The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-12-09

lions and policies and creeds are merely
tools. We must know what TO do with
them. So, the sooner and the better
we find out the duties and dangers OF
our day, the better for us. We capnot
remain blind to them long. Looking
then at cur country, through the spec
tacles OF the Bible, what do we, as devout
but sympathetic students of our history
times. the peIils and dangers of the
hour?
On the one hand we have land that Is
TIE best and freest on Gods earth. Where
the fundamental idea is the recogni-
ton OF mems natural rights to live their
lives in the way that seems best to them
to seek happiness in their own fashion,
and to enjoy unhindered the iruitf
their own industry; all by nature, free
and equal, none with right to abridge
the liberty of another by the undue
| exercise of his own Under the benz
| ticient sweep OF this idea, manhood wears
its crown and sways the sceptres
| Uader it We have grown in wealth, in
| population, in education. and i'll stalwart
virtue. Wealth is more equally distri
| buted here than eisew here. Ours is
the first, richest, happiest country
in the world, land of such album
| dance that even the poorest laborer
ought to be able to set down under his
own roof to three full meals day and
to see his children clothed and educated
as in no other land. No career is closed
to him or them b. prejudice or p;escrip-
ton. No institution of learning shuts its
doors against his children, or SeLs
degrading terms anent their admission,
because of their condition in Efe. All
are free, contending with other men Oh
equal terms fer lies prizes, great or
small, material, intellectual or spiritual.
1t is great and glorious thing TIC live in
such laud. For it we should be pro-
foundly thankful to Almighty God today.
And should it not be the unalterabe and
irriversible conviction aud determination
of every freeman, that institutions so
beniticient shall be guarded, conserved,
perpetuated at any cost and sacrifice?
Such is the clear clarion call of our times
for just such patriotism, for there arc
evils, perils in our midst that threaten
our liberties and endauger our institu-
tions. What are some of them? Let me
name: Our false politics, economic
theories and franchise. Look out for
No and let No. 2 take care of himself
is the spirit of the economics of the day.
Every mao for himself and the devil
take the hindmost, is the first axiom
1t is all justice but no equity. 1t favor,
honesty aud morality as matters OF
policy. Whatever pays is pure, what
ever wins is wisdom, whatever earns is
economical Such Is the business like
spirit of our social and business political
economy. Nothing OF sympathy, moth
what centres 10 aud draws toward self,
nothing of benevolence, beyond what
pays usury Oh investment. Anything
else, We are told, is mere sentiment, not
business, ethical slop, not social econ
omy. But it is of the devil, the father
Of lies and OF selfshness. Economic
principles that DO not conserve the best
interests of the social state are not true
aud right. The largest happiness and
prosperity of society cannot be reached
gu basis OF Sc ltishuess. Social anchor
alton is the grand object OF social and
political economy. You can never get
that from cut throat policy. Reciprc-
city, neighborly interest, sympathy must
be considered, or-failure. Surely our
history of strikes, panics and revolutions;
the sight of the unfortunate and beg
CARED and downtrodden aud beastialiled
state of grea; numbers of our working
classes; the measure!ess and fathomless
CULTS of social conditions ever widening
land deepening amongst us, ought TO open
our eyes to the fact that our cool, level
headed, stonehearted, tish-blooded bust
ness like economy, is not doing for US
what we desire; nor all that an economy
with less of self and more OF Sympathy,
less of ShylCck justice and more of Cor
della like equity, less of avarioe and
more of conscience, would do for US.
Business to day is quite thoroughly
Darwinian. 1t has adopted as its shib
boleth, the survival of the fittest. So it
is blood less and mercenary, and laughs
in it's sleeves at it's tricks and bargains
It forms gigantic corporations or DOM
panies or stores which crush the life OF
the smaller concerns of slender capital.
| 1t is tickled we'll nigh to death as it sees
the weak and the humble and the poor
worsted and driven to the wall. Discon
tent, revolution, death breed like a
| pestilence in the hearts of the masses
under the domination of such soulless
economy as this. Now this economy
may have paid yesterday. 1t no" ~ G1y
IS. ;'i's S. 3 < 8 e5mmunism,
X %, n1y, rss i in nc f.sas Ism, Dyna
mitism. can we saw An, M,,nn,are,fpill pay to
morrow or next year? A social re 7olution
seems impending. The signs are palpable
and to the sordid selfshness of our
economic principles and practices, may
we attribute no small part of our present
dangers. The people here are the omnip
otents of our commonwealth, and as
some one has said "a penniless omnipo
teuce is an insupportable presence" Let
me further illustrate this point. Xaktng
money to day has taken the place largely
of earning money. The question is not
one of value, but "how much eau | get
| for it?" if | am the seller; and bow
| little can | get it fo.?" il am the buyer.
| (There are cheats.and rogucs as often,
| if not ofteusr, before the counter as
behind it, To this end, brokers study
quotations and watch the tickers. Under
the same inspiration you see the great
army of women frequentling the bargain
counters in the hunt for bargains, They
| forget that there never was and never
can be such thing as a bargain, "
unless somebody is cheated. Cost and
compensation go wing to wing through
the universe--Bargain hunters; bargain
getters Yon are cheating somebody
every time you get an article for less
than it's real value. Alas! Alas! How
often is it, that people dressed in their
flounces and their furbelows, in their
silks and theil satins, boastfully brag OF
the bargains they struck, when really
they are decked i'll the tears and groans,
the squaIor and rags, the wretchodness