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Show 1 OPTIMISM. Our present theme is closely interlaced with the doctrine of pessimism, not in the Eense of infusion or of dependent relationship, re-lationship, but rather that of interaction. inter-action. Good modiQes evil, and evil too often detracts from, and discolors good, Optimiem is the doctrine of the good, the better and the best. Its central position is, that the trend of the natural order of things ie toward a higher and a nobler plane of life. As a habit of mind it is the habit of looking look-ing at the brighest side of things. To the question, "Is life worth living?" the optimist emphatically affirms that it is; for life he knows to be at once the highest expression of the actual and the greatest unfolding of potential good, which the human mind can conceive con-ceive of. Historically, optimism may be said to be the child of hope, born in the throbbing anticipations of the human ; soul, and therefore born with an in nate and indestructible tendency toward to-ward perfection. It is a universal characteristic of life to struggle toward the highest type. This is just as true in the growth of the meadow daisy, as in : the personal evolution of a "Washing ton, who ultimately stands as the very crown of a perfect manhood, a royal type of the race that gave him his pregnant preg-nant beginnings for such a splendidly successful career. Optimism has been and still remains the salt of earth. It is written across the heavens and blooms in all the fruits and flowers of the earth; and yet it must be admitted that the shadow of pessimism is seldom absent from the brighter presence of the good. No one can close his eyes to the statistics of disease, of crime and of pauperism. But as bad as the world may be today, we venture to affirm that it is comparatively com-paratively a very great deal better than it ever was in iis past history. Whether the so called world flood be a partial myth or an entire fact, it tells the story of universal corruption and elf ruin. Had there then been a daily reBS to chronicle the daily life of .luman society, it would have more than taxed to the very greatest capacities capa-cities of American journalism to have narrated the frightful scenes and conditions con-ditions of the world's everday life in that period. But then, as in all the subsequent history of the world until this nine-,-3nth century.registration and verified statistics were unknown, Ancient history has little to give us beyond the ware, rivalries and destructive am bitions of kings, rulers, tyrants and despots. The everyday life of the srbject races, the swelling masses and of the teeming millions, belong to what we may paradoxically call historical oblivion. ob-livion. Even in the memory of our grandfathers, little was ever known of ihe general condition of mankind. Whereas now the whole world's journal is carefully written up by tens of thousands of daily recorders. For merly good men and good women, learned men and learned women, earnest earn-est minded and noe hearted workers for public good, were few and tar between. be-tween. Now they can be counted by millions, scattered all over the globe, each individually being a centre for progressive knowledge and practical goodness. This supreme and gladdening gladden-ing truth was made sublimely manifest at the World's fair. Nothing either lastingly great or good can be attained without labor and sacrifice. Granted that insanity has seriously increased in America during the last twenty y.'ars, this need not shake the confidence confi-dence of the optimist, he can point to results of progressive civilization in the American republic which in magnitude magni-tude and far-reaching benefits to all the world, are unparalleled in the whole history of the world. Consider f .ra moment the gigantic cost and high pressure of blood force, nerve power, soul energy and of intellectual activity, all of which have been so lavishly, cheerfully and self-denyingly put forth to build up this great catholic cath-olic minded and beneficent republic. Is it to be wondered at that the clear rinctnor mttal nf American dprnofirarp I -- S-"I5 .v.. j should at some points have yielded to the pressure of over work? We regret the penalty that has to be paid if only by one human eufferer, but though the nat ural law ot natural sequence moves Elow'.y, it moves surely, and all infractions infrac-tions of the natural order of thing, whether material or psychical, are as certainly corrected as they are made, for there is no such thing as partiality to Individuals or to nations. If therefore there be an increase of ' )'. disease or crime we may be there sure is a sufficient cause for the same, and no euch results can invalidate the general trend towards better things. If nature if? punitive and corrective she is none the less beneficent and remedial. Evil is not eternal, but transient; it is negative nega-tive rather than positive. It is an acknowledged principle in sociological science that every evil results re-sults from the non-adaptation of constitution con-stitution to conditions. Why does a flower plant sicken to die when de prived of light? For the sufficient reason rea-son that the harmony between its organization or-ganization and its circumstances has been destroyed. In like manner every instance of human suffering from a toothache to a fatal disease is traceable to some infraction of natural law, and just as to physical evil, so also to moral evil, and as to individual.so to national lite. Experience as a great teacher tells us the truth and the wh ole truth in all these matters. If there be any truth that needs to be emphasized, and to be taught on the house tps, in the schools and by the press, it is that of the certain action of law. Obedience is pleasure, infraction is pain. We may grumble and growl, we may fret and fume, but the laws of life are here all the same their very tendency and purpose work toward human hu-man happiness but their transgression, whether through our ignorance or folly, brings suffering. All things favor the brave and the mightiest favors of this world bend gently to bless the wise. The croaking croak-ing despondency of pessimism has doubtless a ministry to fullfil in life, but it is the doctrine of optimism that gives the best inspiration to progressive progres-sive effort. Those who are to do and who will do the best for the future of Utah, are those who have within them the gladdening joy of a bright future, an intelligent confidence that here in the mountains, in the valleys and in the united people of Utah are all the resources and favorable conditions for a commonwealth of endless renown and practical goodness. Therefore, young Utah, hope for the best, work for the best, and the heavens will befriend be-friend you. |