The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-26
OPTIMISM AND PeSSIMISm.
The World Is Better To-Day Than IL
Ever Was.

Rev. Mr.. custer of the NJ. f. church
began last night a series OF six ser.
mons on the text found in Ecclesiastes
1:l0, Say not thou what is the cause
that the former days are better thar
these, for thou dOst not inquire wisely
concerning this" If il is true, as Ma
cauley, the great writer. says, that
Those who compare the age upon
which their lot has fallen with a golden
age, which exists only in their imagin-
alton. may talk of decency and decay:
but no man who Is correctly Informed
as to the past viii take a morose or de-
spending view of the present" then il
is our right and privilege to get the IN
spring view brought TO mind by this
text of divine truth. 1t is certain that
the Bible and the leading thinker the
world over are a unit upon this great
question of optimism. Scattered about
us on every hand are facts and ideas
which 1t is our privilege to place as
part OF our own intellectual treasure.
and happy is the man who is not too la
zy to do this. This habit of looking in
To the past for 4 golden age better than
the one in which man lives, has always
swayed men, even before the Greek ma
ton so universally practieed this. This
alone means stagnation, for progress
needs the inspiration Of a coming future
better than the present. and If this be
not given then man viii stand still in
spite of himself. wanting the handspring
Of activity of soul and of progress.
Those who see a golden age only In yes
terday claim that faith was then strong
er. better. conservation Of soul and OF
possessions more direct. Labor had
more rights and was better taken care
Of. The rich were more liberal, and the
poor more moral. Public men were
much more honest: liberty was larger,
anarchy less; the church was less world
ly, science more reverent, public teach
ers were more religious. Philosophy
ministered then To mans immortal
needs. Art was pure, and all things
were better for all men. At present
these pessimists claim that corporate
power is simply outrageous. Drunken
ness the worst IL has ever been, suicides
are rapidly increasing, divorces worse
han ever. More corruption In political,
domestic, religious and financial life
than ever before. Everything lies on a
lower level than formerly. Women are
more silly, and children uniformly
weaker. Religion has less hold on think
ing men. Preachers are practicing for
money only and to please all sorts OF
people. They are time-servers without
manly souls and without enemies of old.
The church is growing TO be a mutual
admiration society, caring nothing for
the poor, the lost. and the sinful. These
are the declarations of pessimism and
we have a right to know whether or not
it be true. If true, then we should
awaken out of our sleep; if not true, we
should give every one the facts and
reasons of our belief. II we inquire in
to the cause of this want of faith i'm the
onward march of humanity we shall
come to the conclusion that some people
must be born pesslmIsts. They must
have been born under the dog star, and
that star must have been created while
the dog was snarling. for these people
are in the habit of snarllnE constant
ly. They can do no differently, for IL
mas gnoWn into n dominant habit. They
snarl and grumble at everything. I'm
IKE the dog in the manger, they go out
side the manger and there d. their
harm. IL is a pity that when so little
would suffice to put them out of their
" misery inc cause others misery
cease, that they still snarl TO willing
ears.
We have time tonight to only touch
upon a few things that must interest
every thinker among men. There is the
professional politician. who is very
responsible for this habit Of pes-
His practice ii is 20 use every
possible and work up every
argument To prove that when the other
Fellow IS in Office hard times and great
ralamities are sure and must follow.
Thus a constant education II this awful
sin ensues. our faith I'm humanity is
about What the faith Of Columbus was
n the laws Of nature and the creation
# God. He believed firmly that If he
vent far enough another land would be
discovered. and IL was this faith which
to Europe a new world. and 10
geography a western hemisphere. II Is
asserted by great authority that woman
$ advancing in a marvellous manner.
II THIS be true, then to-day is better
han yesterday and tomorrow will be
still. The Importance Of woman
o civilization can never be ovcrestimat-
a. VIA the mother is to-day. the boy
VIII be tomorrow, and upon that boy
ests the rope OF the world. Compare
woman in high life: upon the throne.
Victoria, Wilhemina and every
lueen in Europe to-day. and tell me
VIII 1t ever he possible for a Mary or
elizabeth to reign in England. or a
in Russian" Take the wives
I our own presidents during the past
.ecade and tell me were ever nObIer
seen than these? The same thing
; true in the commoner walk of life.
Nomanhood was never upon a higher
asis than to-day. Rich women are
lore liberal, all women are more moral. !
M Womanhood is going rapidly on I, J
perfection never dreamed OF before I
larry, the divine, is to-day more tbaa (
yer the ideal Of womanhood. and while I
sllglous vencration Is u Of place alto !
ether. Tor her divine son who loved T. !
an hlmselt Inc son OF man, possesseg I
u the qualities worthy of worsbip in {
nitely above all differences OF sex vet I
hold her character as the very ideai /.
or all women is the best the race car :
yer reach, and woman IS reaching ont Z
n TINS very rapidly. The namr {