Norwich bulletin., 1916-12-13
An Inventory of Humanity.


Mr.. Editor: We are living in an age
OF reckless waste Of innumerable hu-
man lives. The equal can only be
found by turning back the pages of
another age. We are told Of the tombs
Of kings, monuments, not alone OF
monarchlca1 glory and pride, but of
the same reckless disregard of hu-
mainly. In those days deep in the
sands dug a myriad of slaves. ignor-
ant of everything save the stern ne
cess1ty of yielding up every bit of
strength in their bodies, and every
last CLEAN of intelligence in their
minds, to the demands of their kings
and masters. In the quarries, on the
roads, and on the walls for scores of
years, there toiled these thousands of
men, Wageless. and half-fed, over
worked and scourged, sick, dizzy and
exhausted. The only hospital they
knew was the taskmaster's whip,
which stimulated into one last effort
the exhausted muscles of a used up
body, or the frenzied movement of a
Keeling brain. In this century the glory
of the monarch and the king demands
the same toll, to satisfy their selfish
pride, or, to reduce to manageable
proportions, a too rapidly growing
race. I have said the same toll, we
nave improved on the science of those
days, our superior minds 90 have found
new modes to annihilate the race Of
<1AbC1 111ClCCA years
OF Christian philanthropy can we look
back on the dark days Of early times,
and claim that we are free from the
faint of heredity? What have we done
with two of the foremost command
ments, that we should love God, and
our neighbor as ourselves. Which
surely means responsibility to God and
fellowmen. Where are we to find the
spirit of these commandments? Are
they stalking the blood-soaked ground
of the Old World under the black
cloak of war? No, for, as it has been
in the past, so it now happens the
heart of mankind is contaminated with
the bitter gall of malice and hate. The
hypocrisy of the race has doubled on
its track, with all our miracles of
science. our enlightenment. and our
Biblical supplications, we have again
knocked on the door of the dark ages,
we have been admitted, and again are
reacting the deeds of past generations.
AS 1t was then, SO it is now, and
becoming more clear. human greed is
the determining factor. and not alone
in Europe for let US look at the back
grounds of civilization here in Aneri-
ca.
There are among us. born in the lap
of luxury, men.who presume to say that
all of the advantages of science and
labor should be restricted solely to
the use OF those who are employers,
or investors. and the rest of us should
live in huts, on clay floors, windowIess
and fireless, unsanitary. clad in rags,
and below the level Of the beasts of
the field. They dare not advance this
thought, but their arguments are dan
gerously close to stating the same
thing. What matters. let them grind
the bones out of their arms for bread.
This is our Wanted humanity to our
relloWmen. Instead of attacking the
Injustice. dfshonor, and cruelty of ex-
ploitation at home, our statesmen
spend millions to defend principles and
ideals that have been openly and re-
peatedly violated here without protest,
and that are founted and crucfied by
men who pose as leading citizens.
]. H. CUMMINGS.
Norwich, Dec. II. 1915.