The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-12-03
For the Democratic Adrocate.
Consistency.

consistency.
MEssRs. EDIToRs The press has justly
been denominated the dissemination of truth
and knowledge. An educator, following the
demands of the age. While the columns OF
every journal acting in the capacity of an hon
est critic should elucidate, and solve prob
lens, upon which contracted public opinion
frets ITSELF and record current events, ac-
Suainting all with the passing times, and pen
citrate every household, be it palace or hovel,
it is its sacred duty at the same time, in order
to prove the mission of true journalism, not to
chronicle events, real or imaginary, in order
that personal animosity might be gratifed, but
to operate for the good of common mankind.
This being my idea of journalism ask brief
hearing through the columns of your valuable
paper in order that | may place before your
readers some thoughts bearing upon the cap
ton of this letter. To all right minded men
men who advocate equitable administration OF
both law and morals, the late ruinous Newark
Bank defalcation becomes at once abhorrent
and repulsive, and demands immediate and
imperative action in order to inaugurate
better system of financial manipulation, espe-
cially in that direction where great and re-
sponsble trusts are placed in the hands of
single man; one who has the interests and
wealth of a community at his mercy. That
stricter laws should be passed making it i'm
perative upon the president and directors OF
all banking institutions to keep themselves at
all times acquainted with the condition of their
respective banks, no one will deny. Ii this
were done, less temptation would be present
ed to the cashier, or sole custodian of the funds
of the bank. The directors being in posses
sion of the knowledge of the exact condition
of the institution over which they should be
the supervisors, would be a restraining in
huence upon the man upon whom the direct
control of the bank belongs. But where such
directors drift along in an easy or nOnchdt0m
manner-without the slightest knowledge OF
the true condition of the bank, and trusting
everything to their cashier, it is easy to be seen
how seemingly solvent or ''strongn corpora
tons or monOpolists can bring influences to
bear upon such officer and in course of time
completely throw him off his guard and event
ually ruin him and throw discredlt upon the
institution of which he was an important rep
resentative The failure of the bank above
mentioned is sufficient proof OF the propose
ton stated. Morally the directors and Rofthe
cashier are responsible for that deplorable
event. But now to the subject proper. On
the Sunday after that great financial disaster
the New York ministers hurled their massive
thunderbOlts at the Wall Street spectators,
and held over their heads the maledlchons OF
Gods wrath, like the sword of Damocles
They denounced in the most scathlng Ian
guage those moneyed cOrmOrdRts who contln-
ualy prey upon the honest living of others,
and mathematical in the severest terms their
mode of operation. Possibly they did their
work well, or they may have gone too far.
Certain it is that they were inconsistent. Let
us 90 to the record for the proofs. Not in
spirit of malice, do we thus seek to promul-
gate the truth, but for the furtherance of the
cause of consistency Bishop Whitehouse, of
New York, DIR. Taylor, of Grace Church,
Bishop Seymour, DIR. Weston, and DIR. Hitch
ings, while renowned ministers of the gospel,
daily consulted the Wall Street expert, put up
their margins, and reaped golden harvest.
AT the same time they were sending shafts OF
eloquence, winged with fire, through their re-
spective congregations, warning them OF the
evil and dangerous consequences OF illegal and
immoral ''mOney getting" Hundreds OF
others less fortunate, Selling at once the gaudy
"bubble' without prudence, have finally en-
ded in financial disappointment and humbly
repentant have gone back to their work wiser
men; while the other class, petitioned the
throne of grace for the poor and needy, with
their pockets bloated with bonds. DR.. Cheev
ers,. a Baptist minister and bosom friend OF
that money king, Vanderbilt, bound to him in
friendship by some trifing act of kindness,
soon understood through his chief the manner
of getting rich. His little congregation bought
half block of a town some years ago, and
built modest little church upon portion of
it. In course of time they became involved
in heavy debts, and their faithful (?) pastor
came to their rescue by purchasing the half
block and soon erected some handsome brown
stone houses upon it. He could be seen daily
in consultation with the most knowing ones,
vet on the Sabbath he would devoutly break
Il - III
time the little temple ofworship fell beneath the
stroke of the master builder, and to- day mas
sive building stands in its place, and the min
lister finely dressed walks up Wall street in
smiling manner to his other place of worship.
1t is to be supposed that the Wall street spec
ulator is legally licensed to carry on his bus
mess, as long as that business remains legltl-
mate. That he goes beyond purview OF his
legal duty, none will dare to deny. But we do
know that it is nowhere to be found within the
prescribed form of government, discipline or
rules of any christian church, where minis
ter is ordained to dabbe in those gambling
speculations which he so vehemently denoun-
ces as criminal. Possibly there might be some
excuse for the bold and worldly speculatOr,
when he oversteps his duty, when ghtterng
temptations environ him. But there is no ex
cuse for that man, who proclains within the
shadow of Gods altar that he is divinely
commissioned in the great work of saving
souls, if he should enter that foaming mael
strom, where the "bulls'' and clears con-
tend in deadly conflict for the golden fleece.
1t is no crime for minister to accumulate
riches, if it is done in a proper manner, and
to nobody's disadvantage. 1t was never de-
signed that he should languish in poverty, or
make toilsome pilgrimages to some far off
shrine to prove his loyalty to the cause he has
espoused, for from the highest heavens comes
the mandate 'the Iaborer is worthy of his
hire" But it is Objectionable to preach one
thing and practice another To be consistent,
is to be loyal, and loyalty proves manhood.
A. H. n.