The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-06-12
THE COMMENCEMENT.
Continued From FifthPage

wealthy. Wealth was used for pupose o
oppression, Shakespeare has woven this II
the line ''Put money in thy purse?
When Iago would carry out his malicious
plan against Othello he would do it by in
shilling into the mind of the dupe, Rod
erigo. his own idea of all that is good
and pure, and at the same time urge the
old idea of money as the way to carry out
his plan against the virtue of Desdamona
But this is changed, wealth is under Our
present social organization an aid to the
laboring classes, and that the condition OF
the laboring classes is betSered and worst
ed bv wealth In the first place the whole
tending of civilization is toward the eXal-
lation of the man, and the depreciation OF
the mere thing; then the wealth of the
United States has increased from S3lO per
capita in 1850 TO $50 in 1870, interest dur
ing time being reduced from per cent to
5 per cent on the average. This is so be-
cause capital is constantly increasing, and
production stored, but this IS not possible
with labor Because of this accumulation
wages have increased from $40 to S25 per
month for common laborers and OF servant
girls from 80 cents per week to 81 per week
during the period between 1880 and 1870.
Then again labor is limited by capital; the
annual product of the United States for
1880 was nine billion dollars, of this sum
eight billion one hundred million dollars
were paid to the laborers. IL the la
borers had received all the product for the
wear mentioned they would have received
but $50 per year per capita, or less than 81
cents per day for each man. Some grant
the accumulation of wealth is beneficial,
but who object to the unequal distribution
1t is this very fact of accumulation that
makes wealth so productive. If all the
coal of Pennsylvania were distributed
over the whole United States what would
it be worth? Absolutely nothing. If we
must condemn mOnopolies let us COM
Inence at the monopoly that is the cause Of
all other monopolies, the one that the ma
iion has established, and when we can
change these then try TO change their off
spring But there are other benefits arts
ing from the accumulation Of wealth; the
price of the necessities of life have decreas-
ed. thus increasing the real as well as the
nominal wages Of labor. 1t enables class
of men to study nature and add to the
knowledge that will Tighten the burden of
life. Wealth forms the bulwarks of ma
tional perpetuity and independence. 1t es-
1abIishes schools where the rich and poor
are educated together, thereby removing
the naturally distrustful feelings between
the conflicting elements of society. Wealth
helps TO send the gospel to those who have
never heard of the Gallilean. By the use
of wealth governments are made more Sc
cure from internal conflict and from inva-
sion. The only reason the north succeeded
in the late war was because of the re
sources of the country, as the south had
rs good soldiers and as competent generals
rs the north Let us cease those efforts
that would impair our industrial system,
for the object of our government is toeXalt
the man, and this object IS in a large
measure conserved and promoted by the
accumulation and right use of Individual
and national wealth.
After this came the presentation of di-
plomas by Chancellor Everest as dean of
the literary college, and Prof. Cusenberry
rs dean Of the normal department. The
music of the day was great help in max
ing the exercises enjoyable. After the ex-
ercises the many graduates and their
friends then adjourned to the
North hall where a sumptuous repast
awaited them. No pains had been spared
TO make the feast pleasant one, and all
appreciated the efforts of the hostess, Mrs.
Gray, in entertaining them in such pleas
ant manner.