The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-05-05
MINISTER'S AND SOUND MONEY.

The Charlotte Observer of April % b
said:
1--WE tell you the preachers are with
US. One of them, a country preacher,
and one of the best men in the world,
said to the editor of the Observer on
the street yesterday afternoon: 1
glory in the stand you have taken
hold your ground With a check for
renewal of subscription, there came,
last night, through the mail, from an
other preacher, this line of cheer and
comfort: Keep up the fight for sound
money and commercial honesty We
could not undertake to tell how many
other ministers have sent similar words
of appreciation. They are wiuhus because
the matter of integrity is involved IN
this issue and because upon this we are
support they are giving US we thank
them with all our hearts,.
We regret that the Observer failed
to give the names of those ministers
The people would like to get a look at
them. Such things go far toward pop
ularizing the very common belief that
the churches are ION the side of human
slavery" and in believing this the
masses are disposed to discriminate be
tween the Christian religion itself and
the church membership, preachers in
Guided.
It is not charged that near all of the
ministers are like the ones mentioned
by the Observer. We are satisfied that
many preachers are Jealous Christians;
that they are far removed from the ad-
vocacy of human slavery. But they
are not included in that class who ad-
vocate the eiogle standard and the con-
srQlenU ruin it is bringing with it.
We ara told that ministers are poorly
paid as q class. In large cities q few
brilliant preachers get large salaries,
but the average town, village and
country preacher doesn't get a very
large salary. However, the gold stand
ard comes to the rescue, and that is
why some of them lose sight OF the
public welfare aud advocate it. One
hundred dollars in gold to day will buy
1852 worth of products as compared to
prices in 1873, thus adding nearly two
thirds to a stated salary. In other
words, the minister a live Just as
well on the same salary and lay up $62
out Of every hundred dollars he gets.
Very nice for the preacher, or for any
other ealaried man, provided his salary
is forthcoming, But it is only a ques
ton of time until salaries will have to
be a justed according to everything
else, and then the saIaried man will be-
gin to kick.
How is it on the other hand2 The
farmers are the mudslll. Unless they
can make a profit, large or small, they
cannot pay salaries, nor give adequate
support to business men who have to
pay salaries. The natural and newt
able consequence will o appear-no
salaries will be paid. 1t has been sug
gested that a law to pay Congressman
and others according to the price of
farm products would be a good thing,
and that arrangements would soon be
made to put business in better shape.
But Congress will not pass such a law
However, the people can pass such a
law among themselves and give gold
bug preachers q DIT that will bring
them back to their senses. Better still,
refuse to pay gold0ug preachers a cent
Of your good money. Your Creator
does not require you to support such
gospel expounders. Every member of
the church should take steps to fad
where his preacher stands in this fight
between the money power and the PEG
pie.