The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-10-22
From the Boston Journal. Oct 5th.
Theodore Parker ON the Finan-
Cial Crisis. .E ..a

Theodore Parker ON the Finan-
Cial Crisis. .E .a.
The announcement that this popular prea-
cher would make the present condition OF our
commercial community the topic of his yester-
dav mornings discourse, drew large audi
ence to the Music Hall, filing every seat and
leaving many to go away for want of accom-
modation.
The Rev. gentleman selected for his text
the following passage, from chapter 7th and
18th verse of Ecclesastus g IN the day of ad-
versity consider y and proceeded to discourse
thereon substantially as follows:
He commenced by saying that it was the
part of the astronomer, the botanist and the
physician to enlighten the worl | by their re-
searches and speculatons, each in their res
pective sphere, so it was the duty of the true
minister to hold up 10 his people the great les
sons which passing events incuicated, and 20
show, if so he might, the manner in which see
ming adversely might be turned to their well
fare, both spiritual and temporal. The true
minister should study the lessons Of business
and of the market, and then, if he could, so
descant upon them as TO teach the great and
needed lesso..s of virtue, temperance and econ
omy. r-.. ..
In speaking of such subject ne was aware
that he must treat on many things that were
not often mentioned in the pulpit, but often
thought of in the pews. (Sensatiou). In
America, ther, he said, we are in a state of
great prosperity. We have no war with any
foreign power, and none among ourselves, ex-
cepting that of the slave power against the
freemen of Kansas; we have no pestilence
among ms; we have more births than deaths /;
the immigration TO US is large and healthy we
have no famine, but plentiful harvest, and
no foreign debt. If our Imports are large,
our exports aretwo millions greater, and if our
exports are partly in gold, i. is but natural.
We are gold producing country, and it is
no more strange that we should export it, than
that England should send out her coal, or
Sweden her iron. We are at peace with the
world, and England has four hundred millions
invested in our stocks as collateral security
for the keeping of peace. Yet in spite of all
this, and many other advantages which we en-
joy, there is agreat pressure in our money mar
ket, and great and general distress, extending
from Maine to louisiana. Money is hard to
get, and the best houses pay. famine prices for
ii. Men lose their whole fortunes in day,
and banks violate their solemn promises, and
pay in promises to pay Ia, 81, -.
The preacher was not, he said, business
man, nor was he actively engaged in COM
merce, but for many years he hal studied the
ways of trade and living among merchants, he
had learned the laws which should regulate
their business. He knew something Of politi-
cal economy, and had talked with wise men
who knew more. For all this. he did not wish
to be understood as laying down, to-day, rules
which were unerring. Generally, in the sa-
cred desk, he spoke what he knew to be true
-to-day be should say what he thought was
right-nothing original, perhaps, but the best
that his knowledge would supply him.
In the first place, then, the great haste which
men have in this country to be rich, is one
great evil. Money is the only patent ofnobil-
ity in onr country, and everybody rushes for
it. The farmer leaves his land, and the schol-
ar makes his ledger the most familiar book
BY this rush property is increased, and our
taxable means are doubled every year or two
We build railroads and factories with perhaps
too great facility. Australia and California
have sent out four hundred millions of gold
and the result of all this, is not perhaps, fully
understood. The old discovery Of South A.
merican'gold raised the prices Of produce and
labor to about five times their original value
and so equally has the recent accession of the
precious metal raised the labor in our time
and as nobody knows how much more is com
ing, everything is expected to rise, and specu.
lati,n in all things isrfs.
All these speculations are evidences Of com.
mercial enterprise, but have produced evils un'
til with others they have raised apanic. And
now for this calamity what ale the reasons. -
The first and smallest is our extrayagance ant
luxury. The speaker knew of no house whicl
was too handsome or too comfortable, nor new
er saw dress that was too rich or beautiful
by themselves but be had seen many such
! which We're too rich for the means Of the
owners or wearers Look at the extravaganc,
of woman's dresses of the present day Ruin
Gus to the means Of those who supported them
but yet not their fault, for Woman, it man wan
| ted hersto, would dres, in sack cloth to-mor
row. They dress FOR an innate love Of show
in part, but much more to please the men.