The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-18
THE VOLCANO OF SOCIAL FORCES.
The Selfishness of the Rich, and What Has
Grown Out of 1t i'm Times Past.
Insa Cn1

San Jose (Cal.) Evening Herald.
Following is an extract from a highly interest
ing sermon which was recently delivered at
Trinity Church by the rector, Dr. Wakefield,
formerly of Richmond, Ind.
There are connected. through their families,
with this congregation those who cannot be
reached from the pulpit unless it be at the
greater festivals, and some who cannot even then
enter the house of God They are men of integ-
rlty and uprightness and are Justly held in high
esteem In this community as good husbands,
good fathers and good citizens working early
and late, not so much for themselves as for you,
and not so much for your needs of to-day, as
that, IN case Of theiLremoval, you may be saved
from cruel poverty, with its attendant humilia-
tons, sufssings and temptations. Even now,
while l speak, may be engaged in reading
his briefs, another in taking stock and plant,
another making trades, but all toiling for you.
VIII you convey to them this message from
Trinity pulpit! Say: You are investing your
savings in property the title deeds to which are
liable to be overturned; you are earning wages
to put it into bag with holes; you are deposit
ing in a bank which will not pay its depositors."
Should they ask why, the answer is simple.
History repeats itself. The Hebrew aphorism
says: That thing which has been is that which
shall be-" The Greeks recognized the same prin-
ciple In their theory of the political cycle, that
monarchy splits into oligarchy, the many revolt
against the misrule of the few; democracy, in
turn: is rescued from anarchy by single head,
and so monarchy comes round again." Thus the
civilizations of Egypt, Greece, Rome have risen,
eliminated, and, possessing no principle of cohe-
selfshness, WILL with us, lead to similar
results. Even now, like subterranean thun-
der, is heard the murmur of the
masses, voiced in strikes and tumultuous assem-
blles The ground heaves with the volcano of
social oyerturnings Glass arrayed against class.
The employer against the workman and the
TQrkman against the employer; capital versus
laoor and labor versus capital; wealth securing
possession Of the land Immediately adjoining the
springs, fountains and waterways of our vast
pralrles and savannas, thus practically eXclud-
ing the masses from heritage in which they
ought to have a. share. Great corporations
organizing and combining to crush out smaller
traders, and manipulating which means all
manner of chicanery, stocks for their own sordid
gain, needless Of the ruin caused thereby to the
widow, the orphan, the man of little means,
who have invested their all in ship which
has been stranded and wrecked by
pilot who, for gold thrice cursed from
the source from which it comes. has betrayed
his trust and earned the maledictions of those
whose confded their substance to him. Such
are denounced by Amos, the herdman of Tekoa,
who proclaims the wrath of a just God against
those who ''lie upon beds Of ivory and eat of
the lambs of the flock, and the calves out of the
midst Of the stall, and anoint themselves with
costly ointments, but are not grieyed for the
Affections of the people"
On the other hand, the selfishness of the mass
demagogues who make their living by pandeling
to their decisions, intiaming their passion and
playing upon their ignorance counseling to
arson, sedtion, murder and all kinds of villainy.
Baron Macaulay land the opinion of this stu
dent of history should carry weight as Bentham
philosophers: "A true knowledge of his
tory confers the gift Of prophecy, or that
inteEgently and sagacOusly to have looked
backward, is potentially to have looked for
ward" Writing, many years since, to a New
N(tp ant hn e1yoIn hat
what is the case in large portion of over
crowded Europe today must eventually take
place in this country, and the vast majority be
non property holders, and without the safety
valve which an unoccupied territory now offers
to us; that such will, III one way another,
seek to become possessed of that for which
neither they their fathers have labored
and toied, and that, through our unrestricted
suffrage, an easy way will be found, under, it
may be, cover of law, to secure for themselves
the coveted wealth, and thus paralyze our COM
merce, lay waste, from the insecurity of our
tenures, agriculture and leave nothing but
ruins to tell of q civilization which once had
been.
To some extent we arc beginning to realize
the truthfulness of the prophecy of the histor
ian. The power of numbers composed largely of
the ignorant, pauper and criminal classes.
through the ballot controlling the property of
the provldent, has made itself disastrously felt
in our cities. In New York ana elsewhere
remedy has been sought by transference of
certain municipal rights and privileges hereto
fore enjoyed, to the State governments.
In many of the Southern States, notably in
South Carolina, the property owners and intelli-
gent classes, acting on the law of self preserva-
tion as did our vigilance committees in San
Francisco IN early days. have resorted to ways
that are dark" to keep the enfranchised negro
from dissipating the resources and wealth of the
State
The capitalists and well TODD rely on lesisla-
tlon or money influencing legislation; should
that fail, on organized as against unorganized
force-that is, on the bayonet. The communist
class say: Let us bide time; ours is an
army which increases daily, and when hard
times come and work is scarce and the unem-
ployed are numerous, we have but to raise
standard inscribed with the words Bread or
blood; death to the rich,' and the good things of
the land shall be- ours, though to possess them
we must wade through seas of blood"
Now, through what fundamentally shall this
dark and threatening cloud be prevented from
breaking, If not on us, our children! What
power shall be found of sufficient force to with
stand the same onrushng food which hath over
whelmed previous civilizations? l know of but
one lnstrumentality. | recognize but one
power-the fundamentally and the pow
er of the gospel, that medicine which
fshness-that gospel which, through the
bride the Church Of Christ, would unite all men
to Him who is its head, and thus united to Him,
united to one another, knit together in one
ulVlue OrQer ana 16lIOWSnlp so JnaC tine eye can
not say to the hand, L have 10 need of thee nor
again the hand to the feet, L have no need of
you, for they are all members of one body.
and whether one member suffer all the mem
bers suffer with it; or one member be honored all
the members rejoice with It; each looking not
after their own interests sefshly but on the in
terests of others also; each seeking by active
works of love to prove his right to be disciple
of the One who said. "A new commandment
give unto you, that We love one another as l have
oil nc mol SC 41n Too
of Life, the leaves of which are for the healing
OF the nations" and to which they turn deaf
ear because l fear, they see such distorted and
untrue representation of it III ourselves and so
little real fruit from its teachings in the every
day life of those who professedly bow the knc
to the holy name of Jesus.
Jenny June ON Underwear.
1t is quite time that women understand that
there are certain parts Of the attire which