Page:The Wreck of a World - Grove - 1890.djvu/21

Rh our to give a copper or a loaf of bread to a starving beggar. That this rigorous system of state benevolence had its effect in stamping out beggary and reducing pauperism cannot be denied, but that it had likewise a hardening effect upon our citizens by answering once for all in the negative the question, "Am I my brother's keeper?" is I think not less undeniable.

Yet in spite of all drawbacks the period I am describing was one of unexampled prosperity, and there seems no reason in the nature of things why, but for the folly and pusillanimity of mankind, it should not have increased for ages more. Those indeed who like myself have ever maintained in a sceptical age the existence of an overruling Providence that orders all things both in Heaven and Earth cannot fail to see in the calamities that befell our race the fit punishment of the general decadence of religion and morality; while the collapse of all resistance to the unforeseen danger which menaced mankind would seem to be the natural result of that perverted philosophy which preached the duty of selfishness and discredited the ancient virtues of self-sacrifice and devotion.