The Washington herald., 1907-08-12
RICH CLASS SCORED
Rev. D. C. Macleod breaches
Against Race for Wealth
TAKES TEXT FROM PROVERBS
Declares Passion of Americans fer
Money Is @'Our Greatest American
PeriI"-Says Pnnishment VIII BE
Melted Out I'm This Life-COnditions
Similar TO Those of Rome.

HE that maketh haste 10 get rich
shall not be unpunished."
From the above text. in the Book Of
Proverbs. Rev. Donald c. Macleod, pas
tor Of the First Presbyterian Church. at
the morning service yesterday preached q
sermon on Our Greatest National Per
H." the passion Of the American 10 ac-
cumulate great wealth. Money mad.
was. he said, the term applied. and Justly
so, 10 those who, arrogant in their for
tunes. quickly and duestionably made.
had builded palaces. bedecked themselves
in jewels and gorgeous raiment, and SC
conducted themselves as 10 make Rome.
In the days of her greatest extravaganza.
green with envy.
This nation" he said. lis blessed with
unprecedented wealth and possibilities.
and the proper use OF our resources viii
make a history more glorious than that
of any nation since the beginning OF the
world Everywhere is offered the temp
tation to the young man 10 enter the race
for fortune. But the methods Of our
forefathers. who were satisfied 10 make
sufficient for their daily needs and lay
aside a nest-egg for the rainy day, are
now regarded as obsolete. and every
where is there the mad whirl Of specula-
ton, the greed for gain. and the desire
to obtain something for nothing. In our
cities may be seen the stock brokers
offices. the bucketshops. and the race
tracks. and the young man OF to-day
turns feverishly toward the ticker. or
awaits with trembling anxiety the papers
giving the results from the race tracks.
Even Women Affected.
In many OF the stock exchanges are
installed private rooms for ladies' and
the women, too are thus drawn into the
field of speculation. Colossal fortunes
have been created within the last ten
years, and in the company of our multi
miIlionaires Of to-day Croesus would be
made 10 feel as a beggar.
Americans are charged with being
crude. uncultured, uncivilized, dominated
by the passion for wealth. and in truth
it would seem that in these latter days
all the Americans care about is 70 ac-
cumulate fortune. and then to squander
il recklessly and fOOlishly.
And how have these great fortunes
been accumulated?
Recent revelations resulting from in
vestigatiOns of the Standard Oil Com
pany, the railroads. and the great life
insurance companies have shown condi-
ton Of affairs that is national disgrace.
In the handling of the peoples money
there has been exhibited the grossest.
foulest negligence, alarming IN its ex-
tent.
There are two distinct classes among
the wealthy. One. having accumulated It's
riches by honest business endeavor, re-
CARDS its wealth as a trust, and is a
benefit TO society. The other, the get
rich-quick' class. regards its wealth as an
excuse for moral responsibility. endan-
gering the life of the whole people, en-
dangering the life of the country
Reward Is Earned.
And this in the face OF the warning
Of God that he who makes haste 10 get
rich shall not go unpunished. Their
retribution. as already shown. IS swift and
certain. by the inniction upon them Of the
lash Of popular indignation and disap-
probaton.V
1T is significant 10 see boards OF trus-
tees of universities. colleges, and the
governing bodies Of churches hesitating
to accept money from these sources.
There is a growing disposition to reject
tainted money wealth made dishon-
estly, ard the time viii come when the
holders of fortunes such as these viii be
classed with the keepers Of gambling
hells.
punishment will visit them in this
life. and in the life to come when called
TO the final bar Of justice 10 answer 70
the charge. 'Ye have deprived the Ia
borer of his hire