ing a peaceful issue, the whole world has turned to watch the more awful battle between selfishness and poverty, capital and labor-slumdom, sweating and the grog-shop on the one side, and health, sanitation, fair wages, justice and sobriety on the other.

This is a more tremendous affair than the collision between the speculations of scientists and theologians. It is a battle for life and death-a battle for the bread of life from those who have nothing to hope from life and nothing to fear from death. The arena has changed quickly from the professor's chair to the tradeunion, the socialist club, the anarchist den. The whole social body is gravitating toward the same strife. Governments and parliaments are being dragged into it, and the pace of the whole thing is quickened till sober judgment and cool measurement become almost impossible.

There are, it is true, extremes and extremists, but there will, as a resultant of these myriad forces, grow up a more manly view of humanity, based upon a truer conception of the Christ-life, which was given as the standard of right living.

The problem of the missing link has little to do with present life and its responsibilities. No more than the theological discussion of infinities has to do with the saving of souls.

It is certainly a step in advance to pass from the study of the "link" to the study of social problems. These have to do with the present and the future. They have to do with men and women, their rights, their conditions and their relations.

NEW IMPETUS TOWARD REFORM.

Now that the summer months are passed, new impetus has been given to reform movements. Dr. Parkhurst has returned from a much-needed rest among the Alpine Mountains, and is more than ever a thorn in the flesh of evil-doers in the great metropolis upon which Tammany feeds.

Testimony has been brought forward to show that not only police officers, but post

office employees and the Western Union Telegraph Company are all implicated in the scheme of the "green-goods” swindlers. Dr. Parkhurst recently said in the New York World:

"Now, first and last, I have said some pretty hard things about the police department, but I really had never supposed that the foul disease of knavery and elaborate acme of rascality had reached such an disgrace. . I wish that there were language at my command or terms that admitted of being coined that would do justice to the situation.

Not for many a day has the better element of Chicago asserted itself as it did in an overflowing mass meeting Sunday, September 23d. Not only was Central Music Hall crowded, but the overflow filled the First Methodist Church, and this overflowing filled another audience-room. The Civic Federation, presided over by Lyman J. Gage, had issued a call for a meeting of those interested in stamping out gambling, and the numbers gathered was the response made by Chicago's best citizens. The addresses were well received, except when the champion of Mayor Hopkins attempted to praise his chief.

Now the Federation can push forward its work, knowing that they have the unqualified support of all of the best element of

the city. Already raids have been made on the gambling-dens, the furniture seized, condemned and burned in the street.

There are many among us who feel that in Chicago will be worked out many of the advanced ideas of man's relation to man. The enterprise and spirit of its citizens, which now seems so much consumed by mere money-getting, will, in due time, become a great power working out reforms. Chicago may yet suffer much, but it is destined to be the great center of the American continent and the leader in the greatest movements which will ever move the country.

The Rev. W. G. Clark, who is the leader in the war waged against the gamblers, says:

"The accumulation of riches is the center of human gravitation. Gold possesses an attraction to sordid men stronger than that of iron to the lodestone. As the roads of the ancient Roman empire concentered in the great city on the Tiber, so all the avenues of human industry lead to the common center. In every community, in every nation, in every age the image of Mammon has been erected. It is the universal disease. In seeking the acquisition of wealth, men cast aside as trifles every other consideration.

"To this desire for gain may be traced the source of nearly all the evils of the world. Money, which in the hands of persons of philanthropic impulses may become a source of great good, becomes the instrument of hell to drag down its victims to infamy and disgrace. The love of money is the prompter of speculative instinct, which seeks fortune by short and quick methods. And I am safe in saying that it betrays everyone who seeks it in this direction. An alluring aspect is presented, but the retrospect is as full of curses as the prospect

is of smiles. The speculative instinct is one of universal power. It is not confined to the lower classes of society. It reaches out its finger of contamination into the upper stratas as well. Emperors of ancient times, priests, lords and eminent men of all history have indulged in games of chance. This, of all vices the most insinuating, is deeply rooted. Among the Greenlanders in the snowy mountains of the North, the Africans, the Indians-in all places the instinct is felt.

"In America it reaches its extreme development among our nervous, hurrying people. In our cities more than any others, except, perhaps, in Spain and Russia, it has an abounding influence. In Europe, except in Monte Carlo and vicinity, gambling is under the ban of the civil authorities."

With Dr. Parkhurst in New York, the Civic Federation in Chicago and the grand jury after boodlers in New Orleans, there are signs of "turning the rascals out" of our municipal organizations.

ENGLISH INTERFERENCE.

Much comment has been occasioned by the announcement that the British Society, organized in response to the appeals of Ida B. Wells, "to excite public condemnation of outrages inflicted upon negroes," has sent a committee to this country to investigate the facts.

The World, of New York, addressed a letter to a number of Governors of states, requesting their opinion of the action of the organization. Out of nineteen, only three replies gave any indications favoring welcome. It is strange that Americans in some things are like children. We almost universally condemn anything which is attempted in this country by foreigners. We should be as anxious to know the whole truth as Englishmen, and a thousand times more so. Why not bid this committee

welcome, give them generous aid, and in so doing give them right ideas of the conditions under which the people of the South were brought up?

We all unqualifiedly condemn lynching, and good may come out of this if we only do our part like men, and not act as children.

