Show NO reformatory EFFECT SOME time since we summarized the phases presented by the johnstown calamity the statement presented the variations of benevolence olen heroism cowardice horror and depravity the ranker and more deplorable out growths still continue to develop A few days ago the sickening report came over the wires that men were fighting off a small email host of dogs who were tearing up the earth that covered the bodies of the dead which the brutes rent in pieces and devoured such an occurrence in the nineteenth century in civilized america is indeed startlingly horrible it is enough to cause one to exclaim whither are things drifting it would be reasonable to presume that the most sweeping calamity of its class clam that has occurred within the boundaries of the republic from its beginning would make a profound impression upon the minds of men especially upon those on the ground and able to take in the awful character of the visitation yet in that waste of desolation where lie ile the putrid bodies of those who were swept out of existence with terrible suddenness men employed presumably in endeavoring to brin bring 9 order out of the chaos produced by the flood are engaged in a fierce dispute capital represented by contractors and labor represented by workmen are at loggerheads logger heads feeling is high and discontent rampant while drunkenness holds high revel among all the men who can obtain the means of intoxication breaches of the peace and free fights S baur occur by night and day ivr irr the te light of such aspects under sue such uncommon conditions it may well be asked whether our civilization is a success or a failure one thing that st strikes the thoughtful mind in connection with this subject is that such events as the johnstown flood have no reformatory for matory effect upon people in general indeed reformation from outward causes is not frequent the process to is not as a rule produced through the skin so to speak but from internal operations occasionally outward circumstances are useful in bringing about a change for the better when they give a stimulus to the interior operation resulting in repentance this latter effect is not apparent in the general phases of society at johnstown Johas town these conditions indicate how the matter will stand in a day not far in the future when the judgments of the almighty will visit the inhabitants of the earth and yet they will not repent on the contrary men will wih curse god and die |