The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-06-18
TALMAGE's SERMON.
Fourth Discourse Of the Series ON
the Labor Question.
The Dangers Of Monopoly, Commuulsm.
InBdelfty and Nihilism-rhe Outlook
for the Future Of the Republic
Overpopulation.

ncW0OIAC-
OverpopulatIon.
Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage delivered the
fourth of his series of discourses ON the
labor question at Brooklyn Tabernacle. his
subject being Monopoly and Communism
struggling for the Possession of the Coun.
try" His text was:
The Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land
shall be married.-Isaiah xii 4.
As the greater includes the less, 30 does
the circle of future joy around our entirs
world include the epicycle Of our own re.
public. Bold, exhilarant. unique. divine
Imagery of the text! So many are de-
pressed by the labor agitation and think
everything in this country 10 going to
pieces. preach this morning q sermon
OF good cheer and anticipate the time
when the Prince of Peace and the Heir OF
universal dominion shall take possession
of this Nation and "Thy land shall be
married"
In discussing the final destiny of this
Nation it makes all the difference in the
world whether we are on the way to q
funeral or a wedding. The Bible leaves
no doubt on this subject. In pulpits and
on platforms and in places of pubic con-
course, l hear SO many of the muffled
drums Of evil prophecy sounded as though
we were on the way to National interment,
and besides Thebes, and Babylon and Tyre
In the cemetery Of dead nations our re-
public was to be entombed, that I wish
you TO understand il is not to be obseauies,
but nuptials; not mausoleum, but carpeted
altar; not cypress, but orange blossoms;
not requiem. but wedding march. for "Thy
land shall be married" Ipropose to name
some of the suitors who are claiming the
hand of this Republic. This land is so
fair, SO beautiful. so affiuent, that It has
many suitors, and will depend much upon
your advice whether this or that shall be
accepted or rejected.
in the first place. remark: There is a
greedy, all-grasping monster who comes
In as suffer seeking the hand Of this Re-
public, and that monster is known by the
name of Monopoly. His scepter is made
out Of the iron of the rail track and the
wire of biography. He does everything
Tor his own advantage and for the robbery
of the people. Things have gone on from
bad to worse, until in the three Legisla-
lures Of New York, New Jersey and enn-
sylvania. for the most part. Monopoly
decides everything. II Monopoly favor a
law it passes. If Monopoly oppose law
it is rejected. Monopoly stands in this
railroad depot putting into his pockets in
one year S2O0.O00,00) in excess of all
reasonable charges for service. Mo-
nopoly holds in his one hand
the steam power oflocomotives, and in the
ton. Monopoly decides nominations and
elections-city elections, State elections,
National elections. With bribes he secures
the votes of legislators-giving them free
passes. giving appointments to needy rela-
tives to lucrative positions, employing
shem as attorneys if they are lawyers,
carrying their goods fifteen per cent. less
Il they are merchants: and if he finds a
Ease very stubborn, as well as very inn
oortant, puts down before him the hard
cash Of bribery.
Bat monopoly is not SO easily caught
now as when, during the term of Mr..
Buchanan. the Legislative committee in
one of our States expressed and exposed
the manner in which certain railway
company procured a donation of public
land. 1t was found ont that thirte IN of
the Senators of that State received $4,000
among them, sixty members of the lower
house of that State received 5000 and
$1,000 each. the Governor of the State re.
ceived $4,000, his clerk received 5000, the
Lieutenant-Govern received $1,000, all
the clerks of the Legislature received 5000
each, while so, 600 were divided among the
lobby agents.
This thing, on a larger or smaller scale,
Is all the time going on in some of the
States of the Union, but it is not so blum
dering as it used to be, and therefore not
Is easily exposed or arrested.
tell you that the allowing curse
o. the United States to-day is monopoly.
He puts his hand upon every bushel of
wheat, upon every sack Of sal, upon every
ton of coal, and every man, woman and
child in the United States feels the touch
Of that moneyed despotism.
l rejoice that in twenty-four States Of
the Union already anti-monopoly leagues
have been established. God speed them
in the work of liberation! wish that the
question might be the ques ton of our
elections, and that we compel
the political parties to recognize it in their
platforms.
have nothing to say against capitalists.
man has right to all the money he can
make honestly. There is not laborer in
the land who would not be worth a million
dollars if he could. have nothing to say
against corporations as such-without
Them no great enterprise would be possi-
Bile; but what l do say is that the same
principles are to be applied to capitalists
and to corporations that are applied to the
poorest man and the plainest laborer.
What is wrong for me is wrong for great
If l take from YOU your
property without adequate compensation
l am a thief, and if a railway damage the
property of the people without any ade-
quate compensation that is a gigantic
theft. What is wrong on a small scale is
wrong on a large scale. Monopoly in
England has ground hundreds and thou.
sands of her best people into semi-starva.
lion, and in Ireland has driven multitu-
ainous tenants almost to madness.
Such monopolies imply an infinite acre.
lge Of wretchedness. There is no poverty
in the United States like that in England,
Ireland and Scotland, for the simple rea-
son that in those lands monopoly has had |
onger and larger sway. Last summer in |
Scotland, after preaching in !
Synod Hall, / stood on a chair in front |
Of the hall and preached to an audience |
Of 10000 people, standing in one OF the |
most prosperous parts of the city, and |
out toward the castle; as fine an !
lrray of strength and health aad beauty /
Is one ever sees. Three hours after |
preached in the Grass Market and to
he wretched inhs bitants of the Cowgate !
md Canoncafe the audience exhibiting