The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-07-06
A NATIONS DANGERS.
d.. Talmage EloQuently Portrays
the Country's Destiny.
Monopoly the Overshadowing Curse
of Our Land-Nihilism an Evil
Power-Inhdelity = Source
Of Weakness.
lCopyright. 1899. by Louis Klopsch.l
WaShinrton

ICopyright. 1899. by Louis Klopsch.]
Washington,
In this discourse DIR. Talmage speaks |
of some of the perils that threaten our
American institutions, and points out
the path of safety; text, Isaiah 62:4:
''Thy land shall be married"
AS the greater includes the less, SO
does the circle of future JOY around our
entire world include the epicycle of our
own republic. Bold, exhilarant, unique,
Divine imagery of the text. At the close
of a week in which for four days our
national capital was a pageant and all
that grand review and hammered process
sion and national anthems could do.
celebrated peace, it may not be inapt to
anticipate the time when the Prince OF
Peace and the heir of universal domin-
ion shall take possession of this nation,
and "thy land shall be married"
In discussing the final destiny of this
nation it makes all the difference in the
world whether we are on the way to
funeral or wedding. The Bible leaves
no doubt on this subject. In pulpits
and on platforms and In places of pub
lie concourse hear SO many OF the
muffied drums of evil prophecy sound
ed-as though we were on the way to ma
tional interment, and besides Thebes
and Babylon and Tyre in the cemetery
of dead nations our republic was to be
entombed, that wish you to under
stand it is not to be obsequies. but nup-
tials; not mausoleums, but carpeted
altar; not cypress, but orange bios
SONS; notrequiem, but wedding march;
for 'thy land shall be married.
propose to name some of the suitors
who are claiming the hand of this re-
public. This land is SO fair, so beauu-
full, SO af1iuent that it has many suitors,
and it will depend much upon your adj
vice whether this or that shall be ac-
cepted or rejected. In the first place. I
remark: There is greedy, all-grasp-
ing monster who comes in as suitor
seeking the hand of this republic, and
that monster is known by the name Of
monopoly. His scepter is made out OF
the rail track and the wire of teleg-
raphy. He does everything for his own
advantage and for the robbery of the
people. Things went on from bad to
worse until in the three legislatures of
New York, New Jersey and Pennsyl-
vania for long time monopoly decided
everything. If monopoly favor law,
1t passes; if monopoly oppose law, 1t
is rejected. Monopoly stands in the
railroad depot putting into his pockets
| in one year $500, ,OOO, 900 in excess Of all
reasonable charges for services. Monop-
oily holds in his one hand the steam
power of locomotion and in the other
the electricity of swift communication.
Monopoly has the republican party in
one pocket and the democratic party
In the other pocket. Monopoly decides
nominations and elections-city cleo
tions, state elections, national elec-
tions. With bribes he secures the votes
of legislators, giving them free passes,
| giving appointments to needy rela-
tives to lucrative positions, employing
them as attorneys if they are lawyers,
carrying their goods Is per cent. less II
they are merchants, and if he find a case
very stubborn as well as very important
puts down before him the hard cash OF
bribery.
But monopoly is not SO easily caught
now as when during the term of Mr.
Buchanan the Legislative committee in
one of our states explored and exposed
the manner in which certain railway
company had obtained donation OF
public land It was found that IS o1
the senator's Of that state received SITS,
900 among them, 60 members of ths
lower house of that state received be
tween $1,000 and $4,000 each, the gov
ernor Of that state received $50, 900, hi,
clerk received $4,000, the lieutenant
governor received $4,000, all the clerks
OF the legislature received $1,000 each
while $4,000 was divided among tn,
lobby agents. That thing on a large
) or smaller scale is all the time going oi
in some Of the states of the union, bu
It is not SO laundering as it used to be
and therefore not so easily exposed o
arrested. tell you that the overshad
owing curse Of the United States to
, day is monopoly. He puts his ham
: i CVCIy OuSuCA Vi WllneS u ROA CtCN
. sack of salt. upon every ton of coal, an
every man, woman and child in til
. United States feels the touch Of thu
: moneyed despotism. rejoice that i
: ~ states Of the union already anti-me
lnopoly leagues have been established
God speed them N the work Of libera
| tion.
] have nothing to say against cap
talists; man has right to all til
!. money he can make honestly. hay
nothing to say against corporations
. such; without them no great enfel
prise would be possible, but what I
say is that the same principles are
be applied 10 capitalists and to co
Z porations that are applied to the poo
est man and the plainest laborer. VIII
. Is wrong for me is wrong for great co
. porations II take from You yos
I property. witalt any adequate con
penaasiOn I ~ thisf, and 4 ! rsilNs