Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-10-09

Mr.. II. b. Marriott Watson, the well
known English novelist, contributes an
interesting philosophical article to the
October number of the North American
Review on aSome Thoughts on Pain
and DEATH" Mr.. Marriott Watson,
while principally employing his time in
the writing of novels, is Journalist of
the first rank in London and writer of
essays from time to time that are char
acterized by 9 vigor and individuality
of thought that is rare. In the present
article he presents suggestions to the
reader that will create considerable com
ment, showing as he does that pain
and not death is the important thing
to legislate against and to avoid.
"The dullEess of the human mind" he
says, ito the importance of pain and
the insigniicance of death is very man
ifest in our altitude to the crimes of
murder and dishonesty, to which have
already referred. If we Judge by the
test of pain, we must revise our code of
crimes and penalties; for that will not
seem the worst offense which really is
so. More harm is wrought by dishon-
esty than by q solitary act of violence
which results in death. The swindler,
the rascally operator in stocks, the pur-
veyor of bad food, the adulterator, the
cheating contractor, the landlord who
avoids his responsibilities, the dishonest
plumber-all these are the cause of far
greater suffering than the man who
shoots his comrade in angry brswl. Yet
we are unwilling to accept this as the
case, and 1t is probable that many gener-
ations will come and 60 before the law
and the sanctions of the law are applied
upon this first principle. The history
OF the past will, no doubt, be repeated
In the history of the future. The course
OF evolution is forward always, is not
damned even when it appears SO, and
we are at this moment undergoing q
change into something rich and
strange. One property Of the social
state which the new creature will in.
habit will certainly be higher moral
ity. 1t Is not 30 very long ago-the
middle ages that the wanton destruc-
tfon of life was scarcely considered q
crime. 1t was no doubt very stupid
and unnecessary for lord to shoot his
serfs or bondmen, but neither law nor
moral sense regarded this act as helm
GUS offense. With the passage of CEN
turies the crime of murder has grown
in blackness, not only to the eye Of JUS
tice, but to the popular sense. Conse-
quently an inherent and abiding in
stinct against murder has been develop.
ed In the conscience of the northern
nations at any rate. 1t is reasonable to
expect that similar course of develop
ments will be followed in the case Of
other Offenses against society. The
appreciation of the Importance of pain
in system of morals has dawned upon
us late, and has required subtler senses,
1T we once recognize that pain is the
immortal enemy and that the battle
must be waged against it, and if we
are able to adjust our minds 30 that we
see death In proper perspective, we
shall be on the highway to better
moral system and happier social state
The victories of the past have been
great and arduously achieved, and they
were won by those who were scarcely
conscious that they were struggling
who certainly were ignorant of the end
for which they fought. Peace is not
yet, FOR peace is when change ceases
and change may never cease till all
change end So we may be encouraged
by tbc-past in the future, and if VIC
may fix, however roughly, upon the
goal to which .dre desires to direct
our footsteps, that ideal In our minds
may serve to help us and the great
cause of human progress"