The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-04-11
THE CLARION.
THE DANGEROUS CLASSES.
A Note of Warning from Notable
Source.
REV. HOWARD CROSBY, IN THE NORTH
AMERICAN REVIEW.


lie already owe to that admirable publ
cation by presenting among other valu-
able articles a most timely and interest
ing contribution from the pen of Rev.
Howard Crosby, entitled "The Danger
Gus Glasses" We regret that we have
not space for this article entire, but the
following extracts will furnish some
idea of the views therein expressed
The form in which danger threatens
us is that Of units of vast money-power.
Power-units are the cause of oppression
everywhere, and in this country the
power that Is recognized is money. Dy-
nastic power and military power are not
present dangers, and probably never will
be, except as outcomes of revolution
caused byth abuses Of the money-powcf
But everything with us fosters the accu-
mutation of money in the hands Of few
individuals or of allied corporations
(allied for their common succcss). The
endless resources Of material wealth in
our mines and our means of commun-
cation enable the quick and unscrupu-
lous to become oligarchs of this money
power, ordinary ability and honesty be-
ing run over and tramplcd under foot
in the competition. The men who WELD
this power can control legislatures,
courts, and executive officers, and so
cover their tyrannical acts with the
semblance of legality. Their most OPP
pressive conduct win be shown in ODE
dience TO somo law, or, at least, in oppo-
sition to no law. Where favorable egis-
lation for them is not obtained, unfav-
orable legislation is prevented But is
not this bribery? OF course it is. But
IT is bribery prosecuted with all the re-
tnement of art and all the dignity of
craftsmanship. 1t is bribery so sinuOus-
ly practlced, and on so colossal q scale,
that the public eye is dazed and the pub,
lie mind deceived or bewildered. Under
its effects, transactions which, in the
narrow sphere of petty thief, would
send him to prison, are wrought on every
side in the millions of railway stocks,
and the perpetrators remain as members
OF the most reputable political and com
mercial society of the land Men of
this stamp are even elevated to the high
est offices of state--men whose daiN
lie has violated every principle of JUS
tice.
1t IL by the growing power of this
class Of tyrants that our country's safe
ty is now threatened. Aud the danger
VIII come IN two forms the demoraliza-
ton OF society and the sanguinary
vengeance of the oppressed. The morals
OF community work downward from
the higher classes. Like priest, like peo
pie. Corrupt the prmtorium and YOU
corrupt the empire. A licentious Court
will be initiated in every provincial
neighborhood. If the educated and
wealthy classes of America treat fraud
as a virtue, we shall have dishonesty the
characteristic of the whole nation.
Irickery will be counted for wisdom.
and lying for prudence. We shall
reach the happy condition of Turkey
and Persia, where every man has to
guard against his neighbor as a thief,
and lind security for himself and his
property only in cunning, falschood.
and secrecy. That this decentralization
is fast affecting our society is evident in
the light way in when our newspapers
speak OF fiagrant outrages upon Justice
and the readiness with which the manip-
ulators OF nominations land the electors
themselves) forget the baseness of men
whom they set up as candidates and
seek to place in responsible office. Men
who have been sentenced to punishment
ny our criminal courts are nominated
ana elected. Both nominations and
elections are promoted and sustained by
what are known in the community rs
honest and honorable men, furthermore
these men whose lives have been marked
by fraud and other immoralities are
admitted into social circles which are
called pure, their wealth or their SER
vlceableness in behalf of wealth being
sure passport. In this way the poison
permeates all society. The source, as we
have seen, is in the units of vast money
power, a power which ettectually brushes
everything that opposes.
Beside the moral desolation caused bv
this aggregation of wealth in few
hands, the political safety of the coun.
try is especially endangered. The max
ing and maintaining this concentarnd
wealth. demands system of plumber
ana oppression of the poorer classes and
OF the public generally. Prices are
0, NV through the natural laws of
demand and supply, but by corners
ana consplracies. Fair competition.
which is the life of trade. is utterly
crushed by the giant foot of this money.
swollen monster. Anew monopolize liz
entire trade of any given article bv rea-
son OF their money-power, remorselesslv
destroying any one who dares even ~
CLEAN in the field they have made their
own by robbery. The word robbery
is not a misnomer, for the money has
been forced from unwilling hands by
immoral, though sometimes legal means
A widow, having the care Of family of
small children, puts her money in railway
stock. She is advised to do so by a di-
rector in the railway. 1t is the widows
all. Soon afterward this director, and n
lew with him, seeing the Importance of
their road and its capabilities, deter.
mine to secure a controlling interest IN
the stock for themselves, thus both in
creasing their Investment in profitable
concern, and at the same time obtaining
apower to do what they please with the
road thereafter, as the occasion may de.
mHnd AnnhpJt,..1,, a.