The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-11-23
ISSUES OF THE HOUR
eey THOMAS DIXON FoRssEEs :
SERIOUS CONFLICT.
The g.sorinE Masses Are Resties. ana
Dtssontsnt~d. Relieving Them selves De
landed of Their share In the Worlds
G.En.-Dutis. of the Church.

Dfseontenf~d. Relieving fhrh"~Nes Nv
fr.ua.s Of Their share In the World
Gsiu.-Dutie. of the Chureh.
NEW YORK. Oct. 22--Rev. Thomas
Dixon preached again this morning IN
Association hall on the subject OF he
Coming Revolution" The subject Tor
today was The Tremendous Issues In.
volved." He declared that the issues at
stake for conservatism in the approach
ing conflict were nothing less that the
existence of the present economic sys-
tenn, the idea Of caste III the social order
and the foundations which make 1t pos
sible. the existence of the present gov
erning political powers as well a. the
existence Of the church itself On the
part of radicalism. he declared the IL
sues believed by millions To be- involved
were nothing les than the right TO life
and work, liberty, iudlvldua!lsin, Il toll
cradle human existence and justice IN
the distribution of the worlds economic
goods. The text chosen was from Matthew
xiv, :. For nation shall rise against ma
ton and kingdom against kingdom"
The history Of the PAST centuries has
ylven Us the fulfllmentO of the first clause
If this prophecy of Christ. We have had
the era Of national wars We enter now
the era of the clash of hostile forces with
IN the nations and the beginning of the
era Of world organism Of society. Ii
Is now the kingdom of money against
the kingdom of the common people.
The masses are restless.
The classes are blind.
The hour is ripe for action.
The issues involved are tremendous.
STATEMENT OF TIE PROBLEM.
What are these issues:
The stake involved ftr the conservative
forces of society certainly includes:
First-The present economic order.
Let the men of wealth and privilege I'M
derstand it clearly. There can be nc
mistaking the meaning of this move
ment of the worlds masses. The object
of attack is the foundation of the present
scheme of a competitive society.
The conviction has grown so strong
that it has become principle of action
that the present order of society is re-
sponsible for the unequal distribution OF
wealth, the extremes Of poverty and lux.
ury, the opportunities for injustice and
oppression, the creation of gigantic mo-
nopolies and the consequent impoverish
ment of the millions. They-the people
believe that if things remain as they
are within 50 years there will be billion
aires in America. Right or wrong, they
believe that millionairism is unjust, anG
that Millionaire would be crime agains,
humanity.
Mr.. Thomas G. Sherman in his ia
nous article in The Forum shows thai
in America three-tenths of l per cent Of
the population control 20 per cent of the
property. In other words, in the distri
button of national wealth one man il
300 receives $40 out of every 800, ant
300 men receive $50, which if averaged
would give them about 10 cents each
The wealth of Cr9sus was $4,000, 900
This is less than the annual income o.
more than one American millionaire
Mr.. Shearnan says: Several nOnspecu
lative estates have increased fivefold il
less than 40 years. Counting only pei
cent increase, the present fortune Of
$500, 900, 900 will become $1,000, OO0, O0(
in less than 40 years."
There is no way to prevent this save
by the radical destruction of the present
basis of property as protected by the
state. Let men who believe in the jus
tice of the present system Of compe
tition and inheritance see to it. Tht
movement of the masses threatens thu
laws of both accumulation and inherit
ance. The under masses have grown tx
see that enormous fortunes that invOlv,
the lives of countless millions are mat
ters dependent on the accident of birth
not on achievement. This has been 81
for ages. But the people who toll be
meath the burden are only now awakinf
to the fact. And they mean to max,
such estates impossible and such title
invalid. Let those who believe in it I'm
derstand what is involved.
Second-The established traditions O
social caste are at stake. This low anl
vulgar rabble, called the common PEG
pie, are bent on the destruction of arti
fetal distinctions among men. Let thos
who cling to these distinctions see to it
| Their existence is threatened.
INCONSISTENCY OF LEADERS.
The men who lead this crusade agains
pride and luxury and extravaganza ant
sham and pretense are not themselve
free from the errors they would cure il
others Their cry is Democracy" Blu
they are autocrats among their fellows
They insist upon the leveling of socia
orders and yet insist upon wearing
crown for themselves. This, however, i
not to the point. The question is, afte
all, simply, Are they right ip their con
tention? Consistency is the ghost O
weak minds If they are right and sue
coed in setting up a real human brother
hood, their own inconsistent claims an
pretepsigns will be swallowed up in tn
food.
read the other day that a certai
Countess -, who is an American b
birth and a delegate to the Columbia
exposition from a foreign country, az
piled for a complimentary card of &C
mission not long ago. The official t
whoza she spoke of the matter explaiae
to her that it would be impossible fo
him to issue such a card, because if
we're lost he had no way of tracing it.
"A photographic pass is much better,
he said, 'as it can be readily traced
Such passes" he added. "are used by a
members of the board Of lady mar
ayers"
The Countess objected to having he
picture taken for Photographic pass 0
the ground that she was titled perse,
age, and il would not be in conformit
with etiquetts.
WELL" replied the Official, by way {
persuasion. may mother is 3 member {
the board Of lady managers. and whe
she comes to Chicago next week she wi
have her picture taken just like tn
other members"
But, you see" said tbs Lady. Il am
countess
"fes, | know" retorted the oficia
land my mother is queen"
| The countess stamped her foot, an
without another word turned and lei
the office.