The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-22
THE HAYLETTER

taken from his recent volume, "the
Measure of the Hours
Let us start fairly with the great
| truth: for those who possess there
, Is only one certain duty. which IL 10
| strip themselves OF what they have.
/ so as to bring themselves into the
| condition of the mass that possesses
nothing Ii is understood. in very
! clear thinking conscience, that no more
/ imperative duty exists: but, at the
same time. II is admitted that this
duty, for lack OF courage, is impos-
| sibe of accomplishment.
/ Since il appears that We have mere
! to DO with an absolute impossihility,
! before which Ii were Idle 10 make any
! farther display OF astonishment, let
US accept human nature as we find 1t.
! what are we 10 do IN he actual
state OF our society? Must we side,
a prtori systematically with those VIM
/ are struggling to maintain its econ
omy? Is 1t wise not 20 blvd one
| choice To defend by turns that which
/ Seeing reasonable and opportUne IN
either party?
Let us not RESUME all the ira
ditional objections, hH- only those
/ which can be seriouslt defenIe /. We
! are first confronted With the Oldest OF
/ them. which maintains tina: Unequal
4 rs ~ iitN ittiBitb iltA'tE III A'.h'''N
with the laws of mature. This is true,
/ but the human race ai~ears not mn
/ probab bly, created TO raise lis If ato"e
certain Of the laws Of 01tgr".
/ ITS very existence would he inn
/ perilled il it abandoned its intention
( to surmount 81 number If these laws.
! 1t is in accordance with is particular
nature 70 obey other laws than those
/ of its animal nature and he rest. More
Inn
I bsassed among those whose principle is
untenable and would lead - the mas
! sa ere of the weak, the sick. the old
and so forth
| Another conservative argument
worthy OF attention declares that as
mans first duty is 10 avoid violence
| and bloodshed it is Indispensable that
the social evolution should not be
too rapid that 1t should ripen slowly,
! that II is important 10 temper IT
while the mass is being enlightened
| and borne graduaily---and without Sc
| rious observation-disclosures a liberty and
! fulness or possessions which, at this
moment. would unchain only its worst
Instincts.
This again is true; nevertheless, 1t
would he interesting to calculate
! (since We can reach the best only
through the bad1 whether the evils
{ W " SAddfiit iGuiCdi ana D4DOQN AtNp~
luton outweigh those which are per
petuated IN the slower evolution. 1t
We're well to ask ourselves whether
there be not an advantage in acting
with all speed: whether, when all Ia
told, the suffering Of those who now
walt for justice be not more serious
than that which the privileged class
of today would have to undergo for
the space Of some weeks or months.
/ Y
! headsmen OF misery are less noisy.
less theatrical but infinitely more nu-
merous, cruel and active than those
Of the most terrible revolutions
We come al length 10 the last and
perhaps the most disturbing argu-
ment. Humanity, we are told, has
/ for more than century been passing
through the most fruitful and victo-
rtous, probably the most corning years
OF its distiny. II seems, II we con
slider its past. to he in the decisive
phase OF Its evolution
! 'one would think. from certain in
dications. that il is nigh upon attain
Ing Its apogee. It Ia traVersing a Pc
Rod OF inspiration wherewith none
other Is historically to be compared.
tritie, a last effort, a fash of light.
which shall connect or emphasize the
discoveries, the munitions scattered or
held in suspense, alone separates II.
perhaps, from the great mysteries
ut has lately touched upon prob
lens whose solution. at the cost Of
! the hereditary enemy that is. Of the
great unknown phenonen Of the uni
verse;, would probably render useless
all the sacrifices which justice lie
mands Of men. Is IL not dangerous To
! stop this flight. 10 disturb this pre-
| cious. precarious and supreme min
/ ute" Admitting even that what is
| gained can no longer be lost as In the
| earlier upheavals, ii is nevertheless to
be feared lest the vast disorganiza ton
( required by equity should put an
! abrupt end TO this happy period. ~
/ This is, as have said. perhaps the
/ most disquieting argument But there
! is no doubt that 1t attaches too great
IN importanc to a somewhat uncer,
/ tain danger
! Moreover. prodigtous compeusa-
+ lions would attend this brief Interrupt
! ton occasioned by the victory of hu-
! manity. Can we foresee what will
happen when the human race as A
+ whole VIII be taking part in the in
j teliecutual labor which is the labor
proper to our species? Today, hardly
one brain in ten thousand exists In
conditions entirely favorable to its ac-
tivity
There is. al this moment. a mon
/ strous waste OF spiritual force. Idle
/ ness at the top depresses as many
/ mental energies as excess OF manual
/ labor annhlates below 1t lis in
1 contestabie that when it shall he Civ
en- to all men to apply themselves To
: the task at resent reserved for a few
faVorites Of chance. humanity will In
! crease = thousandfoid its prospects II
attaining the great mysterious ain.
Here. | think. We have the best
OF the pro and contra. the most rea-
sonahle reasons that can be invoked
by those who are in no hurry to end
the matter. Selected by Edwin
Mark ham.