The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1901-10-10
TIE CLOUDS WILL LIFT.

p :. E Iii,iard il The Spokesman.
For aIi is wrong and gone out OF
7oinf. he inward, spiritual the out
Y ird. economical; head and neart'
there j. 10 soundness in it.-Cartyte.
r1ch were the observations OF that
master mind more than half century |
go. He was writing of the French
Revolution, which was to him the
work Of a divine Nemesis destroying, |
with sacred fury, the accumulated
talsehoods of centuries. To him, says
one writer since, the French Revoiu-
ton was "truth clad in hell-fre."
To che who closely observes pass
ing events, and notes carefully what
j. .ranspirlng in our homeland and
IL other lands, there is need for draw
is,g heavily sometimes on his most
optimistic powers lest he in our time
conclude that now call is wrong and
gone out OF joint"
Much had been promised to the
world for the twentieth century. In
deed we had heard so much about 1t,
had said so much about it, we have
all been disappointed with it.
Somehow the world seemed ex-
pactant Of a great and grand new
day, as the sun bursting through some
rifted cloud, Or leaping from behind
sorae mountain range; but the last
wear of the nineteenth century glided
ont and the first year Of the twentieth
consury gliaed in just as the closing
ard opening of all the years we had
ev.r seen before. Yes, it is possible
that this new century was oyerburden-
&c with promises and expectations be-
tore it dawned and certainly SO il we
are to Judge of all its future by the
few brief months we have experienced
since We crossed the century line.
Passing over all the unrest and dis
content which may have characterized
this rear and the years just preceding
it With other nations of the world, we
nay find enough in our own land to
uakeit necessary for us to raise a
b.eakwater against the threatening
tids OF pessimism.
Crimes innumerable and unmen-
t.cnabIe disasters of food and fame
and wreck, have brought many to
such g conclusion as a good and noble
rnan, ':iu2l OF faith in God and good
works to men," recently reached when
be said that we have never seen such
a y8ar before.
Crime and outrage have seemed te
hold free carnival through the base1
passions Of men in almost every par
Of our land. And at this particular
time, in contemplating these things
tbs mind of every one intultivel,
turns to the assassination OF the lat
President Mckinley as the climax o
crime IN all the ages. And as VI
think OF this as one of the results o
"cut OF Joint" influences of the ney
century we are in danger of losing tn
hcpa which alone can make possible
development and an attainment b
society to fulfill the prophecies an
make good the promises which hay
been pat before US by those VIII
have tried to be OF service to the worl
in their forecasts of much good for til
future that lies Immediately ahead.
Il is unsafe and dangerous to los
hope Tor the future because the pas
or even the present, is clouded wit
disappointment. This year, thus ia
seems to have been the storl
center Tor the disaster of man
years that have closed upon us frol
the past and let us hope it bears til
sane relation to the future. Be it g
then, We are soon to pass through tt
outer rim of the storm cloud into
bright aud open day Of glad and jo
Gus sunlight.
For this we should hope, and j
this we should have faith as peopl
and as individuals. When a matte
loses hope in its future, and faith
its own power, it may not expect
make progress. So of individuals al
communities.
''The darkest of the night is Just
fore the dawning," has cheered mar
fainting, faltering one. And und
the pail Of darkness that may ha
seemed to settle over us, we cam
afford to be wanting in courage
even a nobler endeavor, and no
for better things to come.
4 hopeful gospel we preach, for
is the only true philosophy that "
insure the best of life tor all.