The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-10-30

THE WAYS OF MONOPOLY AND THE
METHODS OF FRATERNALISM-FO
ARGUMENTS SAKE, THE TWO ARE
PLACED IN HEAVEN AND HELM
THE FORMER A GOOD THING DIS,
COVERED GOES ALL AROUND-THE
FINDER DEVIDES WITH THOSE
LESS FORTUNATE-HOW 1T IS IN
SATAN'S DREARY ABODE-THE DIS
COVERER OF A SPRING OF WATER
FENCES IT IN WITH BURNING
THE THIRSTY SO MUCH A DROP
THIS IS HE'LL"
Condensed from a sermon by the Rev. w. H
Hull, Ia, June %, 1895.
AS it is easier to Judge rightly when
we are not personally interested, or
when the events are distant in time
and space, we are more apt to have
correct ideas Of justice by linking
what would be proper in heaven and
hell, and likely to happen in heaven
and hell, than in deciding between
ourselves and our neighbors. Let us
compare few every day occurrences
with the heavenly and hellish orders
and see which we most resemble.
Suppose there were this day discov-
cred, in heaven, some hitherto un-
known good that would still further
augment the bliss of celestial citi-
zens What do you think would hap
pen? Would the dscoverer claim sole
possession? Would he demand "mon-
opoly-price rent:" Would he warn
trespassers away unless they could
plank down the requisite cash? That
is not the common idea of heaven.
Rather the discoverer would hasten
away to spread the good news and in
vite all and sundry to come and share
in the common good.
Now suppose that in some hitherto
unexplored portion of his satanic mai
esty's dominion a spring Of clear. cold
water were found-what do you think
would happen? Why, of course, the
proper thing to do in that climate
would be to keep the secret till a high
fence surmounted with burning brim-
stone could be built, and then to sell
the wates atSa1 E.acts1 INrdas;p as the
thirsty prisoner could be induced to
pay. That is, monopoly price" would
be charged-all the traffic would bear,
you know.
Now, to which of these two ways do
we bear the closest resem blance? If
an oil well were discovered in town
tomorrow, what would be the result?
Simply that one man or set of men
would have so much wealth they
would be likely to make fools of them
selves, while the rest of us would be
very little better off than today How
the same time that wages has gone
DOWN: our oil (gone up cents a gal
Ion the past mOnth); our land (the
first squatter getting all the rsel; cor
ner lots (the profits going often to idle
vagabOnds riOting in Europe): lea ather
(up 25 per cent?; beef Cup to the con-
sumer at the same time that it is
down to the producer-burning the
candle at both ends), etc.
Take patents. Suppose new in
vention in heaven. Added comfort to
all would be our first thought. How
would it be in hell? A monopoly of
course. How is it here? A little bet
ter times for all with special rewards
to the inventors (more likely the capi-
talist, who buys the right?) Not at
all. ''All the traffic will BEAR" is the
simple rule.
That ancient way, the good old plan,
That he Sha ii no has the
And he shall keep who can"
Now, in all soberness, is "business,
as we know it, heavenly or helliSh?
Can there be trust or any other
form Of monopoly in truly Christ tian
state? The question needs no answer.
Do not say that this better way is i'm
practicable, unless you are ready to
repudiate the Bible. Moses is com
tical ideas. Jesus of Nazareth is
reckoned as a clear thinker. More
over, we do have many things carried
on in this very way. Our schools are
free to all. The postotfice serves US
all at cost. The poorest man may
have Gn theory at least) the services
OF our police. The highways are free
from toll gates The rivers are free to
all who care to use them. Really, |
cannot think Moses an old fogy and
Jesus Christ a dreamer. of course, it
seems odd to those who have not
thought much about the matter. But
80 to China and advocate free public
schools for all the boys and girls and
some gravely wise mandarin will say
as one said to our missionary: "What.
You want to educate our girlS3 You
will want to educate our COWS neXtW
Co.education was as mpracticable to
him as cooperation is to you.
Home is very real thing. Some of
us think it is the very best place in
the world: the trueSt place; the place
where heaven is the nearest. Now
very few homes, worthy the name, are
where husband snatches from wife,
where brother overreaches sister.
Average stable manners" are not one
with the principles of business
''claim the world and give up as little
as you must" There is very little of
that competition, which is the life Of
trade, in thoroughly Christian
home. Do we, as rule, allow one
child to get all the bread and another
all the meat and milk, while the 9TH
ers go hungry? l never yet knew a
father to charge his son per cent a
month.
Do you say we cannot carry on busi-
ness on these principles? Then why
not be honest and say right out that
you are an infidel? Ii the Bible is not
to be trusted for this world l certain
ly have no use for it as guide for
the next. But as a matter OF fact