New-York tribune., 1903-02-01
PENALTIES OF PROGRESS.

Amid all the investigations and discussions
of last weeks terrible railroad disasters, one
In the very suburbs of New-York AND one in
the Far Southwest one salient and impressive
fact should not be ignored-that is. that they
were disasters attendant upon one Of the most
prominent. characteristic and perfect phases OF
modern progress They We're not, like storm or
earthquake or other inclemency Of the eie-
ments catastrophes that might have occurred
at any time. Their occurrence a century ago
would have been impossible. We may bracket
Martinique with Pompeii, and many another
disaster of modern times with an exact proto-
type in the classic age. But here are woes
which had no precedent before our times. They
sre consequences OF our civilization. They are
penalties Of progress. They serve as dread
full reminder that with all our triumphs over
matter we have not yet tTiumphed over death,
nor have we been able TO eliminate from the
problems of life the malefc factor Of human
fallibility and its attendant and resultant evils
The same fundamental truth is forced upon
our attention in many different ways We
have succeeded in mastering almost annihilat
Ing. some Of the plaques Of old. The Black
Death is no longer feared in civilized lands.
Smallpox cholera, typhoid, diphtherla. hydro
phobia and other maladies have been brought
N|-AN
have seemed miraculous TO the world of a CEN
tury ago. and q hopeful campaign has been
begun for greatly lessening the ravages of con-
sumption. These are triumphs of progress.
But side by side with them march the remorse-
less penalties. Other diseases are growing
more prevalent and more deadly. and some
practically ones have made their appear
snce. Shattered nerves, weakened hearts, con-
cested and disOrdered brains are inconparably
more numerous now than they w2P9 among Our
forefathers. They are largely the result of our
high pressure modes OF life and work They
are penalties Of progress.
What shall il profit man." it was asked Of
old IF be gain the whole world and lose his
OVID soul?' We may apply the same question
on lower plane and in a lesser scope. What
shall il profit MS 10 gain wealth, and to over
come time and space with speed, If at the same
time we incur impaired health and the men,
ace Of sudden death: 1t is true that we
could not overcome mortality by remaining
poor. nor avoid danger by travelling slowly.
hit the question may well be asked whether
we might not IN some way avoid some of the
penaries OF progress which now fall so fire.
quentI. upon us Are we paying as much at
rention 70 securing safety as 10 increasing
speedI Is tie device for protecting life
likely 10 be adopted as that which promises TO
decrease expeThes and 10 increase profits: Are
we paying as nuch attention to hygiene, 10
sanitation, 10 conservation or physical and men,
raj health as 10 the development Of material
resources and the alnassing of wealth? Are we
paying generally as mudb attention TO raising
human children. robust in body and sound in
niind, some men are to breeding thorough
brad horses and fancy cattle?
Asking questions has been Unpopular since
fbe days Of Socrates. But some Such questions
IS these practically ask themselves and will
not down They demand TO be answered They
deserve 10 be answered They must be an
spered If our civilization is not TO be largely
. Tnockerv and vanity of vanities. For the true
sirn of nrogress and civilization is not TO travg