The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-10-02
ANIMATED DISCUSSION
D. A. Thayer Discusses Socialism With
Social Science Club.
Maintains That Men Cannot Do Bust
ness and Serve God.
From Wednesdays Daily.

From Wednesdays Daily.
The Socialist and Social Science clubs
held a joint meeting at the Baptist
of the former d. A. Thayer of the So
cialist club had much to do with the
getting up of the meeting, as it has long
been his desire that the subject for dis
cussion, Can a Man Do Business Under
Our Private Capital System and Serve
God at the Same Timer" be given a
thorough airing. He has from time to
time interviewed people on the subject
and challenged discussion, and it afford
ed him great deal of pleasure when
the Social Science club accepted the in
vitation to be present last night and
participate in a discussion of the subject
The discussion was lively, and ques-
lions were fired at Mr.. Thayer by some
of the brightest members of the Social
Science club, but he could not be foored
On the other hand, he had an answer for
each question, and he feels that he came
out ahead in the debate, although the
Social Science club does not take this
view of the matter. He had the last say,
and rather than continue the discussion
adjournment was taken.
The meeting was presided over by c.
E. Keith, secretary of the Socialist club,
and he announced that it had been ar
ranged that Mr.. Thayer was to open the
discussion and speak for fifteen minutes,
to be followed by f. NJ. Currier for ten
minutes, and that the question would
then be thrown open to the house.
Mr.. Thayer said that he had expected
to speak much longer than the time al
loted him, and that he had prepared
thirty or forty Scripture texts, but would
have to dispense with quoting them. He
had asked every minister and evangel-
ist who had come to the city in the past
ten years this question that is being dis
cussed, but none of them had a satisfac-
tory answer to give. One of the minis
tiers had prayed for him that he might be
enlightened. The pastor of large Min
neapolis church had said that only two
poor tailors in his congregation were
doing business on the principles laid
down by Christ. Has Christ given us
commands that we cannot fulfill, or that
he did not expect us to fulfill? Did he
make commands for part of his people
and not for all?
Mr.. Thayer said that Socialists be-
lieved that there should be public instead
of private capital. God said that every
one who lays up treasures on earth is a
fool. Christ said clay not up for your
selves treasures on this EARTH" Do you
know of anyone who is not trying to do
so? Christ said Beware of covetous-
ness, life does not depend upon the abun-
dance of things the earth has" Who is
there who does not covet something? The
Socialists believe that interest, rent and
profit are all the result of covetousness
and that these have never added sim
ole dollar to the wealth of the world.
Christ said that coveters cannot enter
the kingdom of heaven. The average
earnings of the people are $500 year,
and the balance is composed of interest,
rent and profit. Every dollar of accu-
mulated wealth is the result of extor-
ton and covetousness, and every accumu-
lator of wealth is a coveter
Mr. Currier said that he had agreed
to speak with the understanding with Mr..
Thayer that w. D. Willard and Thomas
Hughes were to support him in the de-
bate, but neither of these gentlemen was
present However, he would not decline
to speak. He had the utmost respect for
Mr.. Thayer. who was thoroughly honest
and believed what he said, but he could
not agree with him. The question re-
solves itself down to whether business
man can do a profitable business and
serve God at the same time. The def
milton of Christian has not always been
the same, but it has been mans inter-
pretation of what it meant. 1t would
require much egotism on the part of
any of us to say that he is Christian;
the most that we can say is that we are
irving to be Christians, and we must
trust to the grace of God to help us out.
There never has been time in history
when the people owned everything in
common that civilization was produced.
The Indians and the African tribes have
amounted to nothing, but even among
them there were some grades OF society.
Mr.. Currier said that he believed that
it was intended that there should be
different grades of society. This fiction
that all men are created equal is not
true. They have equal opportunities,
but do not possess the same amount OF
energy and ambition. The moment the
people were to do what Mr.. Thayer adj
vocates, they would begin to drift back
ward into barbarism. Mr.. Currier said
that it seemed to him to be absolutely
foolish for any man to advocate this.
While it is true that there are many
things that should not be, it is also true
that there never was a time when there
was so much brotherly love as now. We
are more and more approaching the ideal
where we will love our neighbors as our
selves. This takes time, and all we can
do is to persevere.
Mr.. Thayer's system is entirely i'm
practicable. Mr. Currier quoted the
parable OF the talents, where the man
who returned with an increase of talents
given him by the Lord was praised and
promoted, whereas the one who made no
money was reprimanded and called a
sloathful and unfaithful servant.
The discussion was then declared to be
open to all.
Rev. Geo. W. Davis asked wherein was
the evil of the modern capitalistic sys-
TEN.
Mr.. Thayer was given ten minutes to
explain this. He said that the present
system is at variance with Christ's teach
inps from the fact that man cannot dc
business under the competitive system
and love his neighbor as himself. Christ
made his commandments to be obeyed
\ man cannot serve God and Mammon at
the same time. If we break Gods com
mandments we cannot be His disciples
.:The fact is" said Mr. Thayer, 1--WE have
lost our way. The challenge OF the So
cialist club is for you to show the roao
between Christ and Mammon. Why die
not Mr.. Currier tell us what the rell
gion of Christ is? That's what we are