The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-09-06
gether. Suppose they take the money that

what different state OF things We would
have in this country and they would have
IN Great Britain!
Do YOU not realize the fact that mon
work better without stimulant? You say,
"Will you deny the laboring men this help
which they get from strong drink, borne
down rs they are with many anxleties and
exhausiing work." I would deny them
nothing that is good for them. I would
deny them strong drink. Ii had the power,
because 1t Is damaging to them. Myfather
said: u became u temperance man In
early lire because I found that In tho
harvest field, while was naturally weaker
than the other men. I could hold out longer
than any Of them. They took stimuiant
and I took none."
Everybody knows they cannot endure
great fntiGue-men who indulge IN stlmu-
lants. All our young Elen understand
that. When they arc preparing for the re-
gatta, or the ball club, or the athletic
wrestling, they abstain from strong drink.
Now, suppose nll this money that is
wasted were gathered together and put In
to cooperative institutions. Oh. We
would have very different state OF things
from what we have now.
remark again, the laboring classes OF
this country arc to find great relief when
they learn, all OF them learn, forecast and
providence. Vast numbers OF them put
down their. income and they put down
their expenses, and X the income meets
the expenses that Is oil that Is necessary.
I know laboring men who are in perfect
fldget until they have spent their last dol.
lar. They fly around everywhere until
they get 1t spent. A case came under my
observation where young man was
receiving $500 year and earned 1t
by very hard work. The marriage day
came. The b1lde had received $500 as an
inheritance from her grandfather. She
put the $500 tu wedding equipment. Then
the twain hired two rooms on the third
story. Then this man, who had most ar
duous employment, just as much as he
could possibly endure, got evening en-.
ployment 80 he could earn few dollars
more and by this extra evening employ
ment almost eStinguished his eyesiSht.
Why did he tnke this extra evening en-
ployment? Was 1t to lay by somethipg for
a rainy day? No! Was it to get life in-
surance so that II he should die his " 80
would not be pauper? No! 1t was for
the one purpose OF getting Ills wife $3.50
sealskin sacque. I am just giving you q
fuct I know. The sister Of this woman, al
though she Is very poor Girl, was no: to
and night and toiled and tolled and toiled
almost into the grave until she got $3.50
sealskin sacque! Well, the news went
abroad all through the street. Most otthe
people on that street were laboring, hard
working people, and they were not to be
outshone n this way, and they all went to
work in the same. direction and practically
said, though not literally: Though the
heavens fall we must have a sealsIln
sacque!"
A clergyman in Iowa told me that hll
church and the entire nelghbordood had
been ruined by the fact that the people
mortgaged their farms In order to go down
to the Philadelphia Centennial In 1876.
First, one family would 80, then another
family, and fluaIly it was not respectable
not to 60 to the Centennial at Philadel-
phla, and they mortguged their farms. Tho
church and the neighborhocd ruined In
that way. Now, between such fools and
pauperlsm there Is only a very short step.
In time OF peace prepare for war. In time
OF prosperity prepare for adverstty. Yet
how many there are who drive on tue
verge Of the precipice, and ut tho least
touch Of accident or sickness over they 10.
Ah, my friends, 1t is not right, 1t Is not
honestI He that provideth not for his own,
and especially those Of his own househ old,
Is worse thun IN inldel. A man has no
right to live in luxury und have all COM
forts and all brightness around him, TAX
ing his family with him at that rate
everything bright and beautiful and lux
urious until he stumbles against tomb
stone and falls In, and they all so to the
poorhouse. That is not common honesty.
I nm no advocate OF skinf1int saving. I
abhor it. But plead ;or Christian provl-
dence.
Some OF the older persons remember
very we'll Abraham Van Nest, OF New York,
~ re
often called mean because he calculated
so closely. Why did he calculate closely?
That he might have the more to give.
There was not e Bible society or n tract
society or a reformatory institution In the
city OF New York but he had his han j In sup
porting It, He denied himself many luxu-
ries that he might give to others the neces-
stiles. he has been many years reaping
his reward in heaven, but shall never
forget the day when I, n green country
lad, came to his house and spent the even
was departing, he accompanied me to the
door, accompanied me to the steps, came
down off the steps and said: "Here, De
Witt, is $40 for books. Don't say any,
thing about IT," It Is mean or 1t Is mag
nihcent to save, according as you suve for
a good or bad object.
know there, are many people who have
much to say against savings banks and
life assurances. I have to tell you that the
vast majority OF the homesteads in this
country have been the result Of such insti-
tutions, and have to tell you also that
the vast majority OF homesteads OF tue fu-
ture for the laboring classes will be the re-
suit OF such institutions. 1t will 10 great
day for the working classes OF England
and the United States when the working
man can buy barrel OF flour instead OF
-four by the SHALL snck; when he can buy
a barrel OF sugar instead OF sugar by tue
pound; when he can pay cash for coats
and hats and shoes r1ther than pay IN ad-
dltlonal amount for tho reason that he has
to get 1t all charged.
know gentleman very we'll who has
over 1000 hands I'll his employ. I said to
him some years ago when there was great
trouble In the labor market, chow are you
getting on with your men7" COB" he said,
II have no troubled" why" said, "nave
not you had any strlkes?' ooh, not" he
said. "I never had any trouble" "What
plan do you pursue?" He said: II will tell
you. All my men know every year just
how matters stand. Every little while
call them together and say: Now, boys,
last year I made 40 much. This year !
much rs did last year. Now, want to
know what you think ought to have as
a percentage out OF this establishment
and what wages ought to give you. You
know put all my energy IN this business,
put all my fortune in 1t and rlsGGd every
thing. What do you really think ought
to have and you ought to have? BY the
time we come out OF that consultation We
are unanimous. There has never been an
exception. Wien we prosper We will pros
per together. When we suffer, We all suffer
together, and my men would die for me-"
Now, let all employers be frank with their
employees. Take them into your conf
dence. Let them know just how matters
stand. There Is an immense amount OF
common sense In the world. 1t is ALWAYS