The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-12-31

year just closing has been crowded
with significant experiences. 1t has
been a year of striking social and no
litical unrest The whole world /.
in the melting pot as never before
and the United States is doing its
. part in tl,e process of separating the
dross from the finer produces of civf
lization. On social lines the unrest is
wildly seen in the desire for better liz
ing, both materially and morally. Our
material progress has been pbenome.
nal. Wealth has grown enormously.
and the way Is being slowly and
somewhat painfully paved for its ul-
timately more equitable distribution.
Our moral progress Is amply proved
By the signal awakening OF the pub
lie conscience. and by the energetic
efforts to eliminate or at least curtail
the evils so glazing In our business
and social life. Never before was
vice of all forms 80 relentlessIy ex-
posed: and never before was there
such determination to restrain or
repress It. II there Is anything about
such movements to warrant hope and
confidence in American institutions,
it is this Development OF a distinct
upward movement in public standards
OF conduct. This may be observed In
all departments of business and pub
lie life, and It Is apparent to all
familiar with the control of affairs
that many things readily permitted
q decade ago would on no account be
tolerated today, simply because
an aroused public opinion and the
establishment OF higher standards OF
conduct.
There Is no doubt that more has
been accomplished in this direction
by appeals 20 public opinion than by
legislation The same is true OF our
political life. The process o, purifica-
ton has been going steadily on, and
one of the most encouraging features
in this connection is the noticeable
bringing into office OF men OF a high
err type than formerly: men not only
OF ability but OF distinctly higher
ideals and greater integrity. Such
facts are worthy Of note, because the
era OF undertaking and government
investigations, as we'll as an apparent
outbreak Of vice In our great cities,
have been so exploited In the public
press as TO poison the public mind
and create an abnormal and unwhole-
some state OF pesssmisIn For many
It is difficult to see under the surface.
The average man is befogged by the
sensationalism Of the day, and falls
into the erroneous impression that
re are degenerating. Happily the
forces Of bettermen. have been quiet
II but unerringiy at WORK. as is
shown by the innumerable discussions
and movements in our great cities to-
wards social justice and political pur-
ity. OF course no sane person sun
poses mat the millennium is near at
hand; yet as the year closes It is
worth while to stop and take stock
and see where We stand In regard to
those great movements, socia. and
political, which can either make or
ruin this great republic. Whatever
tends to build better and safer
America will also tend to strengthen
and advance our business institu-
tions; and in this respect there is
much room for encoura cement as well
IS progress. 1t is no exaggeration to
say that the outlook for America was
never more brilliant. There are great
problems anead that viii puzzle our
ablest thinkers, and setbacks must
be expected. but new spirit of pro
gress is in the air which is placing
quite as much emphasis upon the
mental and moral forces az upon the
material With such ideas before ug,
tae future OF this republic Ia safe,
provided they are strenuousiy main
tained and raised still higher when
opportunity offers