The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-11-20

part OF what Others produce, IN other
words robbing them OF the produce Of
their labor; but say there is no use try
ing to prevent it for it always has been
been and always will be, and that the
only way to help the poor is by charity,
thus substituting charity for justice.
With this latter class OF apologists, I am
sorry to say, the pulpit is too. apt to be
found. lido not say dishonesty. but l
believe from a lack OF careful considera-
ton.
/ was much surprised and sorely dis
appointed at a sermon recently deliv-
cred in a Rapid City pulpit. The speak
er would not deny that the poor had a
grievance; that they were robbed Of
part OF their produce and thereby
brought to poverty and want, but he
would not presume to tell those who
do this to quit robbing and thereby
cease making paupers, but heaped upon
them in allopathic doses the cheap and
harmless condemnation OF being greedy
and selfish and denounced them severely
for not being charitable to those they
have pauperized. Which is the more
sensible mode, to do justice and thereby
do away with the necessity for charity,
or to allow a few to unjustly take from
the many what rightfully belongs to
them and then dole out in charity what
was stole from them? Think OF having
10 condemnation for a robber, because
OF his robbing, but unlimitable condem-
nation because he ls not charitable to
those he has robbed. Charitableness is
the noblest attribute OF the soul. but to
substitute it for Justice is mean and
cowardly.
But the most unfair part OF this same
sermon was the speakers condemnation
OF the poor for being selfish. He quotes
a passage OF scripture to prove his posi-.
ton. Ii this scripture means what he
claims it does land I don't belleAe it
does) then SO much the worse for scrip
ture. Is it selfishness to ask for what
riglltfully belongs to you? Is It selfish.
ness to want to provide yourself and
family with clothing to keep from freez.
ing, and to satisfy natures hungry grnaw.
ing in the stomach? If it is, then l sa;
it is that kind OF seltishness that has
brought mankind from the realms o.
barbarism to the light OF civilization,
Nor do l i believe it is right, as alleged by
the speaker, that we should be satisfied
with simply enough to eat and wear
It is this desire for something better
that has brought the well furnished
house from the cave in the rocks, the
neat and comfortable dress OF today
from the rude garments of the savage
and transformed the simple meal OF raw
flesh into the we'll spread table OF oul
time. Yes, more than this, it has
brought with those things a growth o!
that higher human quality-humanlove
Why do not these a%pologists try to fine
the ones that are robbing the laborel
and denounce it as a great moral wrong
until it is understood by the people
the preacher need not talk from a polit,
zeal stand point, but from a moral one
Then we will have justice and no need o.
charity.
1 believe 1T is not selfishness for a mar
to accumulate wealth OF his own pro
duction, but when he accumulate,
wealth OF someone elses production it j:
a moral wrong. 1t will take much
harsher methods than the ministers
mild charge Of sellishneess to checkmen'
accumulation OF wealth under method.
he believes to be right. Show him he il
committing a great wrong to his fellow
men by his method, if there be a wrong
Nor will the poor be satisfied by recelv
ing one-lalf their just dues IN earthl,
wealth and the other in cheCA5 on tn
bank OF heaven, for he feels that he i
entitled to all, not part, OF what he pro
duces.
Just SO soon as man becomes satisfied
with his condition, does progression
cease and civilization petrify.
LEVI MCGEE.