The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-07-18

ion from this leaven. Rather, he expects
the happiest practical results to be real
lied when these doctrines shall have be-
come life.
Probably there is some truth in the
common allegation, that the unreligious
remain in the attitude which they hold
toward religion because of the short
comings of those who profess and call
themselves Christians" But whatever
may be true of this fact considered as
cause it is illogical and incompetent con-
sidered as an excuse. The leading ques-
ton with any man should be, not whether
the practice Of other people is consistent
with their professions; nor yet whether
their conduct is as it ought to be with
out respect to their professions; but
this, whether his own attitude and acts
are as they should be. If the course OF
the unreligious man is right, it is 30 on
it's own merits; if it is wrong, it is 30 on
it's own demerits. And if he is right he
needs no justification, he need not refer
to the behavior of others: if he is wrong
it will not avail him one whit that some
body else is not right. His aversion to
religion is the matter with him; and it
is in no way compensated or mitigated
by his aversion to the professors Of re-
ligion.
Mr.. Carnegie in the North Ameri.
can concurs with Paul Leroy Beaulieu
in the Forum, in the opinion that COM
mercial and industrial prosperity will
not return to the United States until
such action is taken by the parties, the
government, and the people, concurrent
ly, as shall restore the confidence Of the
holder Of capital in the safety Of in
vestments in any line of business in this
country. At present capital at homo
and abroad, hesitates to 60 into Ameri.
can ventures because it is uncertain
what may become Of itself. Leroy
Beaulieu says that this country is the
natural outlet for the savings Of the old
world. Money has been flowing hither
in increasing quantities for many years.
The attempts to legislate silver into q
money value above it's market value have
awakened distrust throughout all circles
of investors. Capital has not only been
withheld, it has been withdrawn in large
quantities. Both of these authorities
predict gloomy times ahead on account
of the vogue financial heresies have
among US.
The closing years Of life with Gold
win Smith as with Gladstone are utilized
in religious studies. Both select some-
what ambitious topics for men who are
not trained theologians. In our iudg-
ment Smith is the keener intellect and
the more logical reasoner. His inquiry,
Is There Another Life? is conducted
by an orderly and searching method;
but can scarcely be said to come to
conclusion. He makes it strikingly ap-
parent again, however. that one who is
unable to support himself in the belief
in Immortality by the revelation of Jesus
Christ must fall immensely short of
satisfactory proof Of life after death.
At the same time we must think that
Prof. Smith gives less than their fair
weight to spiritualistic and supra mum
dane testimonies, ancient and modern.
On the other hand, the argument from
the moral nature and the moral law is
restated with exceptional force.
Few books that have ever fallen in
to our hands have had such explosive
power as Henry D. Lloyd's Wealth
Against Commonwealth" 1t is full of
dynamite. Its facts and figures are not
manufactured; they are taken from
court records and legislative and con.
gressional proceedings. Let the presen-
tation of these facts liberate the light
ening in them. All of us know many
similar facts. We could make up a
book like this. differing only in size and
in the scale on which the operations re-
ported were projected. 1t is this veri-
similitude of his facts that constitutes
the strength of the indictment Mr..
Lloyd has drawn. He shows that the
ways of corporate interests, of aggrega-
tions of wealth, of leagued industries
and businesses are often iniquitous to
degree that defies description; and he
shows that there is tendency to these
iniquitous and oppressive ways in pro-
portion as wealth and power incr ease.