ANY one who is noticing the discussions, through the press, of current topics, must be impressed with the many strong utterances that are made, and the vehement urgings of various reforms.
Photo by Trans-Atlantic News Service Co.
We have investigations, by congressional committees, of corruptions and fraud in high places. As these matters are progressing, strong statements are made concerning the conditions — statements that are calculated to inflame the mind of the populace. We have investigations of fraud and vice and crime that are made in dozens of cities in various parts of this nation, as well as in the world at large; and strong, intemperate things are said in regard to these conditions. Our political campaign that is in progress this year, and that began unusually early because of the new plan of primaries, has been a campaign thus far in which strong, excitable, and inflammatory language has been one of the leading characteristics.
Frequent mention is made of the smoldering discontent because of the conditions; and certainly if there were no "discontent," such inflammatory utterances as are made would create dissatisfaction and unrest.
As an illustration of some of the things that are said, mention might be made of the advertisement that is scattered broadcast everywhere of certain magazine articles that Thomas W. Lawson, of "frenzied finance fame," is purposing to write. Among the things Mr. Lawson’s publishers say concerning these articles are:
"He offers you a chance to win back low-cost living. In showing up the device which robs us, he presses home a volcanic indictment of the underworld of Wall Street. He crowds his pages with amazing tales as hard and as true as steel, as dazzling as the 'Arabian Nights.'"
In regard to the articles, Mr. Lawson himself says:
"These stories will be written, first to interest, and then to educate, and last, to raise all the latent hell in the American people.
"The American republic is going to destruction because
"It is in the clutches of an evil which
"Is not of the people’s own conscious making, and, consequently,
"It is beyond their power of curing, because
"They do not know what it is.
"This is, in fact, the trouble to-day, the cause of the mad unrest, the frenzied agitation, the reckless desperation, the nearly garroted hope. The people know that they are hurt and are being hurt unto death; but they do not know what is hurting them."
We do not quote the foregoing in order to endorse any such statements. We think that at least one of the statements (the one covering "latent hell") is decidedly rough to appear in what purports to be a dignified advertisement. But the statements do show that there is a condition in the public mind that makes such extreme utterances palatable, and the conditions which are creating such statements are growing worse and worse all the time.
The current news of the day is one prolonged cry of discontent and unrest, from one side of the world to the other. For instance, in Liverpool a few days ago one of the leaders of the unionists in England is said to have had a crowd of a hundred thousand men before him as he spoke to them. He was discussing the home rule measures for Ireland, and said he had the promise of "ships to carry ten thousand men from Liverpool to Belfast to help Ulster, if it came to a fight."
Then we have the despatches that tell of the mobilization of armies, because of the prospective outbreak in the Balkans. It looks at the present time as if the whole of Europe might be involved in a general war there.
The conditions in Lawrence, Massachusetts, are a clear indication of the pent-up feelings of the populace. For instance, a few days ago seven hundred people came from Boston to Lawrence to participate in a parade to the graves of two persons who were killed during the strike riots last January. Twenty thousand met this seven hundred at the railway station. They undertook to march through the streets of the city, were met by the police, and a general fight ensued. There is so much dissatisfaction among the people that violence and rioting will break forth almost spontaneously anywhere.
In describing the times just before His coming, the Master says:
"There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Luke 21: 25-28.
And through the apostle Paul the Master utters these inspired words:
"But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof: from these also turn away." 2 Tim. 3:1-5, A.R.V.
There are men who are trusting to themselves and to their great powers of intellect and of influence, who think that these conditions can be stayed, and that a revolution may be averted; but let it be clearly understood by every one, that these conditions will continue to grow worse and worse. God, who declares the end from the beginning (Isa. 46:10), knew what would occur in these days, and has told us of it, and the events that are causing so much uneasiness and dread in the world at the present time have been clearly outlined in the Sacred Book. God is not compelling men to act as they are acting to-day, but He knew thousands of years ago just how they would act in this time, and has foretold it.
We should anchor to the good old Book, and through its shining light of prophecy see the meaning of what is before us in the world, take our stand with God, and be ready for the great climax that the inhabitants of the earth have almost reached. Men are getting conditions started in this world that their powers are altogether too finite to handle, and the only thing that will be able to cope with the situation will be the infinite power of Christ at His second coming. And that coming is very near at hand. T.
