The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-11-09
issues OF THE HOUR.
REV. THOMAS DIXON FORE
SEES A SERIOUS CONFLICT.
The Laboring Masses Are Rest
less and Disseminated, BelleV-
ing Themselves Defrauded of
Their Share In the World s
Gains---Duties Of the Church.

Rev. Thomas Di- on. .Ir continues his
sermons in As-Ociatr Hall, New ! Grk, on
the subject OF - Thct coming Revolution.
The subject for the following discourse
WAS "Thc Tremendous issues Involved"
He declared that til" ISSUES at stake Tor
conservatism IN the approaching con
tlict were nothing less that the existence
OF the present economic system, the idea
OF caste in the social order and the fOun-
datiOns which max" it possible, the cXlS-
tcncc Of the present governing political
powers as well as the existence OF the
church itself. On the part on radIcail$m,
he declared the IsSuscS believed by mil
lions to be involved We're nothing less
than the right to life and work, liberty,
individunlism, IL tOlc"Hbc human els
tcnce and Justice i'll the distribution ul
the worlds economic goods. The text
chosen was from Matthew XXiv, I, " For
nation shall rise against natIcn 'n'i
kingdom against kingdom.
The history OF the past centuries has
given us the iufilImcnt OF the first claus"
of this prophecy OF Christ. We hay" bad
the era OF national wars We enter nrW
the era OF the clash OF the hOstiI" forces
within the nations and the beginning ui
y
1t is now the kingdom oi the prop"
The masses are restless.
The classes are blind.
The hour is ripe for action.
The ISSUES involved are tremendous
STATEMENT OF TnE PROBLEM.
What are these ISSUES?
The stake involved for the cGnscrya-
tive forces of socrty certainly includes
First-Thc present economic order.
Let the men Of wealth and priviIcg" I'M
dcrstand it clearly. There can be no
mistaking the meaning OF tbs move
mcnt of the worlds masses. The object
OF attack is the foundation of tn" present
schemes Of Il cOmpctitlv" society.
The conviction has grown so strong
that it has become IL principle OF action
that the present Ordc:' OF society is re-
sponsiblc for the unequal distribution OF
wealth, the extremes OF poverty and
luxury, the opportunities Tor Injustice
and oppression, the creation OF gigantic
monopOlcs and the consequent impOvcr-
isImcnt OF the millions. Thry-thc PEG
plc-bclicvc that if things remain as they
are within 30 years there will be billion
aires in America. Right or wrong, they
believe that miiionairism is unjust, and
tildU IL DllllOHilIt NOulu bt 81 'lllli'
against humanity.
Mr.. Thomas q. Sherman i'll his famous
article in the Forum shows that in Amer
lea threc-tenths of | per cent. OF the pop
ulatiOn control 20 per cent. of the
property. In other words, in the distri
button of national wealth one man in
400 receives $40 ont of every 500, anC
300 men receive $50, which if averaged
would give them about 10 cents each
The wealth OF Crusus was SS,OOO,OOO
This is less than the annual income o
more than one American millionaire
Mr. Sherman says: Several nonspccu
lativc estates have Increased tiycioId il
less than 40 years. Counting only
per cent. increase. the present forum" O
5000. 600, 900 will become 81 ,OOU,OOO,
600 i'll less than 40 years.
There is no way to prevent this saw
by the radical destruction Ol the present
basis OF property as protected by TIN
state. Let men who believe in the JUS
tee OF the present system OF competition
and inheritance see to it. The move
mcnt of the masses threatens the law!
of both accumulation and inheritance
The under masses have grown to Sc
that enormous fortunes that involve tn
lives of countless millions are matter
dependent on the accident of birth. not
on achievement. This has been so 70
ages But the people who toll beneath
the burden are only now awaking to the
fact. And they mean to make sucl
estates Impossible and such titles invalid
Let those who believe i'll it understand
what is involved.
Second-Thc established traditions {
social caste are at stake. This low an
vulgar rabble called the common pee
pie. are bent on the destruction OF art
fetal distinctions among men. Let thOS
who cling to these distinctions see to il
Their existence is threatened.
INCONSISTENCY OF LEADERS.
The men who lead this crusade agains
pride and luxury and extravaganza an
sham and pretenSe are not themSelye
free from the errors they would cure i
Others. Their cry is Democracy - Bu
they are autoGratS among their fellows
They insist upon the leveling of soci;
orders and Vet insist upon wearing
crown for themselves. This. however.
not to the point. The question is, afte
all, simply, Are they right in their COZ
tentiOn? Consistency Is the ghost
weak minds. Ii they are right and SUI
ceed i'll setting up real human brothe
hood. their own inconsistent claims an
pretensions will be swallowed up in til
flood.
| read the other day that Il certai
Countess. who is an American /,
birth and a delegate to the Columbia
exposition from Il foreign country, az
piled for a complimentary card of at
mission not long ago. The official t
whom she spoke OF the matter cXplaino
to her that it would be impossible il
him to issue such Il card. because if
We're lost he had no way OF tracing it
.. nhOt nnrn nhic mss Is 1nIch hot on.