The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-22
n,v OF PRAYER AND FASTING.

We referred in yesterdays paper 10
recent interview with Mr.. Henry waiter
son. in which he gave to the pubic MS
idea as TO the result Of the late national
campaign. We quoted at length from
Mr.. Wattorson, but one of the most IN
tcresung paragraphs which we did not
quote was the following:
"In 1900 we were a few million Of people
and we loved liberty. In 1909 we are
nearly a hunared million Of people and
we love money. Most Of this money Is
invested I'm what are called corporations.
Erom a handful of individuals we nave
become a nation Of institutions Inc III
dividual counts for less and less, organ
iation more and more
Here is a strange contradiction. In
one sense the distinguishing Characters
tic Of this age is ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
rights. individual responsibility. Ilme
was when the state was everything and
the individual was important only as a
contributor towards the welfare and
Glory Of the nation. The government
was sovereign and the citizens except
the few IN authority, were as so many
serfs. The people belonged to the gov
eminent
Time was when the Church was SUI
ureme. and the Individual member OF
small CONSEQUENCE except as TO his sup
port Of the Church organization.
Now. the government is Of the people
BIZ the people, for the people. The peo-
nile are supreme. The government be-
longs to them and the individual rights
and liberty of each citizen, however hum
lie Is the concern Of all while the gov
e,nments chief function is 10 protect
cocb and every citizen in his inalienable
RIGHTS among which are life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness" on the
other hand. each citizen is held to indl-
,idual accountability. lie must bear ms
mart of the public burden and he is for
hidden TO trespass upon the rights Of
others.
In the Church. generally speaking the
organization counts for little except as
the means Of promoting the spiritual
welfare of each individual member AS
to responsibility. it is not on the organ
ization. but on the individual. Each
soul is precious and it is the chief func-
ton Of the Church TO inspire each mem
Der TO be diligent in good works, as
means of promoting personal piety and of
developing Christian character.
We are not preaching. We set out with
the proposition that individualism is the
distinguishing characteristic Of modern
civilization. and these are the illustra-
tons.
But for all that. Mr.. Watterson is large
" right in what he says. We Will not
say that the american people as ma
ton love money better than they love lib
erty. But that they do love money.
with an exceeding great love- needs no
demonstration. and it is apparent that in
II csc latter days. many people have con-
coived the idea that the chief function
Of government is to aid citizens TO make
a living and TO acquire riches. There are
two classes of these-protectionists and
socialists. Thus far the socialists as an
organization have been able TO accom-
p'ish but little in the way Of legislation.
hut the protectionisis have fattened on
government favoritism and they are
largely responsible for the combines OF
which Mr. Watterson speaks.
II must be confessed. that the telegraph
rapid transit and labor-saving machinery
have made possible combinations and
corners" that could not have been or
ganized In the early days OF the republic.
Eut the protective system has largely
contributed to the Capitalization of
wealth and the upbuilding Of corporations
While the Antitrust laws" have done
little or nothing towards holding the So
called trusts" in check.
Now you have the whole story. on
he one hand American individuallsm pro-
nounced independent. assertive agrees
slye; on the other hand combinations.
which tend in many instances to destroy
competition and TO stihe individual enter
.nrisA- Hence the irrepressible conflict.