Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1906-04-26

ana sunshine upon a rich and fertile
sell. Second-the industry and skill OF
man IN making the best and most of
what is within reach.
Our Secretary of Agriculture has
given to the world report that makes
the heart of every American dance
for JOY. The whole world has stood
before it in surprise and delight. Not
only has it beaten all previous reports
In our own land, but It has surpassed
anything that any nation has ever been
able to render. The value Of the years
farm products, that actually came into
the pockets of the farmers, was $6,-
415,OUO,O00. That sum would more
than pay the national debt of France
Or Russia. According to the editor of
Current Literature, it would purchase
all the gold produced in the world in
the last twenty years. Three farm
products have yielded enormous sums.
Corn, $1,216,O0O,O milk and butter.
$685. 100000, and hay, $6O5. 600, ,OOO
Secretary Wilson tells us that the ag-
gregate value of all our farms has in
creased in five years Sc, 133, 600, 900.
What does this mean? It means
many things. 1t means, first Of all.
that there is plenty Of money. When
the farmer does well, everybody else
does well. All our wealth comes out
of the soil. And in the rich harvest
there is more of God than of man
When the harvests are plentiful, the
mills, the shops, the factories, are all
busy. There is work for everybody
And when this is the case, the poor
man grows rich and the rich man
no objections.
Lots Of money, however, is not an
unmixed good. Most men love money.
It is noble ambition to desire money,
to work for a competency, and for a
surplus. to fall back on. in the rainy
day. or when old age comes on. as
surely it will. if death do not overtake
us sooner. But some men have an
Unsuitable thirst for gold. Get money
s their shibboleth. It seems easy for
some folk to persuade themselves that
any method is justified if you only get
what you want. Many people, there
| fore in our time, have become enor-
,nously rich. Some Of them have
gotten suddenly rich. Be sure and
rag the man who becomes suddenly
rich. There hangs story. We are
not saying that getting rich is sin.
We would all get rich il we could
That is. if wealth legitimately came
}ur way. we should not object.
! We have been hearing, and reading.
much of late about graft. and crooked
methods of conducting business. DE.
LYMAN Abbott has been addressing
some college students. He has told
the young men in college to avoid the
prevailing methods Of doing business.
He assures them that honesty is the
| only safe way to permanent success.
Here is a symptom. diagnosis. and q
remedy-the remedy will work per-
feet cure if vigorously applied.
There have been some recent ex-
| posures of business methods, which
have brought the blush to the cheek OF
every honest American. These ex'
nosures have also astounded and stag
rpred the whole business world
Tinted States Senators have been con
yicted Of crime, and others are Dlistef'
ing under grave and general Suspicion
This is a dark picture. we cannon
1 forget it. But we must linger OIL II
A few of our own people have sa1d
awe are a nation Of grafters." 1t has
| been Sdlu Hut We dtC t'At'A''.
prosperity. We have become intoxl
Gated of money. Money is our GOD
We have forgotten the ways OF th'
fathers. We have gone astray. 1t wa
never SO before" And SO on. all
which is only one side of the story:
] What are the facts? These: Th
| love of money is no stronger now tnal
) # has been in the centuries past. Goi'
. has always had a fascination for som
, folk. Wasn't it so in washington
day? Oh. those were good old days
, Were they: Oh, yes! Do you forge
, the hold land spectators at the Ia
tional capital? Money came in aonne
, ance into the treasury OF the youn !,
t nation. And there the grafters gatl
) ared for their prey. People were
better in the young days Of the repui
!. lie than they are now.
Again we ask. What are the facts
> These: Let me here repeat the tex
ar am the Lord thy God. Thou sna
; nara M other gods before Me-" II