The sun., 1900-03-05
Monday, March 5, 1900.


previous period of the worlds history !;
Moral forces we're never more active, y :,
never more in evidence. This is true OF :
every department OF society. In busl- :
ness. the enormous volume OF it is proof =
not only of greater capacity but OF :
greater honesty. The capacity for con- :, !
ceiying, directing and controlling the :,
enormous enterprises OF these times car y, u
ries wie4a it, az necessity, honesty that y
is at once OF higher quality and more
generally diffused; temptations to be
dishonest are greater and more numer-
Gus, demanding greater power of resist
ance individually, and the vast organi-
cations, including hundreds and thou
sands 81 men, demand, and are proof ot
a high degree OF generally diffused hon
esty-they prove that the masses OF the
people are honest. The intellectual
level was never higher; the social level
was never higher or domestic conditions
better. Benevolent and charitable en-
terpriaes were never more numerous
never 50 comprehensive and practical,
and never SO literally supported or gen
erously endowed. Churches are more
numerous, congregations larger, and the
churches more generally active than at
any previous time.
We think these things are evident and
will be acknowledged upon mention Of
them. The facts in the line mentioned
are indisputable proofs that ethical con-
fiisions are better; ethical forces more
poient and progress swifter than ever
before. The facts as they appeal to the
m,sS cursory observer prove this, aside
from these ocular evidences, to anyone
who believes that a divine purpose is
being worked out in human experiences
ant progress, who believes that this pul-
!, d, is benign, and is being assured by
q power that ia at once supreme, wise
and owing, the present conditions must
he full OF proofs OF its presence and po-
tentiality in human affairs. 1t must be
assumed, too, because OF the general
character OF the proofs Of ethical better.
,nent. Chat its basis is solid and that the
supe,structure is as good as it IS oeau'i-
full; and that, instead OF degeneiating,
society. not sect, or clique, or set, is
be,ter than ever before and tliat still
more rapid progress is clearly fofetold N
the signs Of the times.
On Tie other hand there are lamenta-
tions and wailings of p4ssimistie philoso
pliers, WHO yainly imagine that what
they have come to regard as society rep
yesents general ethical conditions, anC
what they know, or think they know
about this small diyislon OF the create
and more potential society, that is no
That can be safely denied both as il re
lates 10 the lesser and greater socia
io,ces The philosophers are simpl
mistaken. Out Of this mistake come
the peculiar ethical signs Of the tines
the mistake il multiple. First, it is
mistake as to what is immoral; that i!
il makes grave mistakes in its specifics
tiona; many OF the things objected to al
Questionable only to prudes. Thes
thiugs are not immoral except to the co
rup4 Thought and unclean eye OF tt
critic. Again, it is mistake as to metl
DDS Of reform, The pessimists who b
Iieye tile world to be going rapidly
eseruA, ruin, appeal to force, the autho
ity of statute law, and open crusades il
thu ambition oil this, and tie preyenit
OF tt,aS neither Of which are wrong e
ce;li thAt they outrage some tradition
conyentonality for which these obiet
ors have more respect than they ha
~, n VII
oplaoaS and violate the rules OF s
Of self appointed moral censors "
ouat5 Is find plenty to do in mindi
thpj ova business-in curing their OF
moral leprocy.
l. il these doctrines OF tradition a
coayautionalty that start and send 0,
shs world the waves Of socalled mo
seatiment in which wise men lose tn
hes,is and which culminate in soc
and political revolutions. A fe " mont
agn this country was in ferment
mock virtue over the election OF NJ
moa 30 Congress; since then the peo
have been RECALLED bv ministerial p
tess against Presidential wine drink
by s.alnts who are TRYING to retoim
uottj by statute law; who demanc
oi.aii4uce to their rules Of conduct a
mea5gse everybody else by their
s.aaii,Js Now it is a crusade agal
aha 4 lt.a and the theatre, with tt
inyoi5iaga question OF ethics in poi
couts, 4:,d with an illiterate pol
mag n ale in the role OF moral and lit
ary cAaaor. Following, and in keep
"a - sequence Of all that preceded it cor
sharp. clerical criticisms OF fashiona
society by bishops OF two great religi
deuoulinations-in which leaders,