Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-06-29

and declared that true citizen should
glory in bsipg permitted TO contribute
generously to the support of the State. The
effect of this pernicious example as well as
that of the venality and sel6shness of the
Lawmakers upon young men and upon the
minds OF the poor was beyond calculation. I
1t had been said OF Albany that bills could
be passed there even if they had merit. He
repeated in that connection some of the very
ugly charges made against the last Legisla-
ture. 1t had been said that if a man did
not wish to quarrel with his food he should
not go into the kitchen to see how it was
cooked; and if we were to reverence our laws
it would be necessary not to look closely into
the Legislature. Poor men knew that they
were oppressed by corrupt Legislators and
trampled upon by rich and heartless en-
ployers, and were dissatisfied accordingly.
CORNERS" DENOUNCED.
Consider, said Mr.. Beecher, the effect upon
the industrial class of what are called "cor-
ners." If any man could gain such hydro
stream would England have nothing to say,
would Western Europe-which would go
back into Arctic night-have nothing to say?
What if men could belt up the sun SO that
il would shine only at their bidding?
What if a man could by some form of
patent right put his hand upon the indus
try Of every shop in creation? Would
this? And yet-n-aay- can control
SAC, 100000 he can say to the whole grain
crop, "Raise up twenty or thirty per cent
in price" and every mouthful of bread
that is consumed pays tribute to him,
although the fabric often (thank God y top
pies over on the man and kills him. This
system, Mr.. Beecher asserted, disorganized
every industry and made producers and
prices dance at the will of the combined
capitalists. The great staples which all the
world needs were made the playthings of
combined capital. When we protest against
these things, he continued, they say: "Ahi
you're an agrariap, are you? You're against
richest" No, declared Mr.. Beecher, am
for riches, but against the abuse of them. I |
am for riches held for God. I am against
riches held for the devil. Speaking Of rail-
ways, the preacher said they were indispen-
sable to the present structure of society, and
were a benefaction to the poor as well as
every other class of society. l have no
doubt myself that there have been railways
built honestly, but in this j am in the |
minority. [Laughter.] Mr.. Beecher sketched |
railway projects, tine contracts being given |
to a favored few in the ring, the freezing |
out" OF the stockholders, the purchase of the |
road for a mere tride by the ring, and the |
skillful watering" of the stock as soon as |
the business OF the road would warrant |
When men noted these things they said to |
themselves that it was the way of the world; |
it was not the way of the gospel. do not |
know why public sentiment should gloss |
over great selhshness and wrong because |
they are on a large scale. There have |
been some transactions in New York |
in the elevated roads that have |
been very instructive Ia this matter. |
There has been not only an elevated railroad |
system but an elevated system of finance. |
10 - Al
part of so-called christians in that matter |
When these things are known the very name
Of "corporation" is tainted. The outside |
multitude know their faults and their ways,
and they feel oppressed. Therefore, when
those combinations that have by deception
and fraud ilched vast sums from the public /
deny to men the poor pittance OF SIP or $I4 |
a week for the most laborious servi ees, the
men compare notes and say, "What gigantic
tyrant is this that over our head defies the
cheats on the right and left, and
now takes the bread out of our mouths and
The mouths of our wives and childreu?" 1t |
is a dangerous thing for the great corpora
ions 10 put themselves in that attitude to-
ward the great mass of the people. By and
by (solemnly) there will be times in this ma
ion, and times and half times / don't
hiBk there Is any more envy among the
poor against rich men as a class, than there
8 among rich men one OF another; but
where a sense of wrong against them as a
lass exists, it becomes a very dangerous
hing in any community. Rich men as
erted that their property was their own;
hat they would give only to what charities
hey pleased; that no man could teach them
N that subject; that it was their business.
1-sally it is your business, said Mr.. Beecher;
morally it is not. Men are to hold power
md riches as great trust, to be admins
cred according to the great law of charity
or the common veal, and not for a mans
xclusive welfare.
A WORD ABOUT IRELAND.
This led Mr.. Bsecher to speak of the rela-
ions OF the top and bottom of society In
England, and he remarked in passing that
be only question as regards Ireland was
that it will throw up-its common folks or
Is landowners. There will not be peace, be
dded, until that has been settled by a far
aore equitable manner than was ever known
n days gone by. When men in New York
uild palaces there is no law against that,
uman or divine; but when men build them
p into great forts, out of which they are
DING to shoot missiles of unhappiness among
he poor, the case ia different. When / was
occurring in San Francisco there was not
ich man there but was shaking In his shoes.
me sand lots leader was the Jupiter of the
'eople-a very coase and vulgar Jupiter, but
Jupiter all the same. / was asked to go
bout among the common people and explain
matters to them. | would not go. How
ould L? How could 1 when knew that the
lights of the rich were not properly used and
hat the wealthy class held itself as far from
be poor as the top of the steeple is from the
hurch? Could you find a man on the whole
ointment of America who would wag his
ongue against Peter Cooper? Men bow down
o do him obeisance. Why? Because it is
he testimony of his life that he wishes not
o crush the common people, but to help
hem. When it becomes evident that rich
nen hold their possessions for the benefit of
he whole riches will be as safe in this world
s they are in heaven, where the
treets are paved with gold and
here is never known to be a robbery. This
nd good deal more. The day is too hotw
reclaimed Mr.. Beecher, as he glanced over
lis notes and mopped his forehead. Then
e added, day will be hotter yet for some
nen. Do you suppose the gospel will be for
yer going forth in velvet shoes? The Cos
eel itself is often iron-clad. God going
orth for mercy goes forth for judgment, and
there are at present in this country any
hat need TO hear the Interpretation of the
ioly Ghost of the great law by which these
reat riches are to be held they are the pros
erous men ranked in classes, organized in
operations, or standing out apart ia gigan-
&C wealth, and indifferently leave the poorer
lasses and the community itself TO get on as
est they may. You and / are factors in
nat public opinion which is 10 rectify this.
We are bound as citizens TO think right in
MS matter and 10 make other men think
ght, and to bring the day when every rich
ian shall say of the poor man, "He is my
rother," and when the poor shall rejoice in
ne good fortune of his wealthy brother.
We may be right in the creed and in the cat
,hism and stand right in the church, and
ct our whole life be infdeiity of the very
orst kind. Let US take heed lest our rights
nd privileges rise up in judgment against US.
VICTORIA, Ii. G.