The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-25


day the question whether
peace on earth and good will among
men exist as they should in view of the
eighteen centuries OF opportunity for
moral advancement which have inter-
vcned since the event occurred which
Christmas day commentaries. We can
imagine them pointing in horror to the
South African war; to the hostilties in
the Philippines: to the continued
supremacy on the Bosphorus' banks of
that Crowned Assassin" the Turkish
sultan; to the great armamCnts pre-
vailinE in all European countries; to
the signs of earth greed displayed in
connection with the disintegration Of
China: to the multiplication of indus
trial and commercial combinations
formed expressly for the spoliation of
the weak: and to the awful crimes of
almost daily occurrence which blaCkeu
the chronicles of our own times; and
as they point to these blots on the page
their conclusion is enunciated that
civilization is failure.
This conclusion is unfair. There is
no need to minimize the evil in life in
order to establish that the good pre-
dominates War with Its frightful
havoc and sacrifice and decentralization
is indeed in progress at two places on
the globe; but compared with the wars
of the past it is humane, almost Chris
tianized warfare. in both instances pre-.
limnary to immense benefits for all
concerned. The Mohammedan despot,
it is true, keeps his throne at Con-
stantinople; but year by year the at
triton of Christian progress is wearing
away his cruelty and delimiting his
power for mischief. Furthermore, the
whole continent of Asia is in the transit
tion between the old civilization and
the new; and at no point on the map
Is there permanent retrogression. De-
nial cannot be made as to the great
sums of money tied up in means and
implements of warfare; but the very
magnitude of the preparation, with its
forewarning of the Costliness of actual
combat is a potent. perhaps a con-
trolling influence for peace. Nor must
growth of the public opinion which
throughout the civilized nations of the
world is gradually eXtinguishing the
belligerent spirit and substituting
therefor tribunals of reason. Even in
the selfshness exhibited by the powers
which hunger for the dismemberment
of China there is a competition pro-
ductive of civil advancement. Upon
this foundation what monuments of
human progress may not in future be
built? Trusts do, indeed. display in
many instances the predatory instincts
Of the primeval man; but it must not
be overlooked that combinations for
mischief have had no better Opportun-
tiles or privileges for development than
combinations for good; and if public
opinion is disposed to give more heed
to the malefactors than to the bene-
factors of our time it is largely in pur-
suance of prompting of human ma
ture which has prevailed since the
birth of the race. Similarly as to the
gross crimes of the day; they seem
discouragins because as a rule they
are reported in full; but for every
crime committed and bazoned to the
world there are hundreds of acts tend
Ing to benefit mankind which, being
neither exciting nor sensational, rarely
get into the papers, and, when they do,
are very rarely seen.
Material for criticism is to be found
in abundance in every direction; If II
We're not so evolution would have run
its course and humanity would have
no further reason for it's existence. The
very prevalence OF criticism, which was
never before so noticeable as it is to-
day is a sign that the standards Of
civilized opinion are advancing; that
what suiiced to satisfy the public
opinion of yesterday does not suffice
today. Herein we have the chief motive
power behind practical progress. But
the mistake which the pessimists make
Is in assuming that progress is limited
to evil channels they do not give due
"heed to the splendid advances which
are being made along all the lines of
education and philanthropy; they are
.ohlivious to the rounded significance
of the commemoration which on this
day throughout Christendom is tend
Ing to vtalize the humanity in Chrlst's
mission and to express in deeds the
spirit Of His gospel.
Until the unsewcred sections Of our
city are properly severed. epldemics
may he expected every little while.
The question Of more sewers is fast
becoming a Question of lira ~. aoo+b