The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-03-26

Cialism at the Central COngrega tICnal
church last evening The audience, as
usual was too large for the seating capac-
ity Of the church. lit has been called boy
those who were there last night the best
sermon of the series. After synopsizing
what he had said previously, Dir. Shell
don said.
We are now somewhat prepared 70
enter upon the discussion Of what per-
haps is the most difficult and serious Of
all that we have So far attempteds name
~, the practical applications of the teach
ing of Christ to the actual practical af-
fairs Of men as they are related together
ia the social compact on earth. This ia
the problem which cOnfronts the think
ing world today.
probably more intelligent persons
have their minds at work On this
problem at this moment than
upon All the other subjects of
interest that have ia all ages
busted the brains of men. Into this
problem have been flung the enthusi-
asnlss the pref JUDGES, the am bltIonss the
prophetic ecstasies Of thousands of
minds
Eve approach the subject, therefore,
with q sense of human limitation to make
US humble. but with consciousness of
inspired dignity excited by the thought
that we have to tread the verge of an
undiscovered country. which is liable to
disclose something new and wonderful
and uplifting with every true advance
made into it,
aThe command Of Christ. Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
mind soul, strength and thy nelgh1or as
thyselfs' is Fundamental principle The
golden rule, All things whatsoever ye
would that men should dc to You, do SIC
even SO to thems' ls Fundamental prln-
ciple of action
And the command which we have
placed At the head of our subject tonight
IS also a general principle seek ye first
the kingdom of God, and all these things
shall be added unto YOU Christ pro-
claimed no detailed system of practical
government He did not preach the
necessity Of q republic instead Of
monarchy. lie dlo not say WORD about
popular forms of government He was
entirely silent on the question Of the
best or the most practical form of organ
lied society, as we are lie the habit of
viewing it from its outward forms.
s.It is needless to say that lie never
taught the details Of municipal life or
the intricate forms which men have In
corporated into their legislation and their
Interpretation Of lL lie gave the world
eternal principles of conduct, 1ut they
are nearly an of a general character and
all Of them remain at the basis Of all
true philosophy and all sound advance
along the line of practical Christian So
ciaiism.
"The practical application Of these
general principles to the affairs Of gov
eminent as actually carried on, of neces-
sity belongs to human society.
@Upon you and me as parts Of the
human organization rests the duty. the
the responsibility of taking
the general principles of Christ and app
plying them directly to the actual ma
chinery Of public life Of man On the
earth.
Hence. say if IL IS true that the Dri-
vate ownership of railroad is selfish
use of a public necessity, then am honest
attempt TO put the railroad under the con-
troll of the whole people would be in line
with the general principle of Christs
teaching about conduct
"Or if it could be shown that the pri-
vate ownership Of natural beds Of coal
made it possible for few men to charge
the public more than was just for coal,
and If It could be shown that in All prob
ability the public ownership OF coal
mines would result in far more just and
unselfsh disposal of fuel fer the general
good. then the attempt to put the people
il control of private monopoly would
be in line with a general principle Of
Chrlst's, concerning conduct, and that
would be Applied Christianity
~The same rule would have to be APP
piled To the matter of any detail of mu-
nicipal life. Suppose we raise the ques-
tion-Why not own and operate our own
electric car lineg Whyg For the better
good Of the public. ln the first place, is
the private ownership Of IL. such selfish
one that the public is q victim to ltt is
it such public necessity that private
individuals, a few Of them. have no right
TO make money out of IL at the expense
0f the pubicT Then would the owner
ship Of the car line by the city be prac-
tically more for the general good
would it result in less selhshness 4
and better service to all the peopleY If
Sd then the attempt TO put the car line
under the general control of the city
would be in line with principles of
Christ. which plainly teach unsel6shness /
and love of ones neighbors.
SIN this wav we may take amy detail
Of proposed legislation and subject it to
the test of a general principle bearing on
the conduct or moral acts of men. For
the moral issue is at the very center of
the whole thing. Why have these Ques-
lions concerning natIOnalIZIng great
monopolies been brought TO the frcng in
public discussiong Simply because men
have been growing to feel that it is not
right for one man or few men to seize
on a public necessity and selhshly make
money cut Of 10 at the expense of the
public.
sit is said that the private enterprise, /
the Individual shrewdness, the brains and
genius Of few men have made possible
the use of some natural commodity like
coal. or oil, or sugar, and SO they have q
right to all they can get out of ir. But it
is. of course, a perfectly fair question to
ask whether this enormous gathering to-
gether eff millions pa the part Of a few
men ia q company, might to the i'm
creased good and happiness Of q vastly
larger number Of people be far more
wisely used under efficient management,
controlled and operated by the govern
meuf that is bv fhe people The outcrv