The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-03-17

new under the sun. This may have been
true when he spoke it, but it is not true
now. In 1860 new movement arose in
in the economic world. Capital found out
the necessity of combining, and using ma
chinery When a machine comes into use
the man who formerly used the machine
goes on to a higher position" The
speaker said that capital in it's relation
to labor might be called 1.-The machine
owners" ''The process of combination has
continued and we have a remarkable il
lustration of it's extent in the recently
formed billion dollar trust. The process
has reached a most remarkable stage.
The machine owners combining on one
side and the laborers on the other. There
never was a combination of the two
classes"
The speaker said that this economic
movement is vitality affecting American
life in every way. Back of this attempt
to get China, and to divide up Africa is
the common motive the desire of market
for our cotton. We don't know where it
will STOP he declared. 1--WE cannot say
it will not end in socialism We dare not
say it will. 1t must be controlled and
directed by the best. thought Of our best
men. We cannot stop it, we must guide
it wisely that good may come Of it. The
momentousness of the problem is suff-
cient reason for educated men interesting
themselves in it. The change that has
come over legislation in the past few
years is directly traceable to this econo-
mic idea which has so vitality affected
every phase of our life.
THE SOCIAL MAN.
but this is not all. ! once studied
political economy that told of 1.-The econo
mic man" He was treated simply as a
money getter and spender. But the econo-
mic man is not a typical man and doesn't
exist at all. Man is a father. brother
and husband. as we'll as wealth producer
and he declares that his social relations
are a part of him. Our social life has
likewise been affected by this state of
affairs. and this likewise a period of So
cial transition. Twenty or thirty years
ago, the people of New England left the
farms and went to the city to work in
the factories. Immigrants came in to
the farms. The cotton spinning industry
is spreading through the South, and I
think 1 detect the same change in the
social life of the South. We cannot say
what the result will be. This is an age
of transition and not one of accomplish
ment
CHANGE OF THOUGHT.
The third change Dr. Matthews de-
clared, is in our intellectual life-a change
in thought Man used to be considered in
the light of an individual. 1t has been
demonstrated that he may not be effect
ually reached except as member Of a
class.
THE one great thought that has stood
pre- eminent in all history is that you
can't have new beginnings. The past held
the present in it's hands, and the present
is inevitably shaping the future. The
recognition of this as a new mode of
thought, has greatly affected the intel
lectual bias of this age. Call it the
Darwinian, theory, the law Of life, the
law of progress, or what you will, you
can not escape it. Life moves on con-
tinuously and comes only from life. 1t
confronts you everywhere, and you must
recognize it as factor of twentieth cen
tury thought, whether you believe it or
not. No one can tell to what extent this
phase of thought is going; it already per-
meates the intellectual work of the think
ing world-but we can direct it, and by
wise and considerate action bring good
from it. 1t is here, a God given oppor-
tunitv. Ss2l3N
THE MAN OF THOUGHT.
What shall be the relation of the man
of thought, to these changed condition?
There are three positions he may take
in regard to it.
''Hc may be Indifferent and say these
condition are not Such actions is futile.
Such men do exist. however.
He may play the part of an obstructor
and oppose it. He may say what is new
is not true. and that which is true is
not new. l have met such people. But
you can't sweep back the progress of
life time, either of a man or a nation
But we can share it and direct it. This
is the part of the man who is sanely
educated.
There are two classes of men that
are to be counted upon in every critical
age-the man who desires to make it
more radical and the man of conservatism
who desires to make a healing and thing
of good. Robspiere is a sample of the
hrst-class. He broke the statues of
kings and placed their bones in a lime
vat so that even no trace of bone of
out of a job is dangerous citizen for
any community. His advice is to be
Stunned by the wise and not followed by
the foolish An educated mans advice
should be healing and healthful.
DUTIES OF EDUCATED MEN.
THE duties of educated men in critical
times are:
'T0 keep sane. If the world went to
suit each of us it would be mighty bad
place for the other fellow. Conservatism
is the saving of what is best fthe past
What matter if it be old. so it is true.
Truth is as old as the years of God.
The duty of leadership. Of course all
can't be colonels, for there wouldn't be
any shooting done. Be sure you are a
leader. Use your education vicariously
There is nothing so dangerous as the
double quick in progress.
The educated man should have faith
and hone. Greater than all else is the
faith in Divine foresight, or Providence.
The educated man can best of all trust
for who but he has seen the hand of
God in history, and can trust for the
future the God who has been sufficient