There is always more good than evil ; otherwise rociety could not hold together. If progress has been slow, it is because it ought to be slow. In our economic order, the trust, the trade-unions -- often in our day instruments of danger -- are factors that in the end will tend to good. They are a part of the great synthetic movement which is unifying the i-ace. They will lead to a greater coherency in our industrial life. They are educational in their tendency.

150 NEW YORK STATE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.

Great fortunes, dizzying wealth, have their evil side; they are monstrous creations which have been created by a union of constructive talent with the mechanical inventions of the age. By-and-by, their possessors may see that they are but ashes ; intolerable burdens ; gilded rubbish. But in our present stage, there is need of wealthy men. They ihave important uses. Business has heretofore been too largely directed to the acquisition of wealth. This grossness will be succeeded by an era of equitable distribution. We must remember that the very idea of property implies more or less of selfishness. An ideally altruistic man could not acquire property beyond his immediate needs. What view of it may be taken in remote future ages we know not. At present, however, it is absolutely necessary. To protect life and liberty, government must protect property. Undoubtedly the possession of enormous wealth, thereby generating sharp distinctions between classes, is inimical to the Democratic Ideal. Democracy pre-supposes a tolerable measure of equality in possessions, and an absence of class privilege. The people must perhaps re-cast much of their legislation, to make sure that their public franchises and natural monopolies are not exploited by the few at the expense of the many. In a country where the press is allowed unlimited freedom, and where every man has a share in the government, where laws are flexible and easily modified, there should be little difficulty in curbing the pretensions of insolent wealth and protecting the people from lawlessness.