The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-05-14
MONEY KINGS EXERT A BLIGHT
ING INFLUENCE.

1t does not take a learned man or one
widely travelled to see that the new en-
perors of this Republic-the trust-made
money kings" exercise blighting inf1u-
ence on the morals of public servants"
and upon the standards of private morals
as well. Their colossal fortunes have
been built up on blood-the blood of the
struggling independent men whom their
lawless methods have reduced from indie
pendence to dependence. They seek to
avoid the condemnation which their dis
honest methods should secure-and does
secure from all honest unsubsidized men
by buying indulgences with large gifts to
libraries, to schools, to hospitals, to
churches. Some men, who have been the
beneficiaries of trust stock, give their
money to good causes from worthy motives.
but these are not the men whose brain and
heartless methods have created these
modern juggernauts. Those Napoleons Of
finance, who initiate the Emperor in dis
come to believe that every man has his
price. 1t was of this class that Mr.. Left
wich, the noble Methodist preacher in
Texas, was speaking last Sunday when,
in the presence of Mr.. Mckinley, he
cried out:
1--WE see the rich man and great cor
porations increasing their riches by rob-
bling the poor and then administering
large charities for the relief of the poor
We see great fortunes, amassed under
legal forms of oppression and extortion
standing at the head of great philan-
thropies and endowing great institutions,
as if the selfshness of greed could atone
for its own injustice and cruelty by be-
slowing aims"
There is your preacher whose opinion
cannot be silenced by trust donations;
who dares to declare, in the presence Of
his personal friend, the president of the
United States, the plain truth for which
Mckinley is largely responsible; VINO is
unawed by influence or power-the man of
God, who, like Nathan, will say Thou
old time Wesleyans in Mr.. Leftwich's
preaching. They feared not the face of
man and preached to rich and poor alike,
declaring their sins without fear or ia
vor.
These thoughts are suggested by re-
cent interview published by Mr. Poultney
Bigelow, who last month delivered
course of lectures at Harvard University.
Thoughtful men will be impressed by
what Mr.. Bigslow says. We quote:
"Commercialism is running riot in the
United States. The Yankees are coming
their ideas and energies into money. Tho
trust builders are doing the rest. These
money kings necessarily exercise a
blighting influence on the morals of pub
lie servants, they create all manner of
temptations and breed all manner Of job
berry
I'm Washington, l found cynical con-
tempt for the Constitution. Corruption
stalks through the government 1t dis
graces the halls of Congress, which are
little more than a brokerage shop for the
sale of authority to fleece the people.
tLSSlSldJOIS, OlUCldlS anu pet
ty public servants of all kinds neglect
no opportunity to turn their official pre-
negatives to profit.
81 learned many specific instances Of
fragrant jobbery, especially in connection
with the Philippine war. There are
thousand officials who owe it stealings
ranging from very small to very large
amounts. They don't want the struggle
to come to an end. They would much
prefer to see it indefinitely prolonged.
"Of course / shouldn't think of rejecting
upon men like Messrs. Hay and Taft, but
if Mr.. Hay were the Angel Gabriel and
Mr.. Taft st. Peter come to earth they
couldn't stop the complex, far-reaching
system of thievery which prevails in the
public service.
President Hadley, / see, denies that
he said that continuance of present
tendencies would land an emperor in
Washington in twenty-five years. / don't
see why he should desire to deny such a
statement. We would better have an en-
peror-some one to take a firm stand
against the rising tide of official immor-
aiity-than to have rulers who have no
interest in the government byond the out
come of the next election. l had rather
live under Emperor William than under
the vicious tyranny of railway oil and
steel kings.
America needs a thorough arousing
of the public conscience She needs to de-
liver her from the slavery of capitalism
such men and women as delivered her
from slavery of human beings. In other
words, she needs an epidemic of cranks-
cranks like Garrison. cranks like England
had in Golden and Bright