New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-24
DIR. PAXTON'S STRONG WORDS
IF HE CANNOT WORK OR BEG A starry
ING MAN MUST STEAL.
SUCH Is THE NATURAL RESORT. THE MINISTER
AssEITs-THE DEMOCRATIC POLICY RE
SrONSIrLE FOR THE HARD TIMES.

AssrETs-rHE DEMOCRATIC POLICY RE
sroysIDLE FOR THE HARD TINES
The Rev. John r. Paxton. pastor OF the West
For,v-seco,d-st PRESBYTERIAN Church. has been
expressing his mind freely of late in regard to the
unhappy condition Of poor men who have beeh
made poorer since the last Federal election MI
Paxton has been accused OF saying thar II men
could not find means Of earning their daiiy preao
they would be Justified In stealing 1t. A Iripu'ie
reporter saw and talked with MIN at ms nome 'aa'
evening II was evident. liz the course OF the IN
teryow that DR. Paxton is primarily an ardent
r'nitcd States man. Furthermore II was clear
that ne believes this country has received as rluch
Of the drcgs of othernation5 In me way Oh co"V''
button to citizenship as IT can comfortably dises'.
lie docs not doubt the existence Of sulc'ency Oh
sand in the gizzard Of the American bird Of free
dom to pulvcrizc everything that comes through
the mouth Of Ellis Island. but he believes that
the food should be subject to closer inspection.
and that the more unwholesone parts should be
rejected altogether
.'rhe difficulty now g." said he. that the coun-
trys originally strong blood Of perseverance, ana en-
durance is becoming diluted. | sympathHe with
the Car OF Russia in getting rid Of his anarchist
population. whose watchword L.; Ihete 10 ITO "oc'
and down with all that Is good
with respect. now. to my remarks on the bread
question" continued Dr. Paxton IRON Grneral
W. II. Franklin received words OF commentator
for my utterance while from wall street broker
received the reminder that should take st.
Pauls advice and stick, like a shoemaker 10 H!y
last | do not want to so into politics. ana 40
not want on any account to sneak diirespcctfuly
OF the President OF the United states But inc
fact IL the silver question has Lite 10 90 WIN the
business prostraton Of to-day; ana inc uncertainty
OF tariff legislation resulting from the election OF
MIR cleveland has everything to 90 with IT, AS
things were manufacturers had prepared them-
selves 10 do work on n large scale which or course
meant the employment OF men In heds OF lapor'
Put Mr. cleveland was elected ! 90 not Kno"
why except the theory that whom the loru
loveth he chastcneth' The fact created mex OF
confidence the part OF men in the staphlF o'
things The panic is really nothing more than
paralysis Of confidence.
Now" continued DR.. Paxton. II think that MI.
CIeveland's idea that the people 9uppor' the GOV
eminent and the Government docs not support the
people is 4 splendid one for this Is not Il paternai
Government. hui all meant to say In my remarks
which have been criticised that mans first
duty was to earn his living II he could In the place
where he found himself. and II b. could not DO 50
there then he should 20. even II be had TO walk
70 som. place whore he could nnd labor. In the
second place | made the claim that II a mar had
no work but had - hungry wiz" and child crying
for bread which n could not. after honest effort
earn ne had the right to bog ~ my door OF ar ""
door OF any other citizen. and it was an obligation
laid upon Christian society 10 ace that there should
not be In this community any child or honest
laborcr or his vie or family. crying for bread
AMI In The thrl place | simply asserted that II
man has not the opportunity to earn his bread or
procure II by begging from door to door. nj the
houses ~ tho rich. hc must steal,
"Tow Is that preaching IN" doctrine 81 anarchy
asked Br Paxton Life Is more than meat he
continued. "I.ifc g. the gift of God. II ts more
sacrrl than the RIGHTS Of all prop 'rty If 1t should
happen that fl the city Of Ncw-York. among
houses whore there Is enouGh and To spare ana
the people ia th,in are too full while on the
other hand Their" are riItiiudes with Willing hands
for labor vho ar, empty and desperate In their
hunger tho rich Dives refuses 10 share his plenty
with the AFFECT am starving ieZaru2. Is II not
human that Lazarus should RI" up and take Dives
bv The throat Thri "a whnt mrant." remarked
Dr. Paxton. "and that Is I'll | meant. Men must
I'VE and their families too. whether the condition
OF the times affords them WORT. or not They viii
earn their bread when thcy can BY hone@t labor.
They may beg before they steal. but when that
last extremity oycrtnh"s them. and they cannot
derive SUPPORT by Begging. their last resort ~ 10
steal I have meant. In what have sal! to appeal
Id those who have plenty. to give 10 thos, who
hnve nothing SO that the suffering shall not be-
Tod through the refusal OF the rich 10 give OF u"f
qtnr. to the poor To that last resort which human
nature ITSELF dictates. when conditions force man
to stern .Jcazntion Of the fact that HE Is more
than meat.