The times., 1898-04-18
TRUSTS AND MONOPO[IES
Senator Butler IjiScOurSeS on
Their Evil Influence.
The PEOPLE ARE TO BLAME
III Is Their Fault That Unmcrifed
and Unjust Power Is in the Hands
of the Few-The Three Eiements
That Operate TO Make Million
aires.

Senator Marion Butler of North Caro-
lima delivered an address at the Peoples
Church last evening against the workings
Of trusts and monOpolies. Senator But
Ter did not attack the trusts and persons
:, +hero in any direct manner. He rather
made the people the subject of his attack,
blaming them for allowing the placing of
such power in the few against the
many.
The subject of Senator Buffers talk
was the Duty of Moral Forces with
Relation to Trusts and Monopolies lie
said in part:
mans fnhumanity to man causes
countless millions to mourn. Does that
annIv 10 this broad land of ours. Is such
inbumanity in this government of the
neonIe possible? II it is-why so? If
so-what is the church doing about it?
1 think we can state il as truth that
in the government of a republic misery
distress poverty. and great inequalities
.bat God did not intend, cannot exist if
the great moral forces of the colleges,
schools and churches do their duty
ITO say ii another way-The Influences
that combine and cOnspire to levy tribute
upon the many, cannot successfully carry
our their purpose and produce results
such as we have before US, unless these
influences succeed in muZzling the press,
the pulpit and all the fountains OF learn
ing
Al this point Senator Butler told s-ory
of a recent visit TO great Eastern city
II was Sunday he said, and leaving his
hotel he jolned the moving mass OF rest
less humanity promenading the streets.
thinking he would follow them TO the
nearest church. He entered one OF the
most magnificent he had ever been. Ten
people were on the inside when he entered
and but few entered to increase the num-
ber before the service ended When he
ks.5 beard tts sermon il was easy 10
guess why the seats were vacant The
preacEqr cd not preach religion, but
Shaped his szr4aons 10 suit the desires OF
the millionaires who buile the edifice for
the church was attended By the rich
upper-ten clement The preacher was
engaged TO preach the religion this ele-
ment wanted 10 hear.
Il don't blame millionaires for builAt
ing great edifces. / don't desire 10
arouse prejudice against millions. l wish
we were all millionaires, providing there
was enough wealth for millions to 20
]
poor myself and despise pover.y. l be-
Ieve we ought 10 have eDJugh Of this
worlds goods to make US comfortable
TO give US equal orportu .ities. / don't
complain bece.Ise men accumulate
wealth. ] dc complain Of the masses oil
people WLo are deprived Of the oppor
tuuiIy 20 acquire the wealth they earn
COMPLAIN that those who create tn
wealth of the nation do no; enjoy IT.
place the blame where it belongs. II
my country / know a preacher whl
breaches the gospel every Sunday. bu
never attacks any of the glaring evil
around him. When asked why he sal,
he would lose his charge. There ar
plDtOcrats in my country. too-little plu
tocrats-who are even as bad a!
big plut0crats for they try [,
Initiate. and 50 doing make apes of them
selves. A minister should TO a certain
extent. attack local and national evils
The minister who makes appeals TO
wealthy congregation for money for III
pOverty-stricken does one duty. H
ought. then, 10 turn and inquire into th
Pause Of the poverty.
at is the duty Of esery student Of phi
losophy. Of every preacher to take tn
lead, TO organize committees of inquir!
into the cause Of this poverty.
The great trouble is there is no
enough true religion in politics. No
enough uphoIding right principles and al
tacking bad ones.
There is one important opportunit,
we little think of-sunlight. Suppose Dr.
Kent and I should get control of sunligh
and form d trust. Inside Of a week ",
would be the worst sinners on the earth
The very fact that we had such grea
power would turn our hearts. and ele
ments OF greed would enter, making u
mad. We would begin TO dream Of pow
er- In fact. there would be no limit L
our greed II ever q should happen tha
We get such a cinch on light don't blam,
US. You'd DO the same thing. Som'
n1igIt not, bu; the majority would. anC
the majority rules The majority woul'
do the very thing they denounce the feV
for doing. We should not only avoid pow
er. but the resemblance Of power. Tn
temptation Of power is too great
III so. Il is our fault 10 tempt men b.
giving them such monopolistic power
Those few men we allow to be tempte
are. We must say, responsible for ou
Ills The people suffer as a result AM
ought TO. You have not done your duty
And how much longer are you going 4
wait to right things / were mil
lionaire and gave $1,000 10 a college
would be a 'philanthropist:' my nam
would be black in the headlines of tn
newspapers. But what Of the thous
ands that are fed at the 'soup-houses@
There are many essentials to our com
mOn well being-things as essential {
business prosperity as the blood in on
bodies. There are certain great evils
II is a principle OF good government tina
every man should be able TO compel
with his neighbor in any business o
equal terms and 10 be able TO do
he should have the guarantee of the Gov
ernment that he be protected equally wit
his neigllbOr.
''One opportunity is money. You can
moi make q transaction without it. II i
essential. therefore. that we see that
SpUsrar <oTrrE4S