Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1898-03-31
IS AMERICA A FALLEN NATION.

This rather striking question re-
celves an affirmative answer from
Rev. William Bsyard Hale L L. d.,
in The Arena (Marcb); but DR.. Hale
is lot wholly pessimlstic in his view
OF our case. We are fallen" @apos-
tate" @epslaved;" but we have traits
which will yet put Us in our appoint
ed place. We quote from his article
entitled @The Epic Opportunity"
&Beloved America, child OF the
worlds old age, she has come-clad
in the splendor Of her youth, magnifi-
cent in her colossal meterialism; but
unfinished in the serious, nobler, and
more necessary things to the days
when the burden OF life must rest
upon her, and her people arise md
face the tremendous issues in whose
midst nations meet their destiny. 4
people of great mental keenness, en-
ergetic, swift, undeniably vulgar
people, with sordid, mercenarv, con-
temptible ways of living, but as I'm
deniabiy brave, capable OF great
deeds of nobleness-God has given
US this great continent, and He has
brought here upon it t. its present
stage, this vast society and life, intri-
cate complex, full OF wrong and full
of promise, and He has led us to this
wonderful hour of crisis.
"No man can describe this people
OF measure its characteristics, as no
man (yet manifest among us) can in
terpret the significance or guess the
end of the mighty movement which is
passing before our eyes. That we
are at this moment fallen nation,
All apostate people, enslaved by a
gluttonous materlallsT, and disap-
pointment to our God, all awakening
conscience among US bears witness.
On the other hand, there are not
wanting evidences t!iat we possess
1.-THE gift of Prnvidencc) traits which
when aroused will restore us TO our
appointed place; nor altogether, evil
dences that there is arising in the
heart of the people yearning for
better things, and emeging from with
in her an iuarticulate resolution to ue
something besides comme"cial-to
be a servant Of progress and honor.
There have begun to be spoken,
among few, new words, symbols
of swift-gathering movement. Thore
has begun to move before young men
q new standard, new ideal, white
with n virgin beauty never before
seen on earth, or sought by the sons
OF men. Suddenly there has been
fashioned new language, which talks
OF the unity (the essential, unescap
able unity, in interests and destiny
OF men, OF the Joy of sacrifice, Of the
vulgarity Of success; which scorns
the things men hitherto have striven
for, despising all but honor and free.
dom and truth; which speaks Of an
arlstocracy of simple men who work
for love, but will not work for pay
There are beginning to be sung songs
OF plainness and contentment, and OF
an almost vagabond Joy in nature
(sign OF reaction against old conven.
tions concerning happipess)
Zone thing 1 do not discern, that
must appear il this people Ii to rise tc
its destiny-the man who shall lea6
us. Among the murmured songs ant
the whispered words, hear no tone
firm and authoritative and assuring
In the world there are more echoe
than voices. Tho crisis upon our ma
ton waits the coming OF the mai
whose gaze shall sweep the past ant
apprehend the present as it's fruit an,
evolution, appointed in it's turn Il
pass into The will see WHAT othe
forms; the man in whose heart shal
dwell vision OF world redeemed, an,