THE COMING CRISIS by J. B. GREENWOOD

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 12, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 50.

THE COMING CRISIS.

By J. B. GREENWOOD

THERE is scarcely a man or woman in the world to-day who is not giving more or less thought to the great problems that confront the inhabitants of earth. In every walk of life there is manifest a feverish energy, a spirit of active unrest, a feeling that just beyond is some unforeseeable climax which in some way will bring in a new order of things.

Take the military situation, for example. While the blast of the bugle and the roll of the drum are summoning for conflict the armies of practically every nation under the sun, there is dread uncertainty in every movement. The past few weeks have presented a striking object-lesson to the thoughtful observer. Like the rush of a tornado comes the clash of arms in China, and in a few days all the great world powers are hurrying men and munitions of war to the scene; all are prepared for the work of death and destruction. In a few days more come rumors, and then confirmed reports, of ruptures between the "allies," jealousies, intrigues, distrust, showing that scarcely for the common interest and safety of all can they keep violent hands off one another. Each government, naturally, is full of its own selfish plans, and is ready to fight for its real or fancied rights. The work of arming, drilling, building navies and forts, enlarging armies, etc., goes on and on. While "diplomacy" restrains somewhat the spirit of the times, how long will conservative men be able to avert the dreadful, devastating scourge of war, when the military spirit runs rampant through the land, and upon the least pretext the people clamor to be led against the foe? Where and how will this reign of militarism end?

Then look at the political situation in our land to-day. It is needless to particularize, as that is being done continually through the dailies and other papers. Without desiring to cast reflection on individuals, we say without fear of being controverted that the "practical politics" by which this government is controlled to-day, are corrupt to the core. Especially is this true in the large cities of the land. Public officials are no longer chosen on account of fitness for certain positions. Elections are almost universally controlled by ring-politics. From the national candidate down to the red-nosed, blear-eyed "heeler" of the toughest ward, is simply a ring within a ring, a system by which men are elevated to positions of public trust and responsibility to whose progenitors could be truly said, as Augustus said to Livia, "Your son is too vile to wear the purple of Rome." And the result is that the people are robbed, the government prostituted to the service of corporations so as to oppress the people, courts are corrupted, "justice is turned away backward, . . . and equity can not enter."

As the people begin to see these things, they are stirred to desperation; the seeds of anarchy are sown in the human breast, and, failing eventually to find a remedy in the ballot, resort will be had to the sword and bullet. Just now a supreme effort is being made to throw responsibility for this condition of things largely upon a particular party or administration, and promises are made that in a change of administrations relief will come,—the iron hand of paternalistic oppression be raised, the specter of imperialism be dethroned. And this it is that brings the spirit of intensity and bitterness into the present national political contest. But no man or administration will ever again clarify the politics of this world. The root of the matter is Satan working in the hearts of man. Politics, in the very nature of the case, will continue, as in years past, to grow worse and worse. The question of questions for consideration now is, What will the end be? Are we ready for the crisis?

So we might set forth the influences at work in other spheres of life,—drunkenness, vice, and iniquity, which are undermining our whole social structure; organized capital and monopolistic corporations, called forth and arrayed against organized labor, which, led by men of selfish and unregenerate hearts, is often as cruel and tyrannical as the power to which it is opposed; the spirit of worldliness, ungodliness, and departure from the pure, true principles of the Gospel and Word of God so markedly observed in the professed churches of Christ. The words of inspiration vividly depicting the stirring scenes of the time just preceding Christ's second advent, are now fulfilling before our very eyes. Unseen but potent elements are at work, hurrying us onward to a climax in all these directions, and they will converge, culminating in one universal crisis, which will be the final consummation of all things earthly. What then?—"Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn;" but "unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation."

J. B. GREENWOOD.