Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-04-11
SATAN AND ROCKEFELLER.

1t is not exceedingly cOmplim entary
to link these two names nor is it in
tended to infer in the above caption
that Satan and Rockefeller are in the
same class. But Mark Twain, writing
over the title, Satan" has propounded
some questions in letter to the edi-
tor of Harper's Weekly which are too
good for any Of us to miss. Twain
logic is good. and his defense of the
action OF those members of the Con-
gregational missionary board, who ia
vored the acceptance of Mr.. Rookie
feller's gift of 100000 for missionary
work is admirable in it's closely
knitted argument. He says that no dis
tinction should be drawn between
John D. Rockefeller's gift and those
of other wealthy "perjurers" who help
support the American board of mis-
sions. He declares that the board "ac-
cepts contributions from me every
year; then why shouldn't it from Mr..
Rockefeller In all the ages, three
fourths of the support of all the great
charities has been conscience money,
as my books will show; then what be.
comes of the sting when that term is
applied to Mr.. Rockefeller's gift?"
Inc WrlL0rH COQtlQueS:
"The American boards trade is
financed mainly from the graveyards.
Requests, you understand. Conscience
money. Confession of an old crime
and deliberate preparation of a new
one; for deceased's contribution in a
robbery of his heirs. Shall the board
decline requests because they stand
for one OF these offenses every time
and generally for both?
ALLOW me to continue. The charge
most persistently and resentfully and
remorselessly dwelt upon, is that Mr..
Rockefeller's contribution is incurably
tainted by perjury-perjury proved
against him in the court. It makes
us smile-down in my place Be.
cause there isn't rich man in your
vast city who doesn't perjure himself
every year before the tax board They
are all caked with perjury, many lay
ers thick. Iron-clad, so to speak. If
there is one that isn't, l desire to
acquire him for my museum, and will
pay dinosaur rates.
1t is not hard to connect this with
Twain's style Of writing and there is
little doubt that he wrote the letter.
The arguments he uses have been adj
vanced during the discussion Of the
advisability of DR.. Gladden's fight
against accepting the gift of the oil
king. They show to what lengths such
a discussion can be carried. 1t leads
up to the accusation of every rich man
of the crime Of perjury and all-round
dishonesty. 1t would. if carried on,
bring nationwide accusation of dis
honesty. Every man who had a little
money would feel like he had been
accused of lodging the assessor or of
stealing his money from widow or
an orphan. Twain's sarcasm was
needed to show most plainly the utter
uselessness Of trying at this time to
make an example of Mr.. Rockefeller
by refusing to accept his money for
missions. The time for such refusals
has passed. If missions are to be con-
Quoted it will have to be largely through
the assistance rendered by just such
men as John D. Rockefeller. No one can
deny that missions should be carried
on. No one can deny the good they
do. Why should not the money of a
Rockefeller be used in the work as
well now as heretofore? How can it
be made to perform more good in the
world?