The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1900-04-12
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800. WHITTIER ARE Q x \ \ Y Y Y Y
~ W WE DRIFTING?
Paper Read Before the Chd,.tauqua Circle.

Whether or not the year 1900 marks
the close of one century, or, as some
assert, but serves to usher in new,
does not alter the fact that the last
one hundred years have accentuated
themselves as the most progressive in
the worlds history, and especially is
this applicable to our own people and
nation.
In this particular case we elect to
employ the term progressive" in it's
more generally applied meaning, and
Immediately we find that to an appre-
ciable extent it is the natural result of
existence, for the good and sufficient
reason that if one would exist, one
must necessarily progress; nature has
so ruled since the worlds inception,
and natures laws are not violated with
impunity.
Admitting then the fact of our
progress, and having established a
cause, let us consider the effect upon
humanity civilization if you please
let us give credit where credit is due,
neither detracting from, nor adding to
the existing record of years-years and
(attending causes that have witnessed
our migration from one stage of an
sexistence to another with a rapidity
!; ;,lothing if not remarkable.
E To compute thing, if we recognize
a base, by employing given factor
we very readily obtain result, and it
is scientific fact that all problems, if
mathematically true, will prove them
selves; hence, as base, let us take con-
ditions as we are told and understand
they existed century ago. We note
primitive institutions as applied to the
arts, science, commerce, mechanics,
education, politics and the component
parts of material existence, and by
even a cursory comparison with our
decided and no less remarkable
result.
We are agreed then, that along GER
tain channels we have progressed. I
employ the adjective, as is my right,
for the good and sufficient reason that
l claim, and that too without fear of
any successful contradiction, that re-
markable as our progress may have
been, and undoubtedly is, we have,
unconsciously perhaps but none the
less surely, offered sacrifice at the
shrine of materialism. In other words,
admitting our material progress, I
claim, and am not alone in the belief
that our sense of honor, honesty and
integrity is not SO acute, our daily life
is not so free from the prescribed
"Thou shalt nots," as was that of our
ancestors, and as to my authority for
so believing, 1 refer you to existing
conditions, social or commercial, and
invite a comparison.
In this connection, permit me to say,
I know there are those within the
sound of my voice who characterize
me as pessimist, and our own worthy
MIRROR has quoted a "pessimist" as
one who, having dollar, is disappoint-
ed because it does not show evidence
of having been plugged. I am not
pleading to any indictment at this par
ticular juncture; a limited experience
with law, good, and otherwise, having
demonstrated to my entire satisfaction
the impoliticacy of premature plead
ings. 1t is presupposed that special
and particular reasons abound when
one elects to support or oppose thing,
be it fact or theory, that is, aside from
other reasons, one must possess some
special reason to which one attaches
particular Importance.
know there are those (the word
optimist is not in my limited vocabu-
lary) who loudly proclaim that the
wOrld ia ranidlv GROWING haitian op6 7