The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-13
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY IL. 1913.
y CRY OF DISTRESS.

More than once the dictum of the wise mai
that there is nothing new Under the sun has
been challenged, but never so sharply as in the
current issue of LcsHc's Weekly. This periodical
sfalwart in its Republicanism. smpgly satisfied
in its conservatism, unwearying In its attacks on
all things new. and positive in its views that
whatever is right takes cropper and falls
Eprawling into the ditch of the alarmist
No undertaking magazine no prophet Of dis
sster, no sensational minister, no mossback be-
moaning 'the good old days" equals the picture
Of misery drawn in this issue Of LesHc'8,' 1ere-
niaiah's lamentations sound like one Of Davids
psalms of praise Ciceros lament like Joe Miller
joke book when compared with this long drawn,
cut wall
Are things wrong In this world Is reason
heing dethroned2 Is the old constitution of our
fathers being challenged? Are the churches
being en1ptied ana the criminal dockets filled
Are the sacred ties Of marriage being lightly
considered? Is parental restraint longer
IN fashion? Does vice prevail and do impious
snen hold SWAY
Are our great municipalities breeding spots
for gTafters, gamblers and white slaves? Are
the taxpayers saddled with burdens such as they
have never borne before? Is decency challenged
ard virtue Knocked at? Are demagogues usurp-
ing the high places Of statesmen and and are
sconers tearing down the pulpit? Are the peo~
pie reading yellow Journals on Sunday and ia tho
bible becoming closed book To at least some
OF these questions If not 10 all the honest an
swsr must he in the affirmative
On the contrary, honesty compels an answer
In the negative TO most Of the rhetorical questions
ernanating from the distressed soul of Leslie's
editor. Things are wrong in this world always
have been and will be throughout the lifetime
OF countless generations TO be born. The con-
gfitusion Of our fathers is being challenged and
will continue to be challenged until 1t and all
government Is perfected Vice does prevail to
some extent and will prevail until perfection o.
mankind Is attained. Dreadful to relate people
Go read yellow journals on Sunday Some Of
Them even read LeaHe's on Sunday But reason
is not being dethroned: the churches are not be-
ing emptied; the sacred ties Of marriage are nor
more lightly considered than during man pc
RODS in the past: parental restraint is still in
iashion; impious men do not hold sway; decency
If not challenged nor is virtue being Knocked ar;
demagogues are no more numerous than former
IT, In short the times are not immeasurably
worse than they have been. but better and will
continue 10 grow better.
To one who Is familiar with the current of
thought of the editor OF Lesbos Weekly the rea.
NoH iQF lItls 0ut0uEst OF undertaking on It's part
ts clear Organ Of the standpat element it is
thrown into convulsion by the triumph of radi-
calism. Because the people have dared 10 believe
that work of the fathers" can be improved upon
and have changed the constitution; because wom-
an suffrage has triumphed in certain States ana
gives promise OF still further Victories; because
the initiative and referendum and recall have
been adopted in some parts of the country;
because high protection has been repudated
brsuse Taft has been defeated; because In fact
Etandpatters, unable by nature to move or
change. being BOWED over, Lestte's sees the
overthrow of orderly government, tho disruption
OF the republic, the downfall of the nation, the
end OF Law, religion and morality, the doom Of
the universe. But for the noise OF its own
lamentations it would probably hear the music
of the church organs and mistake 1T for the
horn of Gabriel