The Progress., 1892-12-31
ETHICS OF WEALTH.
REV. THOMAS DIXON ON THE LES
SONS OF JAY GOULD'S LIFE.


Dieth Unto Himself. and So in tn Court
of Conscience No Nan Has Right TO
Do as He VIII with His Own.
NEW YORK, Dec. 25.-Rev. Thomas
Dixon, Jr., preceded the sermon in AS
sociation hall this morning by a review
of current events devoted TO the problem
of immigration. He said:
At last our country is forced to serious
ly consider the question of unrestricted
immigration. The imminent threat of
a cholera invasion next spring is warn
ing that cannot be ignored, and the
cholera is trihe compared to the graver
moral diseases that are today crowding
over the immigrant gang plank.
The profound conviction in the minds
of our people that this evil must cease
or the nations life will be put in jeop-
ardy does not arise from narrow hatred
of foreigners.
We are all foreigners in the last
analysis. Our ancestors III the not very
remote past came from Europe. This
nation was built by immigrants, but it
was not built by the class of immigrants
that are now pouring upon US from the
prisons and slums Of the Old World. 1t
cost more than ten dollars to cross the
ocean in the old days. 1t took pioneer
blood to make the trip. 1t meant some
thing to come to America in the days
when the founders of the republic set
sail.
QUESTION OF LIFE.
1t is not question of sentiment or of
justice to the world without that con-
fronts us today. 1t is a question of our
right to life. and true self preservation
is natures first grand law.
The laboring man in America is being
more and more crowded to death by
the unending procession of thousands of
idle hands that push and jostle for work
In America. The army of the unem-
ployed daily increases. There is not
work enough now to 60 round. Those
who come haven't sense enough to seize
undeveloped possibilities and create
work. They simply swell the number
of brainless human animals that must
be guided by bride and rein and fed and
watered. The consequence is untold
suffering and want among our work
ingmen. The struggle for bread is made
so desperate and bitter that the men
trample each other to death in the mad
rush for work
CRIME AND PAUPERISM.
Crime and pauperism and prostitution
are on the increase in our great cities as
well as in many rural districts. Europe
is daily emptying upon us her prisons,
poorhouses and brothels. Besides, the |
awful pressure for work, the pinch of
hunger and fight for shelter, drive our
own boys into crime and our girls into the
streets. The increase of our desperate |
and dangerous criminal classes is traced |
always direct to the immigrant steerage. |
Anarchy is an imported article in
America, and its threat will never cease |
until its source of supply is cut at the
immigrants landing
A debauched, ignorant and venal suf-
frage is being swelled day by day. We
are thus piling up wrath against the day
of wrath. Who can control this mass
of ignorance and vice in the future?
Let congress at once address itself to
this great problem in dead earnest. 1t
has been trifled with long enough. 1t
threatens the nation. A money qualifi-
cation of 500 has been suggested for
each immigrant. A man who can pay
his way and give bonds in the sum of
800 for his good behavior will be worth
something to the nation.
By all means let us have such law.
An educational qualification would be
weak, Ineffective and harmful. The
immigrant should be required to learn
the language of his adopted land, not his
native land. He should therefore be re-
quired TO read and write the English
language before he votes. With tax
of 500 at the gang plank and the ballot
box protected by the school teacher the
problem would be solved if the church
of Christ thus do its full duty.
And not one Of them said that aught of the
things which he possessed was his own, but
tney mad all things common.-Acts iv, 81.
am not going to discuss such prob
lem for you this morning because think
that the millionaires of this congrega-
sAoh hSSu iiotI uCllOU OT because tllllE | 4
shall reach large number of million
aires present, but it is a fact that the
poor boy of today is the millionaire of
borrow, If tomorrow brings with it
conditions under which we have
sd in the past.
A few years ago the man who died re-
Gently IN TINS city worth a hundred
millions of dollars was poorer than hun
dreds of young men into whose faces l
look this morning. 1t is not the specific
problem that should interest the Chris
han. 1t is the great principle which un-
ierlies all problems. If into the mind of
every poor man could be planted deeply
and truly Gods law of wealth. this
world would be saved at last in its eco :
nomic relations.
l have never heard much that was :
rood of the man who died. How much r
hat is true Of what we hear God only i
Knows. do not sit in judgment upon
him, Out as to the wealth which he nos.