The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-09-03
MEN ARE SLAVES YET.
Rev. J. D. Botk1n's Labor Day Ser
mon Yesterday.
HE SPEAKS AT GARFIELD PARK

He says the Industrial slavery or To-
day Is ns bad as African Slavery
Was
The Populists have secured a magnetic
and powerful speaker in the Rev. }. D..
Botkin, who made his initial speech to a
Topeka audience at Garfield park yes
tercay. It was advertised as a Labor Day
sermon but was strong political address
in the main. About 500 people were
present.
The greater number Of those who at
tended were P0pulists, although Ed
Hoch occupied a<ieat near the speaker
and listened with intense eagerness to
every word ute ed by the speaker.
There was quite sprinkling Of farmers
in the crowd. s0u-e of whom drove ten
miles to be present
AIr. Botkin took for his text the fourth
chapter of Luke. from the 14th to 22d
verses. lie also read the fifth chapter Of
Nehemiah.
He said that no better custom could
be followed than going to church. 1t is
good for the wOrkingman and good for
every one. Christ had exalted labor by
working at the carpenter trade until he
was 80 years old. sIf the churches are
too large and gaudy," he continued, ''as
is the case with some of them-nOt all
then 90 to the Salvation Army which is a
blessed institution. I do not complain
because the rich build fine churches, but
1 have thought that if they spent it to
build churches and work among the poor
it might be better spent
1T is the Lords mission to heal broken
hearts and there are broken hearts all
over Kansas and all over the nation to-
day and it is the mission of the true
preacher to heal those broken hearts.
ssJesus was the model preacher and
the most prominent thing in his career
was that he preached to the poor.
''God did not intend that there should
be any slavery and Christ came TO preach
the deliverance of the captive. Any sys-
tenn which Expresses or bruises is out of
harmony with the teachings of Christ
In Christ's time once in every so years
the jubilee trumpet sOunded-the cap
tives were set free and everything rever-
ted 10 its original owner
'You may not be ready for this now,
but II IS Gods idea There is no such
thing IN Gods teachings as Il title to land
in fee simple. All land belonged to God.
There were some sharpers then as now.
They leased the land but couldn't buy it.
The whole thing had to go back at the
end of 30 years. OF course this plan
would not satisfy the men who want to
own large tracts of land. You may say
it is reputation but it is Gods plan and
God is going to work out his ideas just
as sure assyou live.
''Ihe world has never yet seen a per-
feet government or civilization, nor will
we for many years-there are good
things about our government and there
are bad things. We elect men to the
Legislature and congress continually to
make new laws and to change things be
cause we recognize that our system is
not perfect The general trend of every
thing is toward perfect form Of govern
ment." The preacher then took up the
subject OF LABOR.
II say and / earnestly believe that
American labor is in slavery, that is as
as African slavery. I believe
The Lord will thunder away until these !
5hackles are broken. If we could come i
back to the Golden Rule all strife be-
.ween the employer and the employed |
would cease, and the government, which |
IS conducted nearest in the channels Of |
he Golden Rule, will be nearest per
feet
I'VE are told that American labor is
better of than European labor. We |
1On't want European labor or European /
conditions, and our laboring men won't /
nave them Our working men won't I
make the comparison between themselves I
and European laborers, and they ought /
lot to. We are told that the condition of I
our working men IS better than
t was fifty years ago when
our fathers toiled. They used that as an
to induce the labOrin gman to /
De cOntented with his lot. This is not I
light His condition should be better I
han 90 years ago. Are we never to pro- /
yressl We have made progress in I
else why should not the
condition be better
Rev. Mr.. Botkin then read an extract /
rom letter written by e&- President Har-
-isOn in which he said that when the star I
If the labcringman goes out then comes
anarchy or car.
'EThis is one of the best things ever
uttered by that noble man" said the
speaker. Il know what you working I
men are thinking about continued he. 1
whether we milliOnaires like it or not
LaughteE) You are not comparing
your condition with Europeans or with
TOur fathers condition fifty years ago.
on are comparing your condition with
hat of your employer. The Havermey-
II brothers get $4,000 apiece as a salary
rom the sugar trust and the men who
10 the work get $3.50 a day. These are
he men who make the $4,000 to pay
he Havermeyer salaries and can you
blame them for being dissatisfied with
heir condition."
IitiOn of the men who work in a New
FORK factory with the owner Of the fac
DRY. THAT contrast" he said, sis
rhine against humanity, against God.
md contrary to the TEACHINGS /
# the carpenter preacher. just as long
s we attempt to solve the question Of
abor and capital on old lines we will
all We must inject more of the re-
igion of Christ into our efforts. My
leart aches when I see men and their
antilles suffering all over this country.
'ne mayor of Wellington is here and he
will sustain me when L say that bstween
Il f~.~- T. T-