Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-19

Here enters a many-named figure,
which stalks deathless through the
centuries, like the Wandering Jew. On
the present occasion he is called De.
metrius, the silYersmith; sometimes
he is known as Vested interests"
sometimes as "The System" some
times as 'Big Business; always he
claims special consideration from
kings and church and parliament and
peasant; ever he is glib to profess
any faith that may serve his own in
terests, and always Is he clever in
eloaking his own specious pleas in
the garb Of the moments most popll-
lar cause.
A mark Of the wise man and the
good citizen is ability to discern De-
metrius In the garb of capitalist or
labor agitator or politician. 1t is we'll
to remember that he is not patriot,
but only silyersnith. Along with d
wholesome trust in ones fellow man
should ever go careful skepticism
concerning the motives of popular agi-
tators. For Demetrius is the worst
foe of any people at any time.
The Modern Golden Calf.
At the recent Christian Endeavor
convention in st. Paul, William Jen-
nings Bryan related how. he had talk
ed with a man concerning the subject
of uniting with the church. The man
at length confessed that the reason he
could not become Christian-while
frankly admitting that he should do
so-was that he was engaged in a
business which was inconsistent with
the Christian religion, and given his
choice between business and religion
he chose business. This is a twentieth
century habit. Our times frankly del
fly business. We are putting 1t above
family relationships, personal health
and happiness, and above honor itself
It is not altogether an unknown thing
for persons to unite with the church
merely to further their own business
interests.
The crude, open and unabashed
fashion in which Americans exalt
business above worthier considera-
tions has an illustration in the pres
ent discussion concerning the Chin
csc railway loan. Some American
hnanciers have expressed desire TO
participate to the extent of a few
million dollars in loan to the Chin
ese government. The officials at
Washington have gone to great length
to support this entirely proper claim
Yet in the few months that this sub
ject has been under consideration
the newspapers of the United States
have given more space to it than they
have given for eight years past to all
the varied and important interests Of
American missions in China. although
The latter represent an infinitely great
sr investment Thus do we dispro-
portionately put the dollar first. Sim
fairly, all the tariff discussion Of re
cent months has had as its back
ground the shrewd and sleeplesss in
sistenee of vested interests for special
consideration at the hands of law
makers. Every parliament on the
earth knows the power of big business
In demanding more than common con-
sideration. The golden dollar is the
modern golden calf.
Some Present-pay Dianas.
The popular Ephesian deity was
Artemis or Diana, the Goddess of Life,
who was worshiped with vilest de-
baucheries. Her great idol, which was
pClu III lIiAl6IulS W luG CGdS6lSSS
stream Of pilgrims, thus making a
most productive industry. was the
principal object of interest in Ephe-
Bus: and her temple was one of the
seven wonders of the world. Some
what analogous to that ancient situa.
lion Is the shrine Of the Lady of Lourdes
Or the Shinto shrines Of Yamada, in
Ise, Japan, or the Hindu temples at
Benares. In all these places the com.
mercial life of the city is interviewer
with the worship OF the pilgrimages.
The entire population would rise up to
protest against any innovation that
lmperiled their business.
We need not go to heather lands to
find analogies. Presentday Christians
have identified religion with institu.
tions. Our Interpretation and express
sion Of Christianity has become con.
fused with Christianity itself. Sup.
pose 1t should appear to the con.
sciences Of most Christians that or.
gans should be abolished from the
churches, or the reverse; or that all
choirs should be put into vestments
What row would Immediately follow
Or, more seriously, what if the en
lightened Christian conscience Of to-
day should lead the churches back to
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