Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-05-14
Outside Point of View

Nome rule In ireland seems never
to be accomplished. Woman suffrage
In this country, is far, far away. Pro-
hibition has made some gains lately,
but the figures of the revenue depart
ment still show tremendous consump-
ton of Intoxicating liquors. Labor
unions are in figures large to readers
of census reports. Combines and trusts
are formed with millions as compare
lively small capital stock. Socialism
grows, but as yet Is only small fac
tor in legislation anywhere. Religious
organizations increase and decrease.
Ingersollism was to drive out Chris
tianity, but didn't. Nations rise and
fall almost within the knowledge and
personal experience of man that lives
the century. France was and is not.
Japan is and may not be. All Of these
movements remind us of the snow ball
rolled by the school boy and failing
to pieces by its own weight. The snow
ball may become an avalanche, seldom
a glacier
All this and more are suggested by
the enthusiasm OF those engaged in
the promotion OF these great reforms
or vast combinations TOR power and
wealth as the desired result Hope
springs eternal in the human breast
We never ARE" but are always ito be"
blest. Who would change such things :?
Who destroy the bright hopes and the
great possibilities in the mind and es-
says of the college graduate? Why at
tempt to show to the man or the wom-
an with a mission, that their puny eff
forts will never occupy q line In the
worlds history? Roosevelt may pos
sibly have a chapter in a book in some
university library in the year $500, but
not more, and short chapter at that.
There's we'll established theory
now that in these bodies of ours are q
set Of friendly" microbes, whose mis-
sion is to repel attack and destroy the
visits of deadly germs, ever striving to
add US to the big majority. And so 1t
is in society. The vicious. always
present and apparently always in full
force and strength, suddenly show
themselves. Instantly up rise the bet
ter class and the attack is repulsed.
Exception to this rule ends q nations
career. Rome fell when no such de-
Tense was made. England, Germany
and the United States today are mag
nificently fighting the forces of evil all
along the line. Russia and Spain are
making only a feeble defense. Moth
ing Is more true than that nations,
like individuals, work out their own
salvation.
If there is any point to all this, It is
that truth is not to be discouraged nor
old age to become pessimistic. The
reformer seldom lives to see results.
but his children's children feel the
good effects of his work, and true 1t is
that this very retard of reform was
much. to Its friends. Over zea1ousness.
intemperance OF word and deed, the
accumulation OF the barnacles Of dem
agogery, premature legislation before
the people are ready to enforce, plac-
ing at the head men and women unfit
for the positions, all Of these things in
wife and result in retroacttons. Slav-
cry was not abolished by Abraham
Lincoln He only wrote a proclama-
ton that put into words the ideas of
FIVE generations. Wendell Phillips and
John Brown helped the cause. but also
delayed the Gay by extravagant word
and ded. After all, reform is the gla-
cier and not the SNOWFALL