The herald., 1894-12-18
CHRISTIANS SHIRK DUTY

Visalia Times: Nearly five columns Of
Sundays Los Angeles HERALD is de-
voted to q consideration of the tramp
problem. Extracts from papers pub
ished in different portions OF the state
are given, and the learned editors are
almost unanimous in denounc cling the
tramps as unworthy of sympathy-men
who prefer to loaf and steal rather than
work for an honest livlihood. 1t seemed
to be the opinion that "hobos" should
be made to work or starve. but no way
was suggested as to how the unem-
ployed could secure work.
The number of tramps is increasing
daily, and in q republic like ours it will
not do to close our ayes and not attempt
to discover why men are out of employ
ment. and courageoucly apply the remes
dy should one De found. There never
was as much wealth in California as
there is today. We shipped $4,000
tons Of wheat from this state this year
to find consumers abroad, yet thousands
OF our own people are suffering for
bread. The productive capacity of
laborers in many industries kas in
creased a hundredfold within the last
quarter OF century, yet we find as
result that we have made few million.
airees and millions of tramps.
We produce enough annually in the
United States to maintain every man,
woman and child in comfort, yet the laws
of distribution are 40 defective that few
grow wealthy while the many are
doomed to poverty and want
That thia condition of affairs exists is
due largely to the shortcomings of the
ministers of the gospel, both Catholic
and Protestant. In the United States we
had in 1890, according to the federal
Gems sus, 20 6l2.806 commandments OF the
various churches, nearly one.third OF the
total population. This vast body OF men
and women are supposed to believe that
all men are created in the image OF God
that we are all brothers, and that the
gifts of the Creator are for the use and
benefit of all men alike. They differ as
to how men should cay their prayers
and 10 many other minor details-but
the fatherhood of God and the brother
hood of man is fundamental principle
of their faith. How many priests or
preachers, reader, did you ever hear tell.
ing their congregations that the earth
upon which all men live and from which
all men must produce wealth, was free
gift of the Creator, and that it was in
tended for the use and benefit of all men
alike? How many of the 1000 min
listers that we have in the United States
sre brave enough to follow such a propo.
sition to its logical conclusion? How
many preachers plant themselves upon
the natural and indisputable ground that
'he who MAKES should have; that be
who saves should enjoy"
The church is the greatest organiza-
ton for good the world ever knew, for
the followers OF Christ profess to accom-.
plish great reforms through sympathy
and duty, rather than from self-interest
and sslf-advancem ement. The tramps
who are now a menace to this country
are hungry, desperate and ignorant, and
they cannot be expected to remedy the
defects in our laws, which permit one ret
of men to demand the earnings OF 9TH
era in order that the latter may live at
all. When Adam and Eve were turned
out of the Garden of Eden they were
condemned to labor, but they we're
given the free use OF the earth, the air,
the sunshine and the seasons, by the
aid of which they transmitted their
labor into wealth. What better right
had Adam and Eve to the use OF the
earth without paying tribute TO
land speculators than the boy and girl
born into the world today? II there
10 anything contrary to the teach-
ing of the scriptures that .'the land is
the original inheritance of the whole
species" as taught by John Stuart Mils
in his Principles of Political Economy,