< Cbe Conservative *
INTO THE LAND OF HOPE.
'Tis well that wo , when trials come ,
Can lenrn to look beyond ,
Into the blessed land of hope ,
Of which we are so fond :
For there , the clouds of life disperse ,
And sunshine will appear ,
While in the joyous land of hope ,
Our hearts oft lose their fear ,
I And revel in some happy dream
That thrills xis with delight ,
And heavy clouds will pass away ,
'Neath hope's resplendent light ,
And thus the skies of life will clear ,
While brighter dawns the day ,
As we , into the land of hope
Will flnd the cheerful way.
MAKTHA SHEPAIID LTPPINOOTT.
Moorestown , N. J. , Jan. 25,1002.
ELECTRICAL ENERGY.
Philosophers and scientists have dis
cussed the mysteries of creation , God ,
existence , life , the soul , thoughts , ideas ,
immortality and kindred subjects for
thousands of years , and have arrived at
no rational conclusion in regard to crea
tion nor that Almighty power which
regulates , governs and controls the uni
verse.
We all know there is a power that is
the cause of all the changes , evolution
and activities in the universe , and yet
no rational theory has been advanced
upon which we can ground our faith as
the correct one ; in default of which ,
mankind has attributed this governing
power , some to a spiritual God , some tea
a personal God ; in fact , to all character
and conditions of God , and these they
have ignorantly worshiped.
We know that antecedent to the ac
tivities of nature , material and imma
terial , there is a moving power , for we
see and feel its effect on every hand.
The effect becomes cause , followed by
effect , and this has been so through all
the ages of the past. It is this power
which causes the pulse to beat , the heart
to throb , the winds to blow , the stars
to shine , the ocean to roll its waves , the
earth to yield its increase , together with
all the evolutions and changes of mind
and matter manifest to our intelligence ,
which is still , in this twentieth century ,
ascribed to unknown deities about
whom we know as little as we do of
creation.
This energy or motive power is as in
destructible as matter , the same today
as it ever has been. It pervades the
universe , it is in the heavens above , in
the earth beneath , the air we breathe ,
the water we drink , the food we eat ,
generates within us the vital spark we
call life ; but our bodies , like any other
material form of matter , in time , from
continued use , wear out , mental and
physical activity cease , and this we call
death , although the body resolves itself
into its original elements , and the elec
trical energy which gave it mental and
physical activity has passed into other
forms of matter.
While we certainly do know some-
thing of that all-governing power , from
the fact that we see its manifestations
on every hand , we have nothing on
which to even bottom a belief in regard
to creation. All deliverances on this
subject , fathered by ignorance and
mothered by superstition , have boon
the blind leading the blind.
The antecedent of every belief is
thought , but to make a belief of any
value we must have faith enough in it
to test it , and try it , in order to ascer
tain its truth or falsity. To unverified
beliefs may be attributed much of the
ignorance of mankind , but after we
have tested , tried and experimented on
a belief and found it to be true , then it
becomes knowledge and is of value to
us , but not before.
Some minds are so constituted that
the more absurd a proposition presented
to them is , the more readily they be
lieve it , having no hesitancy to declare
in the most solemn manner , that laws
can double the intrinsic and exchanga-
ble value of commodities , that Baalam's
ass spoke , that a Modonna made of
wood or stone , can wink her eye and
kick up her heels , and do so from the
simple fact that some one had told them
so ; but these are the unfortunates , for
whom there is neither help nor hope.
The things we know to an absolute
certainty are limited , but we are pro
gressing and progressing rapidly , and in
no department of science more than in
electricity ; and from what is already
known of this power and its possibili
ties , may we not expect that after
further test , trial and experience , there
will be a verification of the truth ,
that this power governs , directs and
controls the universe.
The pathway of civilization has been
strewn with failures , by tests , trials and
experiments , in order to ascertain
knowledge in the arts and sciences , in
agriculture and mechanics , in fact in all
the fields of human exertion , in which
something might be formed and fash
ioned for the benefit of mankind.
If we disagree in regard 'to the gov
erning power of the universe , it does
not follow that we should torture or
murder one another , as the so-called re
ligious world has done in the past when
they disagreed in regard to some article
of faith or doctrinal dogma that no ra
tional mind oould comprehend.
There are limits to the boundary of
human knowledge , but we have not
reached that boundary in regard to
electrical energy , and will keep on with
further developments no matter how
much the heretofore accepted theories
and opinions of mankind may be dis
turbed and dissipated by the penalties
of knowledge.
Physical matter is governed by phy
sical laws , but if that unseen and un
searchable essence , called the human
soul , exists after the dissolution of this
muddy vesture of decay and death ,
; hero is consolation in the hope , that it
then returns to the bosom of its father
and its God. There certainly can be no
unpleasant thought connected with the
idea of our entering that other world
we have been taught to believe in ,
where we may join those with whom we
lave been connected by the ties of af
fection and love , after we have answered
to the summons , "Child of the Earth ,
Oome Away , " however difficult it may
be to verify that belief. A. V. L.
CONCERNING LEWIS AND CLARK.
Mr. M. M. Warner , of Lyons , Ne
braska , publisher of the Mirror , writes
in approbation of The Conservative's
suggestion that local studies be made
along the river to locate Lewis and
Olark's landmarks , and says :
"This is an excellent idea. I have lo
cated every camping place and all their
travels inland along what is now the
boundary of Bnrt and Dakota counties ,
and have located nearly where the Mis
souri river ran at that time. If your
project prevails , I will assist in the en
terprise if my services can be utilized.
The enclosed card will go to show how
closely I have traced their route. A
piece of this wood was placed in the
gavel that was used in the National
Convention at Philadelphia. Much in
formation is also given on pages 86 and
87 of Warner's History of Dakota
County , Neb. "
The card mentioned reads as follows :
"This piece of wood was taken from
a cotton-wood tree , under whose shade
Lewis and Clark held a great council
with several representatives from the
different tribes of Northwestern In
dians , on the afternoon of August 18 ,
1804 , where the aborigines expressed a
willingness to become a part of the
government of the United States and
where peace generally was established
between the warring tribes , this being
the first notification of the Louisiana
Purchase. The tree at that time was
about 84 years old , and five years old
when the battle of Bunker Hill was
fought. Under this memorable tree
many of Nebraska's fearless pioneers
have camped as they pitched their tents
upon her wild and primeval prairie.
Here also , Col. J. F. Warner and party
camped for dinner , in the early summer
of 1860 while on their way to the great
republican convention at Chicago ,
where Col. Warner , as Nebraska's dele
gate , seconded the nomination of Abra
ham Lincoln for president , in behalf of
the choice of Nebraska's people. "
TO CURE A COLD IN ONE DAY.
Take Laxative Brome Quinine Tablets.
All druggists refund the money if it
fails to'cure. E. W. Grove's signature
is on each box. 25c.
