The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-05-08
what side wiil The CLERGY Tut.

The forces are now being marsh aled
Tor the greatest battle ever fought upon
this continent. A battle, however. not
to be fought with bullets, but with the
ballots Of the patriotic, liberty-lcying
citizens OF the United States. On one
SIDE Will be arrayed all the plutocracy of
the nation with it's vast horde of para
sites and cringing slaves, all who bow the
knee TO the golden image set up by the
money kings in Wall streee.
On the other hand will stand the pat
rlotlc farmers and working men of the
great American Republic united in one
grand invincible phalanx. contendinp for
the inalienable rights OF man. The con.
test is already began. The tongues and
pens oil million OF freemen, who have
been awakened to a sense OF their dan
all. 81 20 ~
wan street. working through a SUBJ
sidlzed press and mercenary politicians.
IS making a desperate effort to crush ont
tins grand movement OF the Industrial
riasses. that the work of spoilation and
cobbery may continue till the 100 per-
sons who now own three-fifths OF the
nations wealth may gobble up the re-
mainder
As every intelligent tcitizen must sooner
or later take one side or the other in
TINS contest, a very important question
is, Which side will the clergy take?
VIII they, like the master. sympath,ze
WIN the common people, or with the
plutocracy? Will they advocate the
cause OF the weak, the downtrodden,
and the oppressed; or those who sshave
kept back the hire OF the laborers" and
.lald up their treasures in the last days?"
1Slnn1lINr W / l.
Alliance, made by preachers in religious
journals. Some good brother saws
well, that is asmall matter, originating
IN IL small brain or narrow heart, but
straws show which way the wind blows.
When ''for gold the parson breaches
TRUTH. Tor gold he will frequently do
something else; for gold OF some other
cause ne will sometimes step out OF the
narrow way to mSrepreSent the farmers
TO whom: by Gods grace, he owes his liv-
ing.
Here is a sample; "Farmers demand
special legislation, SO the government
can loan them money for a song. and
enable them to hold their products for
higher prices" Is this true? Have the
farmers ever asked the government to
loan them money for song, literally or
liguratively? If the farmers deposit
wheat, corn or cotton with the govern
ment, and borrow less money on it than
it will bring on the market, do they get
1T Tor a song? Is wheat, corn or cotton
only song? Has not each an intrinsic
value? IL the worthy divine were hungry
and naked would he not soon conclude
that the simple products OF the farm
have greater intrinsic value than even
gold itself?
Is it not a patent fact that congress
by one iniquitous act lifted S4S4, ILL
$50 out OF the pockets OF the people and
put them into the pockets OF the bond
holders? Was not this special or class
legislation? Why is it, then that the
tongues. OF many preachers cleaved to
the roofs OF their mouths while this and
many such like things were done. but as
soon as the farmers ask only what is Just
and equitable their tongues are loosed
and they become eloquent over the evils
OF class legislation?
Again, it is well known that in 1884
congress passed bill loanipg 81 900.
900 to the Worlds Industrial and
Cotton Exposition, and as far as is
known to the writer no clergyman
entered his protest against it; but the
idea of lnaning money to the poor farm
crs, even on the best OF security, is in
toiSiftl',e " SoHle tIlaL year the SurDllce,
as well as to the bankers and brokers.
When Jesus dwelt on earth the humble.
suffering poor were the special objects of
his love, and those preachers who do
not follow Christ are doing more to pro-
mote the cause Of infdelity than the
cause OF Christ. So long as they respect
mems person and money instead of their
characters, so long honest-minded sin
ners will fail to appreciate or heed their
teaching.
When men see magnificent temples
built for the worship OF God from which
the humble poor are virtually excluded;
when they see the preacher worshiping
the millionaire more than the lowly
Redeelner; when they see the immoral
holding high positions in tho church be-
cause they are rich; when they see all
this and much more OF the same kind.
with loathing they will turn away and
say, IN truth, this religion is all a splen-
did farce, for Jesus is not here.
Reader. would you have an answer to
the question: Which side will the clergy
take? Here it is: Many who are trying
to follow Christ will be found on the
Lords s side, and some who are yainly
trying to serve God and gold will sooner
or later be found on the other side.
The Lords side is the side OF the
oppressed; the other side is tbs side OF
the oppressor.-~By 7, J, Stone, Dla Va.