The Advocate and news., 1898-12-28
PROSPERITY.

Kansas has prosperity, lots Of tit il
the most prosperous State in the Union
and we do not rely upon the Topeka Cap,
ital's word to back US up in this. We
have the evidences. There are the big
crops and the many herds of live stock
and the new machinery on the farm and
the raising of rent in town. Then we
have statistics and trusts, both sure sur
face indications Of prosperity. There
are two kinds Of statistics-One to show
that Kansas could never be prosperous
under prohibition and the other to prove
that Mckinley and ]. Ralph Burton did
lt--and the only difference is that one is
the other polished up with kerosene. We
have the plumbers trust, the coal trust,
and a host of other local trusts, as well
as those of national influence. They are
here and prosperity has brought them;
mo trust, no bust" was the motto dis
played in the corner grocery, you re-
member, and the reverse Of that is ex-
actIy the condition Of our businesses
to-day. Self-preservatiOn forces them to
abandon the sinking hulk of the COM
petitive system for socialistiC OrganiEa-
ion, for competition is destructive OF
prosperity.
But we degrees. We started out to
call attention to dlscordant and un-
happy note that arises in the midst of
all this prosperity. The Kansas City
Journal and the Topeka Capital, which,
IL their own testimony is to be believed,
are leading dailles Of this State, have
called attention to the fact that our
prosperity has been misapprOpriated. In
Topeka and Kansas City 1t has been ma
liciously diverted from public and God
given ends to private and selfish uses.
Through the sagacity Of the Journal 1t
develops that certain persons in Kansas
City have used their cunning and INTEL
ligenCe to accumulate wealth and erect
large buildings and provide lavish enter
tainments unmindful Of the fact that
others whose souls are just as divine
lack the physical strength or the mental
ability to do the same things. Therefore
Kansas City prosperity is one-sided; 1t
leans away from great many who suf-
fer in consequence from cold and hun
ger. When the big snow storm came
last month, and again at Christmas time,
the Journal called attention to the des-
titution and want and suggested that 1t
should be relieved. 1t will do the same
thing next year.
On the arrival at Topeka Of last
months cold snap the Capital urged that
those unprovided with the necessaries Of
life should be looked after and notified
that they were prosperous and freezing
and were therefore entitled to a pair Of
secondhand trousers or jacket or some
old shoes or maybe visit from the city
physician. On Christmas morning the
Capital published quite long list Of
cases Of destitutlon and sickness among
the poor, and said that they were only
few of the many in the city. It spoke
Of one old man who had worked himself
out and was ending his days with moth
ing but gaunt poverty surrounding him
and his old wife. Like the Journal, the
Capital wanted relief, not cure. 1t will
also make the same sort Of an appeal
next year, although there is every indi'
cation that Topeka will witness more
prosperity than ever before in 1899.
1t was unlIind, to say the least, Of the
Journal and Capital to break in on pros
perity at the very time when people
wanted to give presents to their relatives
and friends and enjoy themselves and
forget why Christ came into the world.
They should have done this just before
election.
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