Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-03-18
Timely Lesson.

The serious menace to the peace and
happiness Of this country today Is that
which is found in the universal and
widespread struggle for gain, and the
fact is pretty generally recognized even
among those who are the most con-
spicuous offenders in this particular.
There is common acceptation OF the
belief that the possession Of money
carries with it the power to do any
thing, and this very likely furnishes
the reason why so many people are
losing sight of almost every other con-
sideration as to their well-being and
happiness in their eagerness to get
money.
In the olden times money getting Ior
moneys sake was designated as the
Worship of Mammon, and that worship
was pointed out as the most rulnous
thing that could happen to those who
allowed themselves to become inciud-
ed among it's devotees. All that was
true of mammon worship in the old
days is true now; both as to the harm
fulness of the practice and OF the un-
willingness Of men to take warning OF
the dangers into which they were
drifting.
It may not be that the terrible tur-
moil and strife through which the
world is passing has been only the au-
tomato penalty to the worship OF
Mammon; but nevertheless there seems
TO be some significance to the fact that
present and future advantage In COM
merce that directs the trend Of wealth
is the principal concern Of the peace
conference at this time, as 1t has been
all along.
Ordinarily one does not look for the
highest exposition Of true nobility in
purely financial publications; but neV-
ertheless it must be admitted that the
following recent editorial from the
Wall Street Journal, which one OF the
commentators has introduced as Illus
trating the truth Of the international
lesson last Sunday, deserves 10 De
ranked as a classic along this line:
What America needs more than
railroad extension, and western irrlsa-
ton, and a low tariff, and digger
wheat crop, and a merchant marine
and a new navy, Is a revival OF piety'
the kind father and mother useo "
haye-piety that counted it good pusl-
ness to stop for daily family prayers
before breakfast right in the mlddie OF
the harvest; that quit work nall nour
earlier Thursday night, so as 10 geI tne
chores done and go to prayer meeting;
that borrowed money to pay the
preachers salary and prayed ferventiy
in secret for the salvation OF the r1ch
man who looked with scorn on sucn
|unbusinesslike behavior. That's what
we need now to clean this country OF
the filth Of graft, and Of greed, petty
and big; of worship of fine houses and
big lands and high office and grand So
cial functions. What Is this tnlne
which we are worshipping but vain
repetition Of what decayed nations fell
down and worshipped just before their
light went out? Read the history OF
Rome in decay and you'll find luxury
there that could lay a big dollar al
over our little doughnut that looks SO
large to us. Great wealth never MADE
a nation substantial nor honorable
There is nothing on earth that looks
good that is so dangerous for a man OF
nation to handle as quick, easy Dig
money. If you do resist Its deadly IN.
fluence the chances are that 1t VIII gel
your son. It takes greater and nner
heroism to dare-to be poor IN America
than to charge an earthworKs.