The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-31
MONEY AND MORALS
HON. HENRY WATTERSON TREATS
OF THEM IN CONJUNCTION.
The distinguished Kentuckian Ques-
Meeting, Where He Lectured.
The announcement that Hon. Henry Wat

The announcement that Hon. Henry Wat
terson would address the Contemporary
Club drew out a large attendance of the
members last night. the east room OF the
Propylaeum being filled. The speaker was
introduced by Hon. A. G. Porter, president
Of the club. His subject was Money and
Morals" and he proceeded with his remarks
with as much apparent earnestness and in
terest as If they were the Inspiration of
the moment instead Of having been first
formulated long ago and delivered many
times. The earnestness would have held the
attention of his hearers, but when to this
was added e%loquence and a picturesque
phraseology they listened with an intent
ness and other signs of enjoyment that
showed them to be well entertained. The
topic is hackneyed and no original ideas
were advanced. but the Kentucky editor
has a freedom of expression and a grace
of oratory that clothe the veriest platitudc
with interest. His theme. in brief, related
to the effect of the pursuit Of wealth upon
individual and national character. He depre-
Gated the placing of the money standard
above all others and of measuring success
in life by the commercial profits gained. The
tendency even of genius is TO follow after
the dollar: genius turns from art, and liter
allure, and science because the material re-
ward there offered is insufficient; it declines
to engage in politics and patriotic labors
because there is no money in them; IL pre-
fers to make it's millions land then to buy
a seat in the United States Senate" AS the
money standard becomes high the moral
standard inevitably becomes low. He did
not go SO far as to say that money was a
bar to salvation. but held that it's infu-
ence was likely to harden and corrupt. In
his Characterization of plutocracy and at
tendant evils he went to his highest flights
of eioquence in describing the debasing in
fiuences of Wall-street speculation. The
Believed to be in its bearing on political
institutions. 1t menaces their stability. New
ertheless, being an optimist, he declared his
confidence in the eventual overcoming OF the
plutocratic tendency.
The general drift of the age was toward
improvement in all things. The remedy
will come about. in his opinion, through
the good sense of the people and their grad
ual elevation to a higher plane of thought.
The address not being a recent production,
troubles, he Thought, would ADJUST them
of justice and right. Existing problems
seem important to those who have known
none more serious, but they are but trifing
has known in it's hundred years of life.
To those who consider the storms that have
to Wreneh t the g evernment to its founda-
tions, but have left it more stable than be-
fore. the present difficulties appear as minor
affairs. In his peroration Mr.. Watterson
paid a patriotic tribute to the institutions
and the glories of this free country.
,ss ineide d5aing h the toe oenese upon of his eerr remaT Tiue
To the race question he said he had given
much thought, but could find no solution
and left IL with God, who doeth all things
well. To make the people Of the United
States more homogeneous he would advise
New Englanders to go South and get their
hriffla edges broken Or- and SOnth6rnerS
to go North and rid themselves Of preju-
of raiment to make a Vermonter a typical
Texan, he said. He did not believe that
~defaulters and embeZzlers were always ras-
calls at heart, but though that often until
the last moment they hoped to make good
their deficits, and that they were animated
by the intentions which pave the hot PLACE
with the very short name: The speakers
forms OF expression were frequently OF the
free and breezy Western sort. which would
bring CONSERVATION to the Bostonian.
money don't belong to Them" "a measly
Million" IMAM who thinks his red-headed,
freckle-faced brats outshine the neighbour
hood" Public opinion will get on its hind
legs and kick too presumptuous men out
were a few of his picturesque phrases.
After the close of the lecture some ques-
tions were asked by some members of the
audience who wished an amplihcation OF
certain of his views. While replying to
them he spoke quite in his incisive editorial
style of the ~scandalous use of money in
our national legislature during the past
three months
Expressions from members of the club
were TO the effect that this last meeting Of
the season was the most entertaining of
the year.