Note and Comment

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Dec 21, 1905

THERE is no mistaking the fact that the public mind is greatly stirred just now. The shocking exposures of the prevalence of graft and corruption, the bringing to light of the utter disregard of moral principles in the financial world, the histories of the various monopolies and the way in which they tax the many for the benefit of the few, and the plain talk about the concentration of wealth in the hands of ten or twelve men, have aroused feelings which may soon crystallize into actions. There is a clear trend toward the public ownership of public utilities and an attempt to control the power of wealth. The Independent (New York) prophesies “a social struggle bigger than any that has yet been waged in human history.” It says:—

There is nothing now to prevent our dealing directly, and with entire singleness of purpose, with the question whether we intend to make over our unequaled natural resources, and all the machinery of our superb political organization, to a little group of multi-millionaires, to be owned and exploited by them for the luxurious maintenance of an exclusive social set, measured statistically by the number of boxes in the parterre circle of the Metropolitan Opera-house, and self-portrayed morally as a quarrelsome gang of bridge whist players.

The practical program for the near future is plainly indicated in these words:—

We shall dispose of our smart set by the simple process of stopping its allowance. That is to say, we shall take away from its multi-millionaire husbands and papas the ownership of those vast wealth-producing public utilities that rightfully are the property of the public.

Only a short time ago such language as this would have been regarded as anarchistic, but there is an increasing demand for a remedy for the evils which are multiplying so rapidly, and many reform measures will doubtless be proposed. The disease is too deep-seated, however, for any human reformer to deal with it. The coming of the Lord himself is the only solution of the problem. There must be a new earth in which righteousness will dwell.