NOT GENERALLY FOR THE POOR.
The prosperity of the few past years, entirely aside from all political situations, has not, as a general thing, been advantageous to the poor. Doubtless it has given many work, but many have been forced from their places by combinations of capital or labor, the latter a strange thing. Too, wages have not increased as rapidly as have the necessities of life. In the Old World agriculturists have suffered, with poor prospects for relief. For instance, the Countess Krockow, in the Independent of Jan. 30, 1902, thus speaks of this class in Germany:— German land proprietors are truly disconcerted. Farming pays less and less. The peasantry make their losses good by feeding themselves worse and worse. So do more of the gentry than would ever confess it. There is no possibility of selling off acres enough to help pay up arrears. The bids are too low, or purchasers are wanting altogether. In brief, something must be done to avert bankruptcy of agriculture. And that is the very condition that much more of the world than Germany is facing. They hope to better their condition by political means. But the disease upon the nations is of a moral nature, and political remedies will not effect its cure. The Gospel of Jesus Christ would, but from that they are turning away.