SOMETHING ABOUT PESSIMISM.
By T.
THERE are a lot of people in the world who seem to take special pride in their instinct to detect a pessimist. There are numerous editors, many ministers, politicians, and stump-orators almost without number, who pose as special detectives, having a special ability, like the war horse pawing in the valley, to smell the odor of pessimism when it is even yet afar off. When the crying evils of this time are pointed out, and attention is called to the sure results that will follow them, these detectors of pessimism rise up, put on a very sober and wise look, and, calling into action every reserve power, they shout, “Pessimism.” They do not take the pains to call attention to any reasoning process that has led them to the conclusion that you are a pessimist, but they simply want you to take it for granted that their instincts are a positive guide. When the facts are presented, showing that the world is on the downward grade and that things are getting worse and worse, these persons think that they have overthrown every word that has been said, by simply shouting at the top of their voices, “Pessimist.” But to call a man a pessimist because he is pointing out dangers does not overthrow the fact that there are evils and wrongs to be speedily righted, else a dire calamity will surely follow. On a cold night one may feel very comfortable as he lies asleep in a burning building. If he is only about half aroused he may feel very indignant that any one should disturb him by shouting, “Fire.” Should he insist on enjoying his nap under such circumstances, he would soon be badly burned, if he did not lose his life altogether. There are forebodings of disaster rising before this world that are real and not imaginary. It is not optimism to say that they are not there. It is the worst kind of self-deception and foolhardiness to say that there are no dangers ahead, and that the world is rising into a higher and better state of civilization and morals. Shouting, “Pessimist,” in the faces of those who would raise the danger signal may help to keep some, the drowsy, in a state of stupor, but it will not avert the crash. It is an open and proved fact that in nearly every one of our cities, every form and shade of vice and crime are under the protection of the police. This condition of things has become so open and flagrant in San Francisco that the mayor of the city is now publicly advocating that dens of vice should be allowed to run under municipal licenses. It is argued that you can not shut these places up, because the police will, despite everything, accept bribes from them and refuse to make any arrests. So, in the place of allowing the police to collect this revenue from vice, it is proposed as a good bit of finance to have the city collect a regular license fee and let them run. Not only are the police corrupted in this way but many of the police courts are in league with the criminals, and when thru force of circumstances it seems necessary to make an arrest, false witnesses are knowingly brought into court to assist in manufacturing pretexts that will excuse the judge in setting the villain free. The foregoing statements in regard to this one phase of the criminal condition of the country are as nothing compared with what might be said of the things that actually exist, and that everybody knows to be fact. In the face of these indisputable facts how can any one say that the world is9getting better, or that we are advancing into a higher civilization? We may be advancing into a more highly gilded civilization, but a highly polished veneer can only cover up; it can not destroy the decay that is within. Now, what can be said of a civilization and a morality that will tolerate such things in a community as vice and crime in full open operation and under the protection of city licenses, or watched over by the police and other officers of the law in order that criminals may not be brought to justice? When it is further said that these evils have gotten such a foothold that they can not be stamped out, what does it speak of the times in which we live? To simply call the one a pessimist that talks of them and tells what they portend will not answer the question at issue. The individual who sees all the evils of this time, and who understands what they portend, is neither morbid nor morose. Every one of the wrongs and crimes and vices and sins of this age tells us unmistakably of the heroic effort that Satan is putting forth to destroy every man, woman, and child on the face of the earth. But he will not be successful. The Lord Jesus Christ is coming soon to put an end to all this evil. When He comes, He is the same Friend of humanity that He has ever been. All who are willing and desirous of doing the right will find in Him their chiefest joy in that day. The Lord Jesus Christ is not only our Creator, but He is our Redeemer as well. Who would not want to see Him in person? How strange it is that any one could see pessimism in the thought that the evils of this time will be cut short in their corrupting career by the coming of the Lord of glory! It is indeed true that the golden age of liberty, and joy, and every delightsome pleasure, is just before us; but it will not be evolved out of this evil world; it will be brought about by the destruction of this world, with all its evil, and the eternal salvation of all that is good. This glorious time is right at hand. Every one who values eternal life and an eternity of happiness should hasten to prepare for the glad time. Tell every one about it. Exhort all to spread the glad tidings. T.