The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-07-13
SLUMP IN MORAL MARKET
Rev. Washington GLADDEN. Makes This
Assertion in an Address TO
Christian Endeavorers.

Asbury Park, ~. j., July ll.-"Therc IL
n general slump OF conscience In the moral
market OF the present day" was the dec.
laratlons OF the Rev. Washington Gladdcr
before the Christian Endcavor convention
In the Lyric theatre. Mr.. GLADDEN. said
this 'slump'' was evident In politics. n
nanclai circles. fashionable circles. and In
the church. Mr.. GLADDEN. said In his
speech on THE Education OF the Con-
science:"
There Is 8 tremendous amount OF I'M
educated or miseducatcd conscience In
this country today. People In good society
and people who arc members OF our
churches. people who are known as our
leading citizens are doing things which
are horribly wrong; and neither do their
own consciences protest nor Is there any
moral sense In the community which ad.
equateIy disapproyes their wrongdoing.
THE things which have been going OH OF
late can only be explained upon the theory
OF a general slump OF conscience. In imam.
cIal circles. and In political circles. and IN
society. and, most deplorable OF all, In the
church itself.
Country Needs "Tonina Up"
THE one thing that this country wants
today r. not better laws or better methods
OF administration. but a clearing up and
toning up OF the conscienccs OF It's ciu-
gems.
while the young people OF our churches
are considering what culture could do for
them and what they are going 10 do with
their culture. hope that they VIII give
heed. nrst OF all. TO this primary need OF
the training OF their conscicnces, so that
they shall speak promptly and declsively
upon the practical moral questions with
which they will have TO deal.
Another point on which the consciences
OF most OF US need toning up Is that OF In.
dlviduRl responsibility for corporate ac-
ton. Nearly everything Is done nowadays
by corporations.
No Morals in Commerce.
Corporations have no souls, and. of
course, can have no conscieUces: upon this
theory the realm OF industry and com
mcrco II nearly vacated OF moral signlh-
canoe.
The point 20 he insisted on Is that ev-
cry member OF the corporation IL rcspon-
siblc The Officers and directors are first
ana most directly SO. OF course. and they
should be held firmly TO their responsible
ity. Corporations are composed OF men
and every man has "A conscience.
"sf by force OF cunning a group OF men
should manage 20 cxtort Si,oo0 a year from
each OF 100 good citizens OF the city where
you live. they would think IL a monstrous
crime, az would you.
Watersd Stock but Another Mans.
But suppose that the same group OF
men, by watering the stock OF street
railway, make IL necessary TO keep the
fares half cent higher than they other
wise need be. and they levy 10000 n year
In half cents upon 10000 pcople-this does
not seem to most OF us serious matter.
Now, Il r. To be noted that most OF the
great fortunes OF our day have been
heapcd up by this method OF securing
monopollcs, By virtue OF which Il has
been possible 10 lay under tribute millions
OF people aud 20 collect from them small
tolls In slightly enhanced cost OF the nee.
essaries OF life"