The Tupelo journal., 1906-03-02
Lecture by J. P. Sroyall Before the
Lee Co. Union

It is not my intention to raise
a calamity howl or try to annoy
one class or occupation against
another, for upon the harmonious
dwelling together, and agree
ment of the whole structure of
society depends the happiness
of man, nor do | believe that
YOU would for one moment in
dulge me with a patient hearing
If l were to attempt a cry that
would have a tendency to create
an undue prejudice against any
body or class of humanity who
gains a competence by honest
toll whether it is gained by man
ual labor or mental exercise.
In the first place l will say
that there will be no fertilization
of our troubles come by an in
Disseminated cutlery against
capital because there is not an
honest laborer on earth that
would not be rich in earthly &C
cumulations if he could. In fact
it is a noble inspiration that &C
tuates any man to accumulate
whatever wealth he may be able
to obtain by honest effort.
That is a mean principal OF
humanity when it comes on top,
to envy a man because he. is
fortunate enough to be what is
commonly accepted as a rich
man. It is no more a sin
to be rich than to be poor. The
great sin in either is the manner
in which either may be used.
The rich give employment to
the poor, the laborer for the rich
and if the rich withhold from
the poor, a fair and just rec
ompense for his labor, there Is
actual sin; but if on the other
hand the poor gives dishonest
labor to the rich he has sinned.
In other words it is just as els
honest to sell water for cotton
as it is to sell sand for sugar,
water will not spin any better
than sand will sweeten.
There are those who are poor
through idleness and excess Of
indulgence in things not essential.
Again it is said that a man can
not amass enough of wealth
by honest methods to become a
millionaire in a common life, but
that is a mistake for of some men
who have become such by hon
est investment OF his means and
honest change in values and
every dollar just as honestly paid
for as your dollar for your labor
when you receive a just reward
for it, and then on the other
hand I know some who are un-
fortunately in perjury and want
who have labored honestly, faith
fully ard increasingly and have
hopefully invested their earnings
seemingly profitable at the time
but have lost out; fortune for
the onemis fortune for the other
and yet equally honest neither
one should be condemned for n S
condition. / also know of some
men who are wealthy in worldly
accumulations whose millions are
MANY and all a~ccumulations whose
millions are many and all ac-
cumulated by various dishonest
methods too tedious to mention
separately one general epithet ct
robbery to the whole not just
giving a just equivelant for the
property, and my brother there
ere many, yes many in our ranks
WHO are just as eager to obtain
o dollar in that way and who
have the Jewish religious belief
that if he can get a cheat OIL
on a Gentle he has done good
.eryice). / am protesting
against the wholesale cry against
the rich because Of his wealth,
as well as against the oppression
of the poor by the rich.
The continual bombardmert
against eommercial success will
never stop tha war between the
labor and capital Neither VIII
+bo contest be settled by the