Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-09-14
But you go with me and will show

But you go with me and / will show
you-not so far off as Sheffield, Eng
land-factories, banking houses, store
houses, and costly enterprises where
this Christ-like injunction of my text
is fully kept, and you could no more
get the employer to practice an injus-
tice upon his men, or the men to con-
spire against the employer, than you
could get your right hand and your
left hand, your right eye and your left
eye, your right ear and your left ear,
into physiological antagonism. Now,
where is this to- begin? In our homes,
in our stores, on our farms-not wait
ing for other people to do their duty.
Is there divergence now between the
parlor and the kitchen? Then there
is something wrong, either in the par
Tor or the kitchen, perhaps in both
Are the clerks in your store irate
against the firm? Then there is some
thing wrong, either behind the counter.
or in the private Office, or perhaps in
both.
The great want of the world today
is the fulfillment of this Christ-like
injunction, that which he promulgated
in his sermon Olivetic. All the polite
al economists under the archivault of
the heavens in convention for a thou
sand years cannot settle this contro-
versy between monopoly and hard
work, between capital and labor. Dur
ing the Revolutionary war there was a
heavy piece Of timber to be lifted, per-
haps for some fortress, and a corporal
was overseeing the work, and he was
giving commands to some soldiers as
they lifted: "Heave away, there! 70
heave!" Well, the timber was too
heavy; they could not get it up. There
was gentleman riding by on a horse.
and he stopped and said to this cor
poral, "Wny don't you help them lift?
That timber is too heavy for them to
lift" NO." he said, 81 won't: am a
corporal" The gentleman got off his
horse and came up to the place.
Now" he said to the soldiers, 'all to-
gether-yo heave" and the timber
went to its place. Now" said the
gentleman to the corporal, when you
have a piece of timber too heavy for
the men to lift, and you want help, you
send to your COMMUNICATIVE chief" 1t
was Washington. Now, that is about
all the Gospel / know-the Gospel of
giving somebody lift, a lift out OF
darkness, a lift out of earth into
heaven. That is all the GOSPEL |
krow-the Gospel of helping somebody
else to lift.
The greatest friend of capitalist and
toiler, and the one who will yet bring
them together in complete accord, was
born one Christmas night while the
curtains Of heaven swung, stirred by
the wings angelic. Owner of all things
all the continents, all worlds, and all
the islands of light. Capitalist of i'm
mensity, crossing over to our condition.
Coming into our world. not by gate
Of palace, but by door of barn. Spend
ing his first night amid the shepherds.
Gathering afterward around him the
fishermen to be his chief attendants.
With adze, and saw, and chisel, and
axe, and in carpenter shop showing
himself brother with the tradesmen.
Owner Of all things, and yet on hill
lock back of Jerusalem one day re-
signing everything for others, keeping
not so much as a shekel to pay for his
obsequies: by charity buried in the
suburbs of city that had cast him
out. Before the cross of such cap
italist, and such carpenter, all men
can afford to shake hands and wor-
ship. Here is the every mans Christ.
None so high, but he was higher.
None so poor, but he was poorer. At
his feet the hostile extremes will yet
renounce their animosities, and coun-
tenances which have glowered with the
prejudices and revenge of centuries
shall brighten with the smile OF heaven
as he commands: Whatsoever ye would
that men should do to you, do you even
so to them"