Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-26
The Greed for Gold.
Richmond, Va, July "a, 1893
Editor of the Dispatch:

| hSHiioiu, va, July ~ 1870.
To the Editor OF the Dispatch:
In reading the Bible to-day 1 cams
upon the following passage in Isaiah
yea, they are greedy dogs which car
never have enough. . They all look
to their own way. every one for his gair
from his quarter" These words were ut.
| tered more than three thousand years
ago by one OF the chosen, and suggest
that prophetic eyes are surely farseeing
Many thoughts now pass through my
| mind; fast and furious, too" The affairs
OF my country, after the desertion Of and
| betrayal by Grover Cleveland are often
my meditations by day and dreams by
night Grover Cleveland, by his Iscariot-
ism TO the Democratic party, turned this
country over again to monopoly.
| Monopolistic absorption OF all financial
| interests is the special attempt of our
| day, and wild mania for wealth has
! invaded our land. How TO get rich is the
4 dream OF all classes OF men in every sta
| ton Of life. Money is made superior 10
brain. Money wins elections and controls
legislation. This uncomfortable thirst for
wealth Is the instigator OF municipal
swindles, political jobbery. public thefts,
governmental fraud. and bank collapses.
Manhood is sacrificed for gain. The god
Of America Is gold, believed in by all and
served by all The free press of our land,
OF which we boast, is being largely con-
trolled by capital, and few are the news
papers that do not wear a golden muzzle.
This passion for wealth is almost a
frenzy among our people. This age and
country eclipses all others in the mad
pursuit OF wealth. This condition OF
things is significant, and we want 10
know its meaning. 1t is universally con-
coded that the congestion Of wealth is the
browning evil in our industrial life. for
gold is like blood. only good when in cir
culation. There is, furthermore. Mr.. Edi-
tor, an increasing feeling that money was
made for man, and not man for money
The blacklist clouds in the heavens OF this
republic are the gathering storm-clouds
Of monopoly. / do not fear Spain. We
have a piece of Spain nov. and soon we
will have peace with Spain. This they
say is imperialism" 1t was either a
war with Spain or revolution at home.
produced by the trust-riddcn. gold-stand-
ard party. But as for the war for wages,
II has been declared, and the war Is well
on
Money making is a disease. and all the
world is catching the contagion Farm
ceived for their labors. After toiling for
years the land is so poor they can't even
raise a mortgage on hundreds OF farms
in this State. Farmers boys all go to
the city as soon as old enough. Me-
ohanics are dissatisfied with the wages
paid them. and while increased skill pro-
duces more, decreased wages are offered
Merchants do not increase their bank ac-
counts rapidly enough. and therefore
desperate ventures are made. and adulte-
ration OF goods and the sale of shoddy
for good stock all enter in the competition
of commerce. Lawyers. who follow
calling as honorable as that Of medicine.
are turned into robbers. and many an
attorney is simply the man who rescues
your money from an enemy and keeps IL
himself Under this power statesmen are
turned into office-seekers. and eligibility
(, szice Is not question of brains. but
- Acney: tha amount Of patriotism 10