Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-02-22
THERE SHALL BE NO POOR"

We have received q leahet, with a
sort OF challenge from the author to
print II In the Desoret News. lie
states that he was sending the article
10 zone hundred Of the leading church
papers OF all denominations" lie was
under the impression that not a SIN
gle one OF them would have the cour-
age needed 70 print Il" We insert 1t
here TO show that the News Is not
afraid TO give 1t place while It does
not see that any very great amount of
good or harm win come from its pub
lication. II Is entitled as above, and
Is written by REV james u. Converse,
Morristown, Tennessee" and is as fol-
lows;
"Howbeit there shall be no poor with
thee II only thou diligently hoark-
en- 20 the voice Of Jehovah thy God TO
observe to do all this commandment
which I command thee this day
deuteronomy Is: 4-5.
This was the promise Of the son Of
God, our Lord Jesus Christ, made
through Moses. to the Jewish people.
He will be as good 90 other nations as
He promised tn be To Israel
THE cause OF poverty ~ disobedlence
to Gods law, which christ came to full
I'LL and not to abolish.
zone cause Of poverty is hndlcssncss.
The land owner can employ himself
and make his own wages. The landess
must accept such wages M he can get.
One principle OF Christ's law given
Ia
should own land No Bible student
can doubt this. Opinions may differ ms
to tho best method OF applying this
principle IN our age and civilization;
and this essay does not enter into this
question, for II VIII avoid all questions
on which deyout Bible students can
differ.
"IntcreA Is another cause of poverty.
IL Is never tired or sick, never rests nor
sleeps nor ceases nor dies TIL It has
eaten out the heart Of the civilization
that feeds II, II Is said Il have not
had the patience TO verify the compu-
tatiou) that II Adam had put dollar
at compound interest the earth Itself II
turned into gold would not pay II. In
terest may be allowed IN our age be-
cause Of the hardness Of our hearts and
the wckcdness of our civilization,
Opinions may differ as to the best way
OF stopping It; laws forbiddng It or
limiting II seem useless. But an hon
est student OF the Bible can hardly
doubt that Il Is forbidden by the Law,
the Psalms and the Prophets,
without money and commerce any
Industry or production beyond that OF
the savage or barbarian Is impossible.
Every restriction on trade ls q stab al
Industry, our wealth IL due TO the un-
restricted Intercourse between such a
vast population occupying every va
riety of soil and climate between Alas
XII and Florida. That restrictions on
commerce are forbidden by "the Law
IN plain from two facts. Duties are the
commonest source for the support Of
civil government; but Moses does not
prescribe them one end OF the Law
was to separate Israel from other ma
tons, prOhibitive duties would greatly
help IN doing this; but Moses did not
orlain them"
1.-THE use of the public highways be-
tween different cities and between the
different parts OF the same city for pri-
vate gain Is manifest injustice. Opin-
ions may differ as to the railroad prob
LEM but never heard any one affirm
that our Lord Jesus Christ approves OF
the private ownership of railroads and
street railways.
obedience TO God in national affairs
will undoubtedly destroy all tho nation
al causes Of poverty.