The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-24
A MOST OMNIBUS SIGN
The Right of the People to Gov
ern Themselves
IN A TRANSITION PERIOD
The Citizen Upon the Eve OF the Goth
Century-A Thoughtful Discussion
of the Topic by the Rev.
Mr.. Goodiriend.

At the Emmanuel Presbyterian church
yesterday Rev. Mr.. Goodfriend preach
ed on the subject, THE Citizen Upon
the Eve of the Twentieth Century"
His text was Quit You Like Men" He
said:
"If I were asked what is the most
ominous sign in the political and in the
religious horizon of to-day, my answer
would be the right Of the people TO
think for themselves and to govern
themselves. We are living in a great
transition period. We are living in an
age of unrest. We can no longer say
with the prophet Zeachariah, We have
walked to and fro through the earth.
and behold all the earth stitch still
and is at rest I, for one, thank God
for this unrest among the masses 1t is
a sign Of growth, of expansion, of form
ulating convictions. Stagnation means
death. There are stupendous vital is
sues before the American pee, issues
which must be settled rightly, if our
government is to exist as a republic.
Let us look at the condition of things
as found in this, the greatest country
under the sun.
How do the people look at public
corruption? Possibly, as a disgrace if
it be found out. How do the people
look upon gluttony and drunkenness?
AS a thing necessary to an advanced
civilization. How do the people consid-
er RIGHTEOUSNESS and prostitution?
Well. it is all right provided we can
contne it to some ward and call 1T the
black ward, or the bad lands, and make
| t1FFr. Of
committing crime How do the people
| look upon marriage? Possibly as a
| partnership business, to be dissolved at
| the sweet will of the judge. 1t is no
| longer looked upon as an institution
| divinely ordained, but as a commercial
| partnership. How do the people look
| upon great trusts? And what Is The
meaning of trusts? They are combina-
| 'tOns to advance prices and restrict pro-
auctions. A lumber trust is formed,
| the price of lumber is raised from SIS
| to $25 per thousand. Who pays the in
| crease? Labor remains the same. DO
not the people who build homes and
| pay rents have to pay for it? Who
| pays for the milk trusts, sugar trusts,
| coffee trusts, meat trusts, coffin trusts p?
| Should these monopolies be tolerated
| Should the state arrest a man for steal
! ing loaf of bread and keep it's eye
closed to industrial combina lions who
! operate with oVer-capitalized stock fo1
| the purpose of taking profits based or
| fictitious values? Is there any such d
thing as usury; and how is the poor
man protected from the shylocks whc
squeeze from the, needy the unlawful
| ungodly rates of interest? .
us it a Christian civilization that de-
mands of men and women to labor fol-
u or IA hours each day in order to gel
enough bread and butter to keep sou
and body together? Is it a Christian
civilization when the labor of brair
counts for more than ten fold the value
of labor of hand? Is it Christian civ
ilizaton which denies fresh air, pune
water and all the blessings of nature t
those who are doomed to a life of dredS
cry? Is it a Christian city, city lik>
Butte with it's wealth of millions Wit
it's treasures inexhaustible, that doe
not furnish the people with park, Will
music, with free lectures on varioCt
topics by the best talent, and Will
moral and heathful influences TO coun
tcract the base and the impure?
DO we in this Christian civilization
measure men by what they are. or b,
what they own? Do we think tina