The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-14
Today And TOntorrotU
By H. ADDINGTON BRUCE

Lately spent m evening in the company of gentleman, a trained observer of events, who had just returned from Q visit, to Flu rope ,f
 He was in a grimlys dolorous mood. He had found political, economic, and social con- ditions not at all to his liking.
 Little real thinking was being done. Ma terialism was rampant. Crude pleasure hunting was much in evidence. Glass con. flict was plainly manifest showing itself in unexpected ways '
 Yet, this returned visitor immediately added, except in degree he could see much difference between the Europan situation and the situation on our side of the Atlantic He spoke feelingly and emphatically of New World extravagance, and of recent revela- tions of graft and corruption in the United States and in Canada.
 It was unmistakable that he took the gloomiest possible view of civilizations pros- poets. Nor could it be denied that he was able to marshal an abundance of, unpleasant facts in support of his fears for the future of the world. ,
 Yet, for myself, I refused to be stampeded into pessimism. This is not the only time, recalled, that mankind has been obliged to endure the evils characteristic of a pe- riod of transition from one epoch to another. Always in the past each succeeding epoch has been an improvement on its predecessor.
 One has only to read history attentiveIy to appreciate this. - e
 Progress has been in evidence from cen: tury to century, progress in knowledge and in the Tar more important acquisition of q steadily greater humanness. Even amid, and despite of, the present welter of disturbing phenomena there truly is reason for insist ing, with A. G. Gardner:
 "Whatever aspect of life we turn to for comparison, it is undeniable that in those humanities which are the real test, not of civilization only, but of practical Chris tianity; the present time. is incredibly in ad- vance, of any period in the worlds history.
 There is more justice, more kindliness, a deeper sense of social relationship, in the highest meaning of the word more religion, than ever before" "'
 Not that this progress has been achieved Automatically and as steady, uninterrupted forward movement. There has been a con- tinuous struggle between forces of good and forces of evil, with intervals when the latter have seemingly gained the upper hand for all time. ,.-...o5-
 Always in the past, however, the victory has ultimately been on the side of the good. Remembering this, it would indeed seem fool. sh to assume that history will not repeat it. self and that the outlook is for tomorrow more distressful even than our disturbed and disturbing today.
 The likelihood is, rather, that the next epoch, in world development, no matter how different it may be from the epoch which ended with the Great War, will in one way and another be a distinct improvement on that dead epoch. To doubt this is to deny that history has any real meaning.
 So do not give way to despair too soon. Do not give way to despair at all.
 For out of despair, if it were to become anything like universal, would result cessa- tion of the social effort through which alone the progress of the past has been achieved.