St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-11-10
MONEY IN ELECTIONS.
Timely Discourse by the Pastor OF
the Peoples Church.

DR.. Smith, OF the Peoples church,
yesterday morning took as his text the
eighth commandment: .Thou shalt
not steal" A synopsis of the sermon
reads:
i do not suppose that many burglars
or highwaymen have strayed into
church this morning, and consequently
L shall not deal with the more manifest
applications of this law. But the ethi-
cal import of religion is not at all ex-
hauSted when we have considered a
few of the external formulas of life.
Iaiiesa tree, honesty has its sources of
life out of sight, and in its broadcast
sense it is a matter of spiritual fiber.
Honesty includes trutlifulness in word,
Observation-Disclosures in purpose as well as
lfaithfulneSS in action. In this broader
treatment OF our theme. 1t might not be
so difficult to prove that many of us are
i'm danger OF becoming either actually
or potentially members Of the
Great Array
iof thieves. The conditions OF affairs
during the last twenty-five years make
our discussion timely, and it may pos
sibfy happen that it will be fruitful
also. l'-i
Fhe mere fact that there is suspicion
close election. either one of two great
political parties would steal the highest
Office in the commonwealth, providing
it could be done adroitly enough to
evade punishment, is public shame.
Yet shameful as Is the mere suspicion,
public morals are in such condition
that open charges are able to be pub
licly made. If there is ground for the
charges, there is little hope for the per-
manency of our political institutions. If
there is no ground for them, their pub
licity is partiSanship gone mad, and
Should receive the quick rebuke of
every right thinking man.
In the present lull IN the financial adj
vancement of the Northwest there is
furnished very favorable opportunity
To consider some of the foundation rules
which make prosperity permanent and
indeed worth having at all. In the first
place, let me say the law of honesty de-
nantls faitbIuiness in the performance
OF contracts. In right state of
mind man will be us anxious to
fulfill his OWN side Of an obligation
toSeciife fultillment of the other side
onIhe part of his neighbor. He will
be as anxious i'll the making of Il con-
tractsto avoid taking the advantage of
his fellow as he is to avoid being beaten
himself. Yet, in many quarters, Shy
lock and -.
His Pound OF FlesE.
seeih TO furnish the only legitimate
standard ,ss> =,
The law Of honesty abates the fever
to be rich. In the midst of an era of
in sane speculation it is almost idle to
talk to men of The true basis of wealth.
But When the insanity has S0t,ered by
the collapse of schemes it ought to bo
timely to recall the old-fashioned doc
trife that industry and economy are the
sole means OF wealth for community.
Ali other methods have in them more OF
less of knavery. A prosperous coin
munity can stand q sew such SchcmerS,
but no community is prosperous enough
to withstand whole townfut OF them.
One of the greatest troubles with st.
Paul to-day is its large proportion Of
uliprodueing population. We have too
many people anxious to turn an honest
PENNY without doing honest work.
File law of honesty demands fidelity
ilfiNsts, faithful service at the hands
of tire employee, tiioroughness in work
and: fairness in trade. We have come
upon condition of civilization w hen it
iSspOSSible for men to steal by the use
of eAeir own money. This species ct
-
ar4Hphela by courts. Vast aggregstienS
o Eeapitat ought to befruitfuIin propLI-
ti0tlate blessings: that they are not is a
continual defiance to that higher moral
law which will in the end achieve its
feeeageS. When capital aggregates so
that the corporation becomes iuonep-
oily and the monopoly Il Trust, SO that
the natural markets are perverted and
the: natural law Of supptyi; and de-
nlfra is. destroyed, q free pvoHioeWilt in
t!feBtd' cry out, Upon what meat do
THESE our Caesars feed that they i!ave
grown so Create a condition of busi-
ness which enables money
To Recgar SkilI,
industry and thrift, if persisted in. must
end in revolution. because history,
nature, God, the human conscience. ali
decree that skill, industry and thrift de
serve to succeed; and the moral empire
of the universe Wiil see 10 it that they
are avenged.
The law of honesty would suppress
illegitinlate transactions which make
up large bulk of what some people
cali business. The manipulations of
grain markets, persistent misrepresenta-
tons of crops, the speculative cOngts-
ton of the visible supply of the worlds
food. tend, not alone 10 the derange-
ment Of honest prices, but interfereS
with the legitimate and propoftioaate
production OF grains and other foods
required by the millions of earth's pop
uiatioH. The tide of public opinion
against these forms of gambling must
rise. 10 such food that they will be
swept away. in order that honest peo-
pie may thrive. | am very glad that
the late law against lotteries is sweep
ing enough to include the miserable
schemes which have frequently dis
graced so called church fairs.
The law of honesty demands that less
Money Should BE Used st+
in political elections, and that tic f,ee-
pie should know exactly how it is spent.
There IS such law governing the par
lIaMentary elections in England, and it
has very largely succeeded in stamping
out corruption in Great Britain. One of
the most manifest duties of the legiSla-
ture soon to convene in this city is the
passage OF Il law which shall compel
public exhibit Of the amount of money
used for election purposes and the way
in which 1t has been employed. Ii the
use of money is fair there can Ue no Oh
lection to publicity. IL it can be shown
that meiley mas been used outside the
provision of such law the penalty
shCHld he forfeiture OF the Office Sc
cured, if not fine and Imprisonment as
well.
Finally. in progressive and Cod
ruled world dishonesty must in the end
meet its doom. 1t must not be forgot
ten that this is Gods world, and that it
is ruled by law. If a community or
commonwealth has no punishment for
its rascals, God and nature will take
vengeance upon the social organiza-
tioiEf