Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1877-09-06

mind and strength. This inordinate
desire for the riches is begetting a
spirit that Is reproach
to our religion and a blot on our
1t Is prostrating the
self-respect OF the American citizens,
weakening his moral sensibilities,
and, as a consequence, it is the
source from whence comes all this
flood-tide of fraud aud dishonesty.
This strange and undue estimate
we place on the value OF money Is
the foundation and origin OF the cor
ruptions of tho times. 1t is poison
ing the blood of tho nation, and
marring the beauty of our free in
situations with the ugly ulcers of
Official dishonesty. 1t is rapidly
creating a public sentiment that dis
honesty is not disgraceful. 1t is the
great obstacle in the way OF social,
political, and moral reformation. IT
hardens the heart of man, effaces the
divine image thereon. and sends him
forth among his fellowmen o selfish
demon. 1t places the material and
perishable above the spiritual. 1t
dethrones God and deifies Mammon.
1t closes mans eyes to the beauty
and glory Of the universe OF God, and
with his great endowments imprisons
him 10 the dark and narrow cell Of his
selfish soul. 1t turns his thoughts
from the contemplation Of what is
right and duty, and from the high con-
sideration of what is truth down to
the groveling inquiry Of what will
pay. E8e na
This state OF things Is the most
formidable obstacle in the way of
progress and reform, and is the chief
hindering cause In the way OF our adj
vancing civilization.
Whatever Is a source OF wealth, no
matter if it be curse 20 the race
and at war with the best interests
and hopes OF humanity. must not be
held up with all its enormities, for
the puplic inspection. The money
power forbids it, and the subservien-
cy OF the times yields q cowardly
submission. lftts
That same spirit Is again sowing
the seed Of dissension that may grow
and bring again the harvest OF blood
and anarchy. 1t is arraying capital
against labor and labor against capt.
tai. Capital is depressing labor, AID
labor, by combinations, is seeking to
impair the value OF capital. Both
dependent on each other-the one
being utterly helpless without the
other-yet this mercenary spirit has
engaged them in the senseless at
tempt to weaken and destroy each
other. This state OF things enables
the restless spirits OF the Old World,
who have stirred up revolution and
anarchy In other nations. and many
Of whom have fled to our shores as
fugitives from justice, to organize
secret associations, the purpose of
which 1t Is TO overthrow all law and
order and put persons and property
ut the mercy and under the control
OF the mob. Az a consequence 1t Is
becoming more frequent in our cities
to witness professions OF these urbu-
lent spirits bearing banners on which
are inscribed sentiments that threat
en- to trample all law and good gov
eminent in tho dust, and are intend
ded rs menace to coerce a compli-
ance with their demands. These
clubs and secret associations have
had sufficient strength to overthrow
monarchies and kingdoms where no
right OF suffrage gave them q voice
in the government. How much
more is their power for evil In this
land OF ours, where, with the ballot
in their hands, they seduce the
statesman to become "a demagogue,
and, through him, succeed in intro
ducing their lawless spirit into the
very hall OF legislation. The extor-
ton and oppression OF the great
moneyed monopolics give life and
vigor to these dangerous combina-
tions, and unless the evil is very
speedily arrested, an explosion will
come that will shake, II not destroy,
the very foundation OF the govern.
ment. To refuse to see this danger
that Is thus threatening the perpe-
tuity OF our national life Is most
criminal folly.
Another evil, OF most serious mag
nitude, growing out OF this rampant
spirit OF getting, is the reck-
lessness In trade aud speculation. It
Is from this source come our finan-
cial panics. These periodical calam-
tiles como because few men In our
great money centers undertake to
enrich themselves by purchasing
worthless stock and bonds with
which to cheat their customers, and
when these customers refuse to be
these stock gamblers are
to hold their worthless
trash and fail. It's corrupting pow
er goes further still. and, extending
into every circle Of life, is the chief
promoter OF extravaganza, by indu-
cling less fortunate In obtaining
wealth to make show OF success by
adopting the expensive style OF
those who have the means to sus-