The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-31
MOVING ONWARD AND UPWARD.

In contravention to the ideas of the
pessimists that the world in general is
deteriorating daily, and that as far as
these United States, in particular, are
concerned, conditions of all sorts,
moral. mental and financial could net
be much worse, and with prospects
even poorer ahead, may well be set
a few of the opinions in the premises
of Henry Clews. the New York banker
and broker, as he presents them in
his annual financial review which he
has just made public. Mr.. Clews is
undoubtedly the dean among the
bankers and financiers of the Wall
street district and the nation. AS far
back as 1887, or quarter of a century
ago, he published his "reminiscences of
Twenty eight years in Wall street."
He has always been associated with
the legitimate interests of that great
financial mart, and is recognized at
home and abroad as deep student of
economies and sociology. His general
observations on the conditions that
have prevailed during the past twelve
months follows: This year just clos
ing has been crowded with significant
experiences. 1t has been year OF
striking social and political unrest.
The whole world is the melting pot as
never before, and the United states
is doing it's part in the process of sep
arating the dross from the finer prod
ucts of civilization. On social lines
the unrest is wildly seen in the desire
for better living. both materially and
morally. Our material progress has
been phenomenal. Wealth has grown
enormously, and the way is being
slowly and somewhat painfully paved
for it's ultimately more equitable dis
tributfon. Our moral progress is
amply proved by the signal awaken
ing of the public conscience, and by
the energetic efforts to eliminate or at
least curtail the evils so glaring in our
business and social life. Never before
was vice of all forms so relentlessly
exposed; and never before was there
such a determination to restrain or
repress it. If there is anything about
such movements to warrant hope ana
confidence in American institutions, it
is this development in public standards
of conduct This may be observed IN
all departments of business and public
life, and it is apparent to all familiar
with the control of affairs that many
things readily permitted a decade ago
would on no account be tolerated to-
day. simply because Of an aroused
public opinion and the establishment
of higher standards of conduct.
There is no doubt that more has
been accomplished in this direction
bv appeals to public opinion than by
legislation. The same is true of our
political life. The process of purifi-
cation has been going steadily on, and
in this connection is the noticeable
bringing into office of men of a high
er type than formerly; men not only
of ability but Of distinctly higher
ideas and greater integrity. Such
facts are worthy of note, because the
era of undertaking and government
investigations, as well 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 pessimisn. 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 we
are degenerating. Happily the forces
of betterment have been quietly but
unerringly at work. as is shown by
the innumerable discussions and
movements in our great cities towards
social justice and political purity. OF
course no sane person supposes that
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 move
ments, social and political, which can
either make or ruin this great repub-
lie. Whatever tends to build a better
and safer America will also tend to
strengthen and advance our business
institutions; and in this respect there
is much room for encoura cement as
well as progress. 1t is no exaggera-
ton to say that the outlook for
America was never more brilliant.
There are great problems ahead that
will puzzle our ablest thinkers, and
setbacks must be expected; but a new
spirit of progress is in the air which
is placing quite as much emphasis
upon the mental and moral forces as
upon the material With such ideals
before us, the future of this republic
is safe provided they are strenuously
maintained. and raised still higher
when opportunity Offers