ARE WE NEARING A CRISIS?
By Editor
At certain periods in the world's history there have been premonitory symptoms of a general social upheaval, some of which have escaped attention until too late, and others of which have been noted and their sequel predicted. No great movement of society is spontaneous. It is always the result of accumulated forces, some silent and obscure, others open and manifest; but for every effect there is a cause. May it not be possible that at the present time we are on the verge of one of those social revolutions which disturb the peaceful current of the world's progress, and restore, for the time being, the reign of chaos and confusion? Do not the signs of the times point to widespread disturbance and trouble, the end of which no one can predict? Are we not standing on the edge of a volcano which, though now quiescent, may burst into flames at any moment? Can we not feel the quiver of the solid ground beneath our feet, and hear the rumblings which mark the coming of an eruption? Germany is struggling with labor troubles, which are more widespread and serious than might be imagined. France is kept in a state of anxiety by the schemes of Boulanger and the revolutionists, who desire to use him for their own purposes. Great Britain is straining every nerve to regain her prestige as monarch of the seas. Russia is ready to pounce upon the southeastern provinces or to push her way into India at a moment's notice. Italy and Spain are impoverishing themselves in the attempt to keep up enormous armies and navies; and in all these countries the leaven of discontent is working among the masses, who see themselves condemned to toil day and night in order to support immense standing armies and fully equipped navies in idleness. What, except a terrific social upheaval, can be the outcome? Whether it will come this year or next year, or in ten years, no one can tell, but it cannot be possible to mistake the indications or to doubt that a crisis is impending.