The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-04-27
LABOR VS.. CAPITAL.
A Timely Topic Handled by Rev.
j. vi. Van Wagner Sun
day Evening.
Woods Opera House Crowded
and the Address PrOnOunc-
ed a Mastery One.

GU al hdSttEiy Oiics
The opera house was ON Sunday
evening crowded to its utmost capac-
ity by an audience embracing all
classes of people. The capitalist was
represented, as was also "the grinding
m jnopolist," while the strikers and
their sympathizers were there in large
numbers, all of whom listened attent-
lively to the able address delivered by
Rev. j. NJ. Van Wagner on the sub
ject of "The Relations of Capital and
Labor" The discourse, which occu-
pied almost two hours, was listened
TO attentively throughout, and while
all of the vast audience, of course, did
not agree with the speaker, yet all
present pronounced the address an
able, logical and dispassionate effort.
The Introductory services were very
brief, consisting of the long metre
doxology, sung with feeling by the
audience, two selections finely rem
dered by a male quartette, and a
prayer by Mr.. Van Wagner.
Following is a brief synopsis of the
address:
In mans primeval state he was not
called to labor and sweat /; he was
placed in Eden, which means pleas
ant, delightful The cereals and fruits
and flowers there grew spontaneously,
and man had only to dress and keep
it, just adjust twig here and trail
flower there, simply keep it beautiful,
move gently and lovingly among its
flowers, RECALLED by its gentle zephyrs,
feasting on its luxuries, drinking its
pure waters, and listening to the
carols of birds, and hearing atten-
lively the softer and sweeter tones of
his Maker at the cool of the day But
WHEN MAN FELL,
disObeyed the commands OF his God,
then all was changed he was driven
out of Eden, and the very ground
was cursed on his account '.thOrns
and thistles" sprang up; and now he
has not only to dress and keep the
garden, but that which is far more
difficult, to subdue it. Now, in the
sweat of his face must he eat bread
obtain bis living until he returns un-
to the ground. But we must not, as
many do, suppose that this sweat,
this labor, is the penalty of the law
for sin that penalty is expressed by
the words, SIN the day thou eatest
thereof thou shalt surely die"
This is only a command to meet
our changed condition. Labor, now,
after mans sad fall, becomes mans
natural, normal condition, and in our
present state is blessing instead of a
curse. An Eden, now that man is
fallen and depraved and sinful and
selfish, would be the most undesirable
of states-a curse, the hopeless ruin of
our race. If mankind now had moth
ing to do, no real labor TO perform,
no solicitude about living. but sim
ply to eat and drink, without labor,
toll, anxiety, application, this world
would be
A PERFECT BEDLAM
An old writer has well said, 'an
idle head is the devils workshop"
Labor, then, must not be looked upon
as a dread, as a dishonOr, a disgrace,
as uniting man for the best society,
but as true nobility and the man
who VIII not sweat and labor. earn
his own living and provide for those
dependent on him, whoever he may
be, son of the rich or poor, breaks |
heavens most benifcent law and dis
graces himself. Labor now becomes
an important factor in mans redemp-
ton.
The first mention III the history o.
the world Of political economy or
of labor is in Genesis, fourth
chapter, second verse And Abel
was keeper of sheep, but Cain was
a tiller of the ground" From that
went on all the divisions and sub-divis-
ions of labor; and only in this way
could labor ever become skilled. |
Right here is where the money ques-
ton comes in. At first it was a change
of commodities. Cain and Abel ex-
changed products. In course of time
the precious metals were the medium
of exchange; from their durability, |
scarcity and AVAILABILITY. Then, as
there was not enough of these to carry |
on the commerce of the world, came !
paper money, founded upon real es-
tate, government securities, etc.
HOW Is CAPITAL OBTAINED
How is capital obtained? How do
men become capitalists?
l. By honest labor Sweat of the