BRECKINRIDGE DEFEATED.

W. C. P. Breckinridge has been defeated. Upon the announcement being made, many hearts leaped with gratitude, and a keener pride in what we may call our national conscience was felt. He made a desperate fight, at the last moment resorting to very undignified means, denouncing his opponent, and labeling him as being as unfit for the people's support as himself. His son, Desha, was the lieutenant during the fight, and after the nomination was made, went so far as to draw weapons on one of his father's opponents. It may safely be assumed that W. C. P. Breckinridge would have resorted to any sort of tactics if only he might have been nominated. Now let him retire to private life. It is within his power to live the remainder of his days in honored seclusion. We have heard little of Miss Pollard. We trust she will not allow herself to be brought conspicuously before the people again, unless it be for some great and good deeds which she may in the future do.

ABROAD.

In Germany the Emperor is worried over the evident discontent in Poland. No country in Europe has a more interesting history than Poland. There has for centuries been but few generations which did not struggle in some way for a freedom which they always dream of, but which they have seldom, if ever, realized.

William II. is constantly moved by a towering ambition. He desires peace; as

to that there is no question. But he longs to do great things and leave to posterity even a greater name than Frederick the Great, who is almost an ideal character to the Emperor. He is honest in his belief in the divine right of kings, but he would do well to publish less widely the convictions that he rules by divine right. People nowadays know that even emperors are human, and subject to all those ills that flesh is heir to. They know, too, something of their own power. the Emperor will do all in his power to better the condition of his subjects. He is a good man, and with high aims and honest purposes. There are indications, too, that his ambition will find ample field along social lines looking toward the best interests of his subjects. Following out this ideal, he may indeed become a greater man than Frederick the Great.

There is little doubt but that

THE WAR IN THE EAST.

The Japanese thus far have won every advantage over the Chinese. They have gained two signal victories, one on land, the other on the sea. There are indications that the Japanese will invade China, centering their forces on Peking. It is doubtful if such plans will be as effective as they hope. It may prove quite another thing to attack the Chinese on their own ground. The King of Corea has shown his pleasure in various ways at the success of the Japanese, and treats them as the deliverers of his people.

DEATH OF DIONYSIOS LATAS.

The Most Rev. Dionysios Latas, whose photogravure appeared in the April number of the REVIEW, died recently in Greece. He was a conspicuous figure at the World's Parliament of Religions. No divine in recent times has won such eminence in Greece. He was born in 1836, in Zante. He studied in Bethlehem and Jerusalem;

then in the universities of Western Europe, spending considerable time in France, Germany and England. His eloquence brought him into prominent notice in his own country. He was commissioned to preach throughout the country by the State, and after fifteen years' service was honored by the King with the Cross of the Savior. At the close of his paper at the Parliament of Religions, he repeated the following:

Almighty King, Most High, Omnipotent God, look upon human kind. Enlighten us that we may know Thy will, Thy ways, Thy truths. Bless Thy holy Church! Bless this country! Magnify the renowned peoples of the United States of America, which, in its greatness and happiness, invited us to this place from the remotest parts of the earth, and gave us a place of honor in this Columbian year, to witness with them the evidence of their great progress, and the wonderful achievements of the human mind!

CASUALITIES.

Two events of the past month may be reckoned as national calamities. The forest fires in the Northwest wrought sad havoc to human life. A wide district was swept by fire, which totally or partially destroyed towns and villages and cities. Several hundred people perished in the flames or were suffocated by heat and smoke, while thousands have been left homeless, with the chill of a northern winter coming on.

Scarcely had this dire disaster overtaken this section than a fearful storm ran its course through parts of the same state, destroying many lives and much property.

THE LATE COMTE DE PARIS AND THE LATE PROFESSOR HELMHOLTZ.

September 8th, at Stowe House, Buckinghamshire, died the Comte de Paris. He claimed to be the king of the French, and was so looked upon by the Royalists of France. His life has been largely spent in exile. During our Civil War he served as captain of volunteers under General McClel

lan. He was unostentatious, and devoted to school reform especially. Was partly successful as a contributor to magazines.

The death of Hermann von Helmholtz, in Berlin, on the same day as the Comte de Paris, takes from the ranks of scientists, one of its greatest leaders. Any recital of his discoveries would almost fill a volume. His name will be blessed by countless sufferers for his invention of the ophthalmoscope.

POLITICAL.

In the political field some things worthy of note have occurred. The sugar planters of Louisiana have bolted from the ranks of the Democratic party and come out unanimously in favor of protective principles. and the Republican party. Maine and Vermont have, in their state elections, given unusually large majorities to the Republican candidates.

It is known beyond dispute that both parties are corrupt, that the money ring rules to a far greater extent than rightthinking men would have it. It is probably true that a new party will in the near future arise, whose chief motives in public service will be a high regard for true patriotism. Whether this party, whatever it may be called, will arise out of the influences of young people's movements or not, cannot now be foretold. From whatever source it springs it will speedily find adherents from every other political organization. Men are discontented and have shown their discontent by becoming Mugwumps, Prohibitionists, Populists and Socialists. Many who are classed with these organizations are not extremists, and will gladly welcome the leaders of a new party based on principles, above reproach, holding allegiance to no higher powers on earth than the true patriotism that prompted the acts of the founders of this republic and the conservers of the Union.