The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-02-17

HOLE NO. 1919.
producers. There is no escape from
impoverishment for all producers un-
der an era of falling prices, for the
further prices fall the more produce
must be paid to the oney-lender, and
II more is paid to the meney-lender.
less must remain to wage-earners and
employers.
So we see the reason for the grow
ing dependence on charity OF large
and ever-grOwing army OF well-mean-
ing wage-earners. A large part OF the
share OF the product Of their labor to
which they are justly entitled being
taken from them by the subtle work
ings OF an appreciating dollar, which
cannot support themselves. But it is
not only this, that is, reduction of
their own wages, that injuriou>ly af-
fects them. They suffer even more
from the curtailment Of profits entail
ed on employers by the subtle cause of
a rising dollar and falling prices.
Profits being undermined, the incen-
tive to industry is lessened and en-
ployers curtail prod duction. This
throws willing toilers out of work and
leaves them without means OF earning
livelihood. Thus deprived of the
means Of providing against the rigors
Of winter for themselves, they are
forced to appeal to the charitable Or
ganization for help. In no other way
can they keep body and soul together.
In every city in the land this army
Of willing toilers unable to find work
is growing with appalling rapidity.
Thus, we have Chicago's $4,000 Of un-
employed. $4,000 in need OF fuel and
food, and $4,000 on the verge Of starva-
tion.
And from this side of the picture
we turn to the other extreme Of So
ciety that is being built up by the sys-
tenn that lays an ever-increasing tri-
butte on our producing classes for the
benefit of those who are SO fortunate
as to be owners of debts. This small
class grows richer just as the great
class engaged in the production Of
wealth grows poorer. And as those
er, so grows their love of display, riot
Gus living and wanton waste of
wealth. The attention of the public
has been rivite1 on this tendency by
the preparations for coming fancy
ball to be given at the Waldorf, New
York, by Mrs. Bradley Martin, on a
scale of extravaganza never before
equaled. A quarter of million dol
lars, we are told, is to be spent on
this one evening Of festivity, and in
the entertainment of three hundred
guests. But SO SumputOuS have the
entertainments in New York become
that even the grandly extravagant
preparations being made for the
Bradley Martin ball would have at
tracted no attention, save as a society
event, if pastor of one Of the elite
congregations of New York, the Rev.
DR.. Rainsford, had not taken it upon
himself to criticise such an unseemly
display of wealth, and advise several
Of his parishioners not to attend the
ball.
Such criticism naturally raised a
Vulnerable of DR.. Rainsford and of
the Bradley ball. And yet,
in ali the dispute, the real objection
| to such an eXtravagant expenditure
Of money as it is expected will be
| thrown into this one entertainment
is not touched upon. The Rev. Dr.
| Rains ford does not object to the ball
because OF the wanton waste of
wealth that it must entail; he objects
| to it not because he is opposed to such
luxurious entertainments, but be-
cause he deems that the display Of
great wealth in any form of enter
tainments at this time is untimely;
untimely, not because he deems it
wrong to revel in luxury while thous-
ands are starving. but because he
| fears these starving thousands will
be driven to desperation and deeds Of
violence by such displays of wealth.
Grind wage-earners down to poverty,
build up your own fortunes on their
mpoverishment, if you can, but do
not flaunt before the eyes Of impover-
ished wretches the wealth they have
| ted to enjoy. 1t will not do; it will
Such is the fear that impels Dr.
Rainsford to criticlse the Brady
Martin ball. He criticises, not
because he thinks layish expenditure
and waste in entertainment wrong,
but because he thinks display of
wealth at this time impolitic.
Lavish expenditures OF money on
social forms Of amusement are much
out of place." he tells US, "for the rea-
son that they draw attention to the
growing gulf that separates the rich
and the poor, and serve to increase
the discomfort of the latter uselessly."
| Not word has he to say against the
causes that are broadening the gulf
between the rich and the poor. He
| does not look upon it as an evil. In
deed, it would appear that he looks
upon the enrichment ofhis parishion-
ers at the expense of the toiling mil
lions as an unmixed blessing His
plea to his parishioners is: for
Heavens sake do not jeopardize, for
the enjoyment OF few hours wan
ton waste Of wealth., the permanence
Of the system that has made possible
and makes possible the accumulation
of this wealth. by the display Of
your wealth you will cause those whom
you have despoiled to rise up and un-
horse you. Therefore don't display
it. .50t-
The question OF eStaDliS hing q nOSt-