The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-01
TIE MONSTER MUST BE sTRANGLED.

In that extract from the sermon preach
ed at All-Saints church by the Rev. John
~ bowman, on the night OF sunday
December sd. in which he was good
enough TO speak OF The Times a jour
nal worthy OF a place in every Christian
p, .houfehold, he said that the world is get
ting better: that the history of the world
shows that its advance under the infiu-
ences OF the Christian religion, compared
with what it was in the pagan era, shows
that II Is growing better. and that there
never was before so much goodness in
the world as there is to-day.
This Is certainly true. But Mr.. Down
man and every other minister of the
gospel. ard every other citizen who
values his liberty and the priceless privi-
leees Of a free and uns;ained life, should
recognize that those advantages which
our civilization and our religion give us
are seriously threatened at this time by
an unseen, but deadly. foe that is under
mining the foundations of both, and that
viii bring them TO decay and pull them
down In ruins unless IL is grappled with
= = strangled at once. We refer to the
(ency to State socialism. which has
lady established a powerful hold upon
the institutions Of this land. and which.
worse than that. Is growing day by day
IN the minds OF the people.
II is needless TO disguise or pretend that
we do not see 1t. The fact is that the
minds OF men all over the country are
turning from that true theory OF life
which demands of every man that he
shall rely upon himself and hard labor
for his support to the seductive, but false.
idea that government should be great
central dispenser OF good, and that the
individual has right TO expect support
from his government
Every mans common sense ought 10
teach him how utterly futile and false
such an idea Is. 1t ought 20 teach him
that there Is no great fountain of food,
clothes and homes owned and controlled
by government. from which II can dole
these things out to the people. He should
know that there Is nothing worth having
that is not created by labor. and that If
government has anything 10 give II Is be-
cause some men have labored TO create
that thing. and If government gives II
to hin, he is eating In ddleness what came
from the sweat OF another mans brow.
And ne should also know that II he can
expect 10 live idly upon what government
may dole out to him every other man
may equally expect to do the same thing.
so that It would result In all men seeking
TO pick the bones Of carcass upon which
there was no flesh at all.
This must happen IL all have the same
access to the carcass that one has. and
AZ any have access 10 IL all have the same
right of access. and all will assert the
right. Either this. then, will happen or those
who get at the carcass will seek to keep
the others away by chicanery, robbery
and fraud. This Is really what actually
happens whenever the Socialists theory
comes 10 be adopted as the rule in gov
eminent, of which the country has re-
Gently been treated to the most conspicu-
GUS illustration IN the results OF the
Lex0w committees Investigations in New
York, and every mans reading Of the
newspapers and observation of the record
of the day teaches him that the thing is
SD, ead.ng to all quarters.
Mr.. bowman. all other ministers Of
tho gospel and all good citizens should.
therefore. set 1t before them as their
iife's work 10 meet this monster. State
\soe,aiIsm, 70 fight II. 10 denounce 1t. to
Ktrusgle with wherever It shows It's head.
viii undermine and destroy the institu-
ons of all human government. and 1t
N drive out Of mems minds ali rever-
for the word OF God. II It % not