hanitu