The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-10-28
REV. FATHER MALONE OF DENVER
LECTURED AGAINST SOCIAL
ISTIC FALLACIES.
.DEMEGOGUE ROUNDLY DENOUNCED
The Popular Cry Against Corporate
Capital Ii Declared Great
wrong-Tactics to "HO1d Up"
Capital Denounced.

uOOrS CnlS evening Win people 10 llSlel
to the eloquent clergyman, Rev. I. h..
Malone, deliver his much discussed lee
ture, "Socialistic Fallacies.'
So great was the demand for admis-
sion that hundreds were turned away,
and for the benefit of those who were
unable to hear, Father Malone tonight
consented to deliver the lecture again
next Sunday night.
Father Malone's criticisms of the
numerous theories ut present advanced
for the betterment of mankind were
we'll and favorably received.
Father Malone said in part:
1.-The wild and senseless attacks
which the demagogue makes upon CAPT.
tai and legitimate corporations in 6ehal1
of the laboring men are to be deeply de-
plored by honest, lawabiding citizens
1t is unfortunate for labor that ire
spOnsible blathelskites are allowed to in
ject themselves into labor difficulties and
to misrepresent the position of honest
labor towards capital. The demagogue
who would make it appear that class is
naturally histile to class; that the rich
and poor are intended by nature to live
at war with one another. Both the rich
and the poor must be made to understand
that capital can not do without labor, nor
labor without capital.
L
cause its vOtaries chiefly engage them
selves in unjust and senscess attacks
on corporate wealth; and second, because
it is untenable from religious phlio-
sophical and economic point of view.
"Intelligent citizens should firmly OPP
pose system that would destroy estab-
lished institutions solely for the purpose
of arranging a more general distribution
of wealth.
I'm entertaining these convictions ! am
not unmindful that great corporations.
representing as they do, millions, and
sometimes hundreds of millions of dol,
gives them to the injury of particular
classes of private individuals or small
corporations. but this am satisfied is the
exception. not the rule. When cOrpor-
atoms have been given unjust privileges,
then these privileges should be cnrtaied.
1t is because the masses of the people
fail to distinguish between privileges
that are just and those that are unjust
that corporations in general are con-
founded with trusts and monOpOlies and
made the object of the demagogue''s
rantngs. As long as competition is
free. it is as senseless to rail at corporate
Corporations owe their existence TO the
law: it governs them. They are as
amcnable to existing laws as any indi-
vidual in the land. To assume that
those who execute the laws are dishon-
est and the governments servants. once
the government has assumed control of
private industry. would be dishonest in
the administration of the government $
business. is a prepOSterous assumption.
TO argue that laws can not he enforced
against corporations, is to argue. that the
race is depraved and to admit that there
is no hope for civilization.
and judges would it not
be the height of folly to place the vast
interests involved in corporate at the
mercy of men. who are said to he cor
rupt! But. it is argued. that wealthy in
dividuals and powerful corporations cor
rupt our legislatures and debauch the
peoples representatives. This indeed. is
a most serious charge. Think of it. Our
manly. pure and spotless representa- tives.
men whose integrity and honesty is as
immaculate as a virgin. are dead as the
agents of corporations. so they become
forgetful of the peoples interests and
few paltry pieces of silver. Really. |
don't know what punishment should he
mcted out tn the corporations and the
men of wealth who soil the pure and
spotless doves that compose our city
councils and the average state Iegisla-
lures
st must he an awful mower that
these men WELD that men who have
never tarried in the primrose path of
dalliance should suddenly forget their
school teachings and for bit
of shining gold betray themselves. their
state and their country.
"Rut what are the facts in the case ?
The facts are that. generally spcaking,
the corporations are forced. in self-dp-
Tense 70 keen legislation within proDpr
limit and to defeat schemes of unscr,lpu-
lous LOBBYISTS and wire pnllers. whose
main object is to fleece both the public
and the corpora lions.
"If corpora tiOns have their agents to
ward off legislation in their affairs that
might he productive of serious conse-
uIlences, it must not be forgotten tina
the legisla tors have their agents and
go-betweens who serve the purpose of
the doodle to their Iamb-like
and spotless creatures whom we are
told capital debauches and corrupts.
Every session of the average state leg
islatnre witnesses the Introduction of
bills of purely 'hold-up' character,
bills that are introduced solely for the
purpose of tprrorizing capital. corpora
lions and private individuals, so that
they will give up money in considera
ton of said bills being killed or smother
ed bv those having them in charge. Bills
are introduced to reduce the price of
the telegraph, the telephone. freight.
passenger and other charges the light
ing of our cities. the cost of riding on