The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-04-15

are greeted by the sun as 1t shines
through rich oriental tapestries of the
choicest design until the sweet har-
mony issuing from an orchestra hid
behind the palms accompanies them to
the land OF dreams 1t Is one continual
qualification OF desire. How can they
follow the transition from tho dull
thud of the hammer and anvil to the
perfect harmony of the orchestra? How
can they appreciate the dignity OF la
Dor.
In land of unbound opportunity, Of
immense wealth and of freedom It is
not strange that this great. idle,
wealthy class is being evolved. But
God grant that the tragedies OF ma
tions which have persisted be not re-
peated. And We have hope. The light
of public opinion has been turned into
these conditions. Just as the rays of
light from the dark-lantern thrown up
on the face OF the unsuspecting lay 1t
bare in confusion, so will the light CT
public opinion, diffusing through the
conditions which give rise to an un-
welcome class. lay bare the evils of the
system. 1t is distinctly ar American
characteristic to discover American
evils and apply. unassisted, the reme-
dy Public opinion. that great, potent
force which is so sensitive in this
country, seldom tolerates extremes.
Let me Illustrate: Not more than
decade ago the American people idol
lied the millionaire, but today, ii the
worship is continued, it is qualified,
and the fortune must be honorablv ac-
cumulated. And need We ask what
brought about this change? The charge
has been made that the American peo-
pie must have shrine at which to
worship-men. measures, or ideals.
in the past the man of millions was
idolized today the man of reform &C.
cupies the shrine. The American peo-
pie. through that intangible. invisible,
immaterial potent force called public
opinion, have expressed their disap-
prevail in no uncertain terms OF the
men OF ill-gctten gains. Stigmatized
by social ostracism, their wealth has
proved poor consolation, their princely
mansions have become prisons. their
friends have become foes. The newer
craftsmanship, in which lies our hope
to carry up through the crisis, has
constructed in the imagination of the
masses higher and better ideal. The
change fro mthe wealthy incompetent
to the competent though poor. from
the inactive to the active. from the dis
honest to the honest, from the impure
to the pure. from the heart OF the
wrong to the heart of the right, are
some of the things embodied in the
newer ideal-an ideal which embodies
high appreciation of the dignity OF
labor.
In the renovation brought about by
the newer craftsmanship it seems to
have partly learned the secret of sue
cess and failure. We have not been
unmindful of the lessons taught by i'm
perial Rome nor of the tragedy which
is being enacted in our own day on
Russian soil. In the light OF history
and in conformity to the newer ideal
we have drawn the conclusion that in
herited riches exonertes no individual
from the responsibility of producing.
The wealthy men of ill-gotten gains
have hesitated long enough on the
threshold of eternity to teach their
sons sad lesson, who have learned
that society holds their fathers in con-
tempt; and as the warning goes forth
may they profit by their example.
What legacy to bequeath, what a
heritage to transmit, but what a con-
clusion there is in the antithesis! "The
cup of the poor is being decked with
the garland OF the great; the mantle
OF power is being placed upon the
shoulders of the honest, sincere, capa-
bic. Woodworking men. We need
not go far for an example. Our sister
commonwealth on the east boasts that
her chief executive, when boy, car
ried clothes back and forth to his
mother, who was washerwoman.
Who will say, then, keeping in mind
these examples. that labor will be
stripped of its due dignity? Who will
say that the American people are not
returning with their offerings from a
throne of gold to one of simple serv-
ice? And who will say that the man
OF ill-gotten gains is still adored?
These were but temptations which be-
set the path of a bountiful nation. But
our country, in this innovation, hating
before passing, greed and desire had
triumphed, has met and is conquering
the great peril of democracy: and what
seemed yesterday an impending peril
is passing peril, and the clouds which
darkened the horizon at morn are lift
ing, leaving the sky clear for the set
ting sun, which betokens that one part
of our existence has passed, and the
crimson horizon gives every indication
OF brighter tomorrow