Training the Forces for the Conflict.
The problem of problems in the world has ever been that of how to govern the lawless element of society. This lawless element does not always consist of straightforward outlaws; but frequently the most lawless persons are found in the high places of life, and using the influence of their positions to further their selfish ends. This latter class of persons will, when not held in check, sooner or later bring about a state of things that ends in revolution. It has been the history of all the past and it will always work in that way. Since the war of the rebellion in this country, there has been an especially marked tendency on the part of certain men to get hold of all the property of the nation, and they have been quite successful in the progress they have made. And in doing this they have not scrupled to bribe and debauch courts and legislatures throughout the length and breadth of the nation. The consequence has been that we have a great army of trained "grafters" that have so taken hold of the vitals of the country that it seems impossible to shake them off. The city government of San Francisco is a striking example of what has been accomplished in the last half century in this form of corrupting education so that men might win to themselves vast fortunes. Strong men are working heroically with the right on their side in trying to clear the city of the "boodlers" and "grafters," but it seems well-nigh impossible. They are met at every turn with quibbles and technicalities to retard their work. Our fathers and grandfathers would have stormed such unprincipled quibbles with a sweeping disgust that would have annihilated them instantly. San Francisco is no worse than most of the other large cities. The plague is being exposed there now so that we see it, but there is plenty of evidence that it may be seen in other cities just as much, if it is looked for by men of the same ability as those who are uncovering the frauds in the metropolis of the Pacific. The wealthy men of the country may not realize it, but whether they do or not, they are training for a conflict of violence that will pale the bravest hearts. Just so surely as the harvest is of the same character as the seed sown, just that surely will the fruitage of violence follow the sowing that has been, and that is still being, done. God's word points out the outcome and the meaning of all this. Are you studying to know about it?