The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-08-02
BREAD AND WATER.
Henry Ward Beecher on the Labor
Troubles--"A Man That Can't Live on
Bread is Not Fit to Live.e
from the New York Herald.

Troubles-"A Man That Can't Live on
Bread is Not Fit to Live"
from the New York HERALD
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher preached
upon the subject of the strike Sunday
night in Plymouth Church.
! The reverend gentleman proceeded to
denounce trades unions, the tyranny Of
which he said was greater than that of
the most bitter monarchy in Europe.
What right" he asked, chad work
men to dictate to employers how many
apprentices they should have, and how
they should manage their business gen
erally?" Only those, Dir. Beecher said,
who had studied statistics and political
economy could fully appreciate the
wholesome effect which the civil war ex-
erred upon the industry and the habits
of those misguided men.
The reverend gentlemen here went
over the ground he so frequently tray
ersed last winter in his lecture upon
Hard Times" He spoke of the stimu-
lus given to trade by the immense influx
OF capital that followed the beginning of
the civil war. Gold, he claimed, was
the universal standard Of values, and he
referred to the fluctuations that occurred
in the greenback currency with consid-
cradle humor. This impetus to trade
led to rash speculation and extravaganza
living among all classes but it also re-
suited III pushing commerce and extend
ing the railway system of the country
farther than it would have otherwise
been carried for many years to come.
But there came time when the over
strained string snapped. A shrinkage
occurred; things had to go back to the
gold standard, substantially. As a re-
suit, everything had fallen in value and
had continued to fall since 1878. Every
thing had gone down, and everybody
had to take part and lot in the fall. It
was not special thing that railroads
found themselves hedged in. Nearly
all those great roads had felt the press
ure, and some of them had been bank
rupted outright. It would have been
better for others if they had been bank
rupted, too. They were built in such
inflated times and at such high cost
that they never could earn dividends on
the stock until they should be sold un-
der the hammer for about one-sixth of
what they cost, or were alleged to cost.
They were all now obliged to manage
with the utmost care and economy, par
ing in every direction and reducing every
expense.
The consequence of all these shrink
ages and the reductions that followed
them was that all citizens had to live
more economically and to do as the cor
porations had done by reducing expen-
ses in all directions. It was at this time,
then, that the railroad operators had con-
spired and rebelled, because their wages
were cut down. AS if they were the only
men who were cut down They declared
that they could not support their fami-
lies upon the new rates. Very likely not
not as they would like to support
them. It was said that 81 day was not
enough to support wife and six children.
It was not enough if the man smoked, if
he drank beer, and if he and his family
wanted superior food, clothing, and
shelter. "But," said Mr.. Beeoher, We,
hemently, is not S. day enough to buy
bread =? and water costs nothing; and a
man that can't live ON bread is not fit to |
live. What is the benefit of a civiliza-
ton that simply makes a man incompe-
tent to live under existing conditions?
Education and civilization are designed
to make man universal instrument of
improvement, and to make it possible
for him to live under any conditions.
The man whose culture has lifted him
away from the power of self-denial is
falsely cultured. And if men are cult
ured and live in comfort the very cult
ure that brought them into that comfort
ought to teach them to live under any
conditions. A family may live, laugh,
love, and be happy that eats bread and
good water in the morning, water and |
good bread at noon, and goodsbread and |
water at night"
The congregation evidently regarded |
this proposition as huge joke, for they
laughed loudly. This might be called
the bread of affection, the preacher adj
mitted, but it was food, and sustaining
food.