Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-06-25
CHRISTIANITY APPLIED
TO GOVERNMENT
BY WILLIAM J. BRYAN.

those who own money and those who
hold contracts payable III t0ttdrs, but it
Injuries those who owe money and those
who produce wealth.
y dollar which falls in purchasinc
power produces the opposite effect. To
Increase the number of dollars called
for in contract would not be tolera ted
Tor a moment; to increase the purchas-
ing power OF the dollar however, has
exactly the same effect. The purchas-
ing power of dollar may be changed
by legislation. For instance other
things being equal, legislation which
lessons the volume of standard money
increases the value of each dollar. This
IDEA was forcibly set forth by Mr. Me
hinley in IL speech made in Toledo. o..
IN 1891. Speaking of Mr. Cleveland's
hostility to silver. he said: He was
determined TO contract the circulating
medium and demonetize one of the
coins of commerce. limit the volume of
money among the people. make money
scarce and therefore dear. He would
nave increased the value of money and
diminished the value of everything else
money the master. everything else the
| servant"
III Legislation intended to make scarce
ana therefore dear makes money the
master and everything else the servant.
can Christians ignore the moral cues
ton involved?
In the parable of the sower Christ
taught that THE cares of this world
ahd the deceitfulness of riches choke
Inc. truth, and history confirms His
teachings. Reforms come from those
who suffer, not from those who are
benefited by existing conditions. and
yet in 1896 those who were peryertinc
the ENDS OF government and reducing
faVoritism to a science threatened the
nation with bankruptcy if deprived of
control.
If the prophet Amos were to revisit
the earth and witness the increase in
tenancy upon the one hand. and the
pilinS up Of immense fortunes upnn Tho
other. he might cxclaim, rs he did of
ola, Hear this, We that swallow UP
the needy, even to make the poor of
the land TO fail. making the
ephah small and the shekcl great, and
classifying the balances by deceit 4.
Shall not the land tremble foi. this. and
every one mourn that dwelleth there
in?"
W MT r. tTc HTrtrUtt N r1e CnrrsTrIn
toward the trust? Can he be n mcnopo-
INST? Can he run n corner in loaves and
fishes without breaking the Golden
fule? VIII Standard Oil and the Water
of Life mix?
II a trust magnate can purchase re-
buttons TO church expenditures, what
proportion OF his ill-gotten gains should
ne surrender in order to atone for the
violation Of laws. human and divine?
NO church would extend the hand of
fellowship TO physical giant who oc-
cupied mountain pass and enforced
tribute from all who fell into his
hands. monopoly does nov differ
greatly from the giant in method and
may be infinitely more potent for evil
Monopoly Is bondage; it unbridles creed
ana furnishes to avarce n destructive
weapon. Human nature has not chang
ed much since the days of Pharoah: the
industrial monarch is as tyrannical as
me political monarch. Give to strength
an opportunity and oppression Will be
the result whenever n selfish interest is
TO be subservcd. Can the spirit of the
meek and lowly Nazarene be discerneI
In those who water stock. issue bonds in
excess OF the value of the plant drive
rivals into bankruptcy by trust meth
DDS and then prey upon society az
large?
Conditions have become so alarming
that church organizations are begin
ming to sound note of warning. AT the
General Synod OF the Reformed Church
held a I Tiftin, Ohio. last month. the
committee on the state of the Church
reported the following resolution:
The danger 10 be apprehended from
surely notwithstanding the entire social
fabric by the absorption of the wealth
Of the country in the hands of a fe,y
the steady enlargement of the poor
classes of people and the gradual dimi-
mutton of prosperous ana happy mid =
die class. the hope OF every thriving.
state: the rapid increase ana intensifi-
cation of all those social ana Industrial
agencies which tend to make human
HE a burden of despair TO the many
and 9 material paradise 10 the few
all these things cannot but exert n
beleful influence upon and prove con
stant hindrarce 10 the nrocress of the
kingdom Of Christ upon Garth"
The resolutions might with proprle.v
have concluded with tho familiar quo
tation from Timothy: "But they mat
VIII be rich fall into temp:atlon and y
snare and into many foolish and hurt
full lusts. which drown men in des.ruc-
ton and nerdton. For the love Of
money is the root Of I'll evil. which
while some coveted after, thew have
erred from the faith and pierced them
selves through with many sorrows"