The commonly accepted theory of writers and speakers on public affairs is that, when evils become very great, they provoke such a revulsion among the people that a reform is inevitably produced, but Herbert Spencer said that, when evils become deep or widespread and are generally recognized, they become incurable. The most popular and most universally accepted theory in this country, especially among persons of an optimistic temperament, is that we are always becoming better—that we are always rising to a higher plane and always making progress; but Walter Baghot clearly proved that the progressive status is the unusual status; that the stationary condition is the normal condition of nations. A German poet said:

Die Welt, die bleibt wie immer
Nur die Menschen werden schlimmer.