The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-08-01
The Anti-AGonop0llst

OttoAO VI WAONOLds eSAAN 49, PCAAttROs
worthy of a passing attention, but he
did claim that wha we need more is
'self-love and self-help,' rather than a
predominating love for others. In
his opinion. it is evidently all nonsense
to care more for others than we care
for our own comfort, ana when we
see men suffering from hunger and in
the depths of misery, we should not
trouble ourselves. ''They suffer-
remarked Mr.. Beecher of the home
less and starving-sof course they do,
and suffering is good for them. Let
their bellies go hungry--it will do
them good. A little starvation is "a
means Of grace now and then These
remarks were received with approving
laughter by Mr.. Beecher's hearers.
This is Beecherism, genuine, born
of innate irrepressible prosperity.
The utter er is he who claims recOgni-
ton rs permanent exponent of current
christianity. His paper is the Chris
tian Union. He is the writer of
s'The Life Of Christi He defines
his God by saying, '.Christ Jesus is
name: all there is of God to me is
bount up in that name"
This incarnate Deity. who is ''all
there is of God'' to Henry Ward
Beecher. commands him to love his
neighbor as himself. 1t is not for him
as christian teacher. to sheer at the
Importance, as being exaggerated,
attached to this command by christian
teachers who excel him in approving
their sincerity. This second COM
mand is made, by his God, to be like
unto the first and great command. so
designated:/ and the Importance at
tached to it by the God" himself, is
indicated by the annexed condition.
that if he will have treasure in heaven
he is to sell that he has and give TO
the poor.
Now is it for Henry Ward Beecher
to dispose of this divine command
ment, enioined on him, and all
christians, by resorting to the sound
sense philosophy that any command
to love is an absurdity. He is too
cowardly for this. His words signify
no such courageous undertaking.
The plain signification, the manifest
meaning Of his language is that might
is right among human neighbors. in
the struggle to obtain means for
self-sustentation and seif-gratifica-
. ton. 1t is plain reputation of the
command to him, from his master, -
his incarnate Cod, "Sell that thou
hast, and give to the poor.
Henry Ward Beecher says it is
good for the poor to go hungry and
suffer: that Il little starvation i q
means of grace now and then. This
heartless display of him elf, in the
use of words, is made to his approving
laugh ;ng, hilarious millionaire.
hearers; while lie, with their permits
sion. is under contract for the slight
perquisite of thousand dollars a
night, for ten nights, and another
thousand for travelling expenses, to
display himself us an eloquent. mag
netizing performer on the stage; these
thousands making up an item to be
added to other perquisites and salary;
all made ont, and carried out, on a
business basis. the services of the
performer to be rendered for the
highest paid price he can exact. ex-
tort. This is he who. on special oc-
casions. talks gingerly, preventingly,
Of Il law of equivalents. to which, of
course, he attaches his own meanings,
giving it his own sublimely presump-
tious. arrogant application. In his
''manhood-and-money performance,
in Cincinnati, he disclosed, betrayed,
one of his ruling propensities, while
thinking to disguise it under faceti-
Gus form of words, saying he had
never yet had money enough. In
near connection, before or after this
expression, he said there was such a
thing rs law of equivalents. He
refrained from any use of words in
tended to define or illustrate his idea
of it. Said. in substance, it was of
extensive application. Taking his
acts as interpretative of his views.
his nourished. cherished propensity
| manifested meaning is. that the
smallest amount of his self-display
disport. for the entertainment of his
patrons, is a full equivalent for any
amount of money he can extort from
them.
The christian world is not in present
need OF such teachings. 1t is not
yet educated and elevated too much
above cannibalism and carnivorism
ORSoN 5. MURRAY.