Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-06-26
Peering Into the Future.

Justice Brewer of the United
States supreme court, in an inter-
view in the New York World:
wish the next fifty years were be-
fore me that I might witness and
participate in the events, for the
coming half century is to be a
marvellous period in history. Great
inventions will be made, remarkable
discoveries will be brought to light,
civilization will advance, humanity
will progress, and I believe that our
nation will approach nearer the
blessings of peace, of comfort and
of happiness.
am getting to be an old man
Very soon / shall have reached 70
years, when | could retire and drop
oataEtne activity Of the world. to
live i,f quiet and seclusion. But I
am too much interested in the things
that are going on-too young in
spirit. l look ahead with hope, with
optimism. with faith in the happy
future of our country. 1t is said
that optimism is a quality of youth,
not of old age. If that be true, then
I am. indeed, young and can look
with confidence at the years to come.
Some years ago, Lord Kelvin, that
master mind Of British science, re-
marked to my uncle, the late Henry
Field cannot quote his exact
words, but the substance of them
was this: Great as have been the
discoveries of the past fifty years,
those that are coming will make the
next half century as far ahead of the
last as it was in advance Of the
previous period. We are on the
brink Of discoveries greater, than
have been dreamed of, and of high
est Importance to mankind"
/ am not a scientist, like Lord
Kelvin. l know little about inven-
tions and discoveries. But already
| can see the forerunners for some
of the marvels that are in store for
US. What wierd thing is wireless
telegraphy, sending our messages
mysteriously over the sea! The air
ship seems to be a practical possibil-
ity of the near future. The tele-
graph and the telephone already
have enabled us to accomplish
valuable saving of time. Think
what it means, this one thing of saw
ing time, in our human existence.
1t gives US more opportunity to
think, to study, to work, to accumu-
late wealth, to carry on trade and
commerce, and more time also to de-
vote to helping others and promot-
ing peace and happiness in the
world.
The merchant of the past is con-
fined principally to his issolated
community. The merchant of the
future may deal with the whole
world, reaching out into every coun-
try, buying, selling, trading in far
away lands, carrying on enormous
transactions that could not be under
taken but for the inventions of
science that save his time at home
and bring the other side of the
world instantaneously to his door.
We have millionaires today and
billionaires tomorrow. Perhaps we
shall have trillionaires next. Let us
have them if their wealth is used fo1
increasing the welfare and happiness
of humanity. 1 do not view with
alarm the accumulation of wealth
because l believe that the spirit oi
humanity and the sense of RESPONSE
bility is growing among us.
I The greatest hope for the future
of the American nation is the de.
velopment of its conscience. Some
people soy that religion is on the de
cline and point to the half empt.
churches. But I hold to the con
trary. My views may not be yer,
good theology, yet l think the spiri
Of religion is growing stronger
the religion Of the golden rule ant
the Good Samaritan. 1t is the de
} velopment of these two principle
among the people that will he'll
remedy our evils, prevent the mis-
, uses Of wealth and contribute to tn
checking Of that abuse Of corporal
power of which there is SO mucl
complaint. / look forward to til
day when every man, woman an