The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-12-30


j. j. Wicker. the pastor preached on
yesterday morning a sermon in which
he called special attention to some or
the essential necessities In the question
of today. He selected as his text the
a0th Psalm, 18th verse and in part
he said.
This is the prayer OF great states
man. Forty years he had been lead
ing and organizing new nation.
Things were In a chaotic condition
and the leader prayed for wisdom.
The world was never in the condi-
ton II In today. The past year has
been without any predecessor. Prob
lens hitherto have been local and
national but to-day the problems to
he settled are worldwide. The
world is facing a situation which
guidance as never before In history.
We ought TO pray for the men who are
doing the worlds thinking to-day.
We are laying the foundation for
new structure and tho next century
depends very largely on what is done
in the next six months. states
man Is a man who sees the mind OF
God and blazes the way for the pop
ulace This Is an hour when nations
should lose their selfishness in the in
tcrest of the world 1t Is time when
/ classes @and organizations and the
many varied elements should be ruled
| by the highest ideals OF altruism. We
| need unity with diversity Cor1pe-
| tition without selfishness; struggle with
sympathy. union with the spirit OF de-
! mocracy. We need to get on sound
basis Il, This ~is-la day calling for pro
! found thought. There IA no place Tor
little man in the line OF leaders.
| God give us great men with great
hearts and noble brains
Competition without Conflict
/ The world must always have COM
petition. IL is essential 10 vitality.
/ There is no department of life that
can develop men without It Strug-
Glc for existence is essential to the
/ the state will be to give every man an
equal opportunity in the struggle.
I Anything that tends to destroy COM
petition is bound to paralyZe society,
4 as well as the individual.
! Capitalization OF Power.
| Thor re- ~ :, ngS the world has
never heeu able to survive--prosper-
/ ity and power Power must be de-
/ centralized. This is the thing for
which we have been fighting. Cen
/ tralixation of power in the govern
ment, II may have been necessary
/ FOR the time being. but 1t is OF inter-
| est to note that while we were decen-
/ tralizing power on this side. We can
never have a reality government
with great ownership and operation
/ OF what should belong to individuals
/ and corporations. The government
should be stripped OF every power
that 1t can possibly live without, II
should not own a single piece or
property that II can possibly survive
without, Government ownership de-
| stroys competition and this strikes
I at the very vitals Of our best man
hood, The prime object OF all our
efforts should be development OF men
We therefore need a system OF gov
eminent that will give every man an
opportunity to come to his own best
self, We must have democracy IN
every department OF life.
In tho Business World,
This arena must be opened for
every man. 1t Is a sorry day when
corporation destroys an individual,
We need an equal choice in the labor
world. II is a dangerous hour when
an organization paralyzes the In
rividual. Labor can no more stand
Capitalization OF power than can cap
ital. Labor can erect monorchy
Just ms European powers made their
autocrats. Merchants must have
competition. SO must muscle and so
must brains and so must everything
in the wide world IT Is ESSENTIAL ele-
ment Of nature. without which death
does its work. 1t Is known fact
that In all departments OF govern
ment and public service It is dimcult
to get efficiency. When the govern
ment destroys the individual by TAX
ing over his property II destroys the
employe by breaking down compe-
tition.
Political Composition.
This is essential to healthy gov
eminent. Whenever n city is DOM
mated by one party corruption and
graft are almost always inevitable,
Men must he made to do right.
Idealisn is all right when you get
the ideal man. hut II viii never work
unies there IL ideal character oper-
ating. The world is fun of selfish
ness and men must have certain dis
cipline and pressure provoking them
to good works, Criticisms Of public
service clarifies the national atmos-
pherc. Freedom OF speech n a great
national medicine. It keeps the body
polite from going into corruption
and recay.
Church Union,
This has become 4 catchy phrase,
II is easy to play to the galleries on
this subject. We have all the Church