The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-04


grand opportunity in the United States,
and the sooner he gets to work the bet
ter 1t will be for the people.
1t Is characteristic of most reformers,
especially those of them who draw on
their emotions more heavily than on their
good sense. to seek the accomplishment
of their purposes in an unduly short
space of time. The reform which is not
capable of being accomplished over night
is with most of such people not practical
bic in itself. This is true In limited
measure OF all reformers, whether social
or political. The slow, wearing processes
which bring DISAGREEMENT are rarely
eve: provided for, and, in most, if not all,
great movements, those who were the
most enthusiastic at the outset disappear
from view long before anything of value
has been accomplished, or else go off In
other directions III search Of more excit-
ing adventures
student of social questions condi ions are
much the same as they were, and power
ty and worthleSsness and crime are to-
day as great factors In the lot of human
society as they We're while the world was
still young, and greed and selfshness,
whom many regard as the twin accom-
paniments of material prosperity, have
suffered but little abatement Momm-
sen, the German historian of Rome, is
quoted as authority for the view that the
Romans were In the flower of their civ
ilization ahead of modern society in all
that works toward the prosperity, the
happiness and elevation Of humanity. 50
that 1t is not difficult, looking at the great
problems Of human regeneration from
this standpoint, to believe that social re-
form, In its progress, is somewhat sug-
gestiVe Of the crab.
But it is not so. Whatever conditions
may have been prevalent at any antece-
dent period, the generation Of today has
witnessed wonderful advances along ev-
cry line on which humanitarian men and
women have been moving. These ad-
yances were at the time scarcely appre-
cable. But the sum of them is great, and
the possibilities Of further advances
which they have called into being are
infinitely greater still.
Success in all movements which have to
do wit he ut OP he of
tails involves the free exercise Of the three
divine qualities of faith, hope and char
ity. The Rome of which Mommsen writes
was not built in a day. The lifetime of
the most long-lived Is all 200 brief for
those who wish to reckon the good they
themselves have done. Yet good Is pos
sible to all who seriously set themselves
to the task OF frightening others lives
and making the world and its people bet
ter The Booth family alone, for inst nee,
through the agency of their army have
wrought wonders. But they have given
their lives to their work. and they have
not yielded to encouragement, and have
not sought to remove human degradation
by wholesale methods. They have work
ed hard and made great sacrifices, and
they have seen their reward In their own
lives.
In the Ladies' Home journal Mrs. Maud
Ballington Booth gives expression to some
thoughts which should encourage all who
essay to help their kind to higher level.
In reciting her experiences Mrs. Booth
says, among other things:
During the last twelve years Of my ac-
qualntance With the slums of New York
there have been many marked changes
for the better. / opened the first day
nursery In the lower regions Of the slums.
connection with many philanthropic
agencies. College settlements have been
started. new missions have risen up, some
of the worst and most unhealthy houses
have been torn down, and many char
tiles have been started. But, with all
the advance and with all the interest, 1t
and what is being done Is but drop
in the great ocean OF need.
Even education, valuable and elevating
as it is, could not answer here in wiping
their poverty. What is needed
and will ever be needed. is patient, de-
voted work on the part of those who have
practical common sense and vital faith
with as many individuals as they can
reach and save.
These are the sentiments Of a woman
who has made the removal Of human deg
radiation a life study and work. They
are, above all. hopeful views. They help
to emphasize and make clear to the Or
binary good man or woman who feels
forced to turn aside in despair from the
discouraging tasks which present them
selves the truth that no matter how
meager are our resources or how few
our opportunities. we can all do some
thing, however slight. If we but set our
hands to the task. to aid in the great
movement which is in progress in every
center Of Christian civilization to tighten
the primeval burdens which degrade the
race even below the level Of brute beasts.
Senator Depew made an exceedingly
eloquent speech the other day on Eek
pansion." III so doing he has disclosed
the origin OF the Expansion policy, and,
now that 1t is known to be the product
of post-prandial exhiIaration, it need not
be taken seriously.
1t was Philadelphia jury that sent
bookseller to prison for year for sell
ing copy Of 'Sapho" to policeman
disguised as a. citizen What would have