Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-11-17
Hard Timss-who is Responsible for them.

HARD Tlm66-WnO Is heSp0uSiDio lOf tneM.
1t is generally conceded that legislation
has much to do with tho financial condition
of the country, and if we have hard times
that fact must be mainly, if not entirely,
due to the legislation we have inherited
from the republican party; for We still have
the same laws We had when Arthur went
out of Office and when the republicans had
both branches of the national legislature.
There has been 40 chance yet for the demo-
cratic party to change those laws for the
better. As constituted as our Congress ID,
the Senate il still republican and can easily,
and will defeat any relief measure looking
to reduction of taxation, that might he
passed by the House of Representatives.
Tho political complexion of the depart
ments of tho government must be changed
before any solid and permanent relief can
come, such relief as will put an end to the
hard times of which the complaint is SO loud
and widespread. As long as the enormous
taxation existing under republican laws
continues; as long as tbs fDw Of money in
to the national treasury, into the Golfers of
the great, soulless corporations, and into
the vaults of the great miliionaires who
pay no taxes on their millions of govern
from the channels of trade, hard times will
continue. All the laws pertaining to the
finances Of the country have been framed
by the great menopolists of the country or
by their paid agents in Congress. All the
legislation of Congress for the last twenty
years, except during few short intervale
when the democrats were in the majority
in the lower house, has been almost ex.
clusiveiy in the interest Of the wealth Of
the land, Pacifle railroads were incorpora.
ted and countless millions of acres of the
public lands were given to them. The in
como of the rich man was exempted from
taxation, and an increased tax was levied
on the poor mans wool hat and his blanket.
A light tax was placed upon the rich mans
luxuries and q burdsnsOms tax imposed
upon the poor mans necessarles. In short,
the laws have been 30 devised by republi-
cans as to make the rich man richer and
the poor man poorer; and yet We have pre-
sented to Us every day the claim that the
republican party has always been the friend
of the poor man.
After twenty years of republican legIsla-
ton in Congress we see that the rich are
richer than they ever were and the poor
poorer than they ever were. Admitting
then, as we must, that laws bsve had Al
most every thing to do in bringing about
this state of affairs-these laws having been
enacted by republican Congressss-it fol-
lows as night follows day that the rspubli-
can party is responsible, and alone respon-
s,ble for the hard times Of which We hear
such universal complaint.
Wa have heretofore called attention to
the recent action of the democratic Govern
Or of Pennsylvania, looking to the breaking
up of the enormous coal combination form
ed in that State, organized under republi
can laws aud in violation of the State con-
stitution; that combination controls the
anthracite coal trade of that State, and can
put up the price of coal as it has already
doue to such figures as will necessarily en-
tail great distress and suffering upon the
poorer classes who have to buy its coal.
This is bus ono Of the many instances that
could be mentioned of the Unsuitable greed
of the monopoles that have been created
those instances being found in other Safes
besides Pennsylvania.-Lyn Id
rance.
GAMBLING IN CHURcHEs.-On last Sun
day week DR.. Talmage preached in the
Brooklyn Tabernacle from the Text
Acts l, 19.-"Aceldams; that il to say,
the field of blood" His subject was the
evil of gambling, Tic following is an
extract:-
"The Church Of God has not seemed will
ing to allow the world to have all the ad-
vantage Of these games of chance. A
church fair opens, and towards the close ii
20 hot II
articles are unstable. Forthwith, the con
doctors of the enterprise conclude that they
will rattle for some of the valu able articles,
and, ander pretence Of anxiety II make
their minister present or please some
popular member of the church, fascinating
parsons are dispatched through the room,
pencil in h md, to ''solicit shares" or per-
haps each draws for his own advantage, and
scores Of people go home with their tro
pixies, thinking that it is all right, for Chris
tian ladies did the embroidery and Christian
men did the rafting, and tho proceeds went
towards z new communion set. But you
may depend on it, that as far rs morality is
concerned, you might as we hav. won by
the crack Of the billiard ball or the turn of
the dice box.
DO you wonder that churches built, light
ed, or upholstered by such processes as that
come to great financial and spiritual de-
crepituds? The devil says: 81 helped to
build that house of worship, and have as
much right there as you have" and for
once the dsvil ia right.
We do not read that they had . lottery
for building the church at Corinth, or at
Antioch, or for getting up an embroidered
surplice for st. Paul.
All this | style ecclesiastical gambling.
More than one man who is destroyed can
say that his first step on the wrong road
was when he won something at church
fair.'