Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-12-31
Said 10 be Every Reason for
Maintaining UnderCurrent
Of Confidence
Safest Policy viii be Middle
Course Till Uncertainties
Disappear
Bv Henry CieWs.

NEW YORK, 4Dec. 30.--Thc year
just closing has been crowded with
sifinitica,.t experiences. 1t has been
a year CT striking social an political
unrest. The whole world is in the
melting pot as never before, and he
United States is doing its part in the
process OF separating the dros,' from
the finer products of civilization. On
social lines the unrest Is yividly see
iii the desire for better living, both
materially and morally. Our material
progress has been phenomenal.
Wealth he's grown enormously, and
the way is being slowly and some
what painfully paved for its ultimate
ly more equitable distribution. Our
moral progress is amply proved by
the signal awakening OF the public
conscience, and by the energetic or
fOrts to eliminate or at least curta'l
I the evils so glaring in our business
and social life. Never before. was
vice OF all forms 50 relentlessly ex.
posed; and never before was there
such a determination to restrain or
repress it. II there Is any tling about
such movements to warrant hope and
confidence in American, institutions,
it is this development Of a distinct
upward movement in public stand.
ards OF conduct. This may be observ-
ed in all departments OF business and
public HE, and 1t is apparent to all
familiar with the control of affairs
that many things readily ps,lnitted a
decade ago would on mo account be
tolerated today, simply because of an
aroused public cIlnion and the estab-
lishment OF higher standards OF con.
duct.
There is no doubt that more has
been accomplished in this direction
by 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
one of the most encouraging features
in this connection is the noticeable
bringing into office of men of a high
er tye 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 inyesti.
cations, as we'll as an apparent out
break of vice lin our great cities, have
been SO exploited i'm the public press
as to poison the public mind and Gre
ate an abnormal and umwholesome
state of pessimism. For many it is
difficult to see under the surface. The
average mar liz belonged by the SEN
sationalism of the day, and falls into
the erroneous impression that W e are
degenerating. Happily, the forces OF
betteTment have been quietly, but I'M
erringly ,at work, as is shown by the
innunerable discussions and move.
ments lin u great cities towards So
cial justice and olitical purity. OF
course, no sane person supposes that
the milleniusn is near ait hand: vet as
the yeal, closes it is worth while to
stop and take stock and see where
we stand I'm regard to those great
movements, social and political,
which can either make or ruin this
great republic. 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 en-.
collrage!nent as well as progress. IT
H no ~exaggeration TO say that the out.
look for America was never more bril-.
liant. There are great problems
ahead that will puzzle our ablest
thinkers, and setbacks must be ex.
pected; but IA new spirit Of progress
is i'm the air which is placing quite
as much emphasis upon the mental
and moral forces as upon the materi.
all. With sllch ideals before us, tho
future at this republic lis safe, proyil.
ed they are strenuously maintained
and raised sllll higher wherr oppoc.
ttnity offers.
Unusual Business Features.
The striking features in business
have been q magnificent harvest, rec.