Banks County gazette. (Homer, Ga.) 1890-1897, April 29, 1891, Image 1

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Banks County Gazette. VOL I.—NO. 51. Morality And Business. Christian morals are designed to influence and control the lives of all who accept Christ’s teaching as su preme. That all men ought to reg ulate life’s affaire by the ethics of Scripture is generally admitted as an abstract truth, while those who pro fess to accept gospel teaching are under imperative obligation to con form their practice to their belief. Few, however, will be found to main tain that the concord between creed and conduct is very general in mod ern life. llow does it come that there should be so marked a cont rast between the Christian theory of life and its practice? Must men from the nature of the case lead a dual life ? Is the separation of religion and business inevitable, or are the spir itual and material interests so diverse and antagonistic that hey must always continue to be contradictory? There is a sharp distinction drawn between the sacred and the secular. It. is asserted that honorable and up right men will do things in busiuess and jmlitics that they would not think of doing or sanctioning under other conditions Questionable trans actions, usually described as sharp practice, are only too common in every sphere, and they ar not without their defenders. The line of defense,howev er, is not drawn from Christian ethics; its course is in present-day economic theories that command a large meas ure of general assent. It appears to be far too generally taken for granted that self-interest is the basis of human activity, the amassing of wealth the chief good. Our economic systems mostly proceed on this assumption. The production and distribution of wealth and that pertains to business and commerce are supposed to de pend exclusively on self-interest. H once many conclude that every opportunity is to- bo seized, every conjecture of circumstance that an alert ingenuity can discern must be taken advantage of, whatever the con sequences may be to others, so long as the supreme purpose of life to the individual can thereby be advanced. Is this complete severance between economics and ethics well founded, or is it possible at all times to keep up the distinction? However close to the line that separates legitimate from fraudulent transactions some may keep, even they recognise that if that line is crossed, they become amenable to the law of tire land. Hut there is a still higher law which de mauds recognition. Scripture has much to say about buying and selling and getting gain. It would be diffi cult to reconcile some of its maxims with the postulates of modern eco nomics as they are at variance with some of the practices that many fol low without any apparent compunc tion. There can be no doubt that if the morality taught in Scripture were more closely followed in daily life, society would speedily undergo a marvelous transformation. Take the one precept embodied in the Sermon on the Mount, so universally lauded, yet so indifferently followed: “All things, therefore, whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye unto them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Were this acted upon in letter and in spirit by any considerable number of people in a community, a very decided im provement would be at once apparent. It may be said that the force of circumstances is so strong that it is next to impossible to follow higher and better counsels while the average standard of business ethics is what it is- .Tnat will to some extent depend on what a man’s principle aim may be. If what he strives for is that he may become rich and in creased in goods, it is not likely that he will exercise any perceptible in fluence for good on the moral tone of his business associates. A man who has a strong perception of what is noblest and truest in life, and who realizes that the life now is indisso lubly related to the life hereafter, will not continue to sink deeper into sordid ways and intensified selfish ness. He will by his methods of action exert a wholesome influence in the sphere in which he moves His progress will be upward, and he will help others upward with him. Modern business and comineeial methods are being concentrated under control of gigantic corporations, but these are composed of individuals, and it must be remembered that com binations do not and cannot absorb individual responsibilities. Many of the industrial evils complained of will only be removed by the development and exercise of a higher and purer individual morality. Only when the morality of Christ’s gospel 'becomes the predominating power in individ ual life will the prediction be fulfilled that “holiness unto the Lord shall be written on the bells of the horses.” Then only will commerce be Chris tianised and the demen of selfishness be csst out of it.—Canada Presby terian. Popular Preachers And Saloon keepers. The St. Louis Republic has made an arrangement to send the most popular preacher, minister, or priest, of St. Louis, on “a free tour of the oriental countries, including the holy lands, at the expense oftae Republic.” The popularity of the priest or preacher is to be settled by a free ballot of everybody. It is tinder stood that every person will have as many votes as he buys copies of the Republic. If lie should buy a thou sand copies, he has a thousand votes. Saloon keepers, whisky-men, profane swearers, blasphemers, infidels, thieves and cut-throats, have an equal voice in determining the popularity of the priest, or preacher, with all others. As no faithful preacher of the gos pel is popular with the world, none but the false teachers or hypocrites will be elected. This proposition will be spurned with righteous indigna tion and contempt by every true gospel minister. It ft a miserable trap to induce so-called preachers to sell their self-respect and integrity for a mess of popularity. The preachey cr priest who gets the second highest number of votes is to have a free ex cursion in Europe, not so extensive as the most popular man. Asa compliment to this miserable bid to the ministers to sell their man hood to such an advertising scheme, the Globe Democrat publishes an other scheme to send “the most pop ulnr bar-tender, to go gratis, to the holy land.” The conditk for electing the most popular bartender is that every satisfactory 15 cent drink” bought by any one, will entitle him to one vote to send the most popular bar tender of St. Louis, on this freo excursion to “the Holy Land.” If any one person should buy 1,000 “satisfactory 15-cent drinks” of whisky or any other poisonous alcoholic drinks, he will be entitled to 1,000 votes for the most popular saloon keeper. When the votes for the most popular preacher, or priest, and the votes for the most popular saloon keeper shall have been counted, it may possibly be arranged for this popular preacher and j optilar saloon keeper to go to the holy land as clnim, traveling companions. Of course they will take an ample supply of the most popular whiskys and wilies on this remarkable tour. It would be expected if they do nothing more in the holy land, that they will visit the tomb of Saint Judas Iscariot, and procure some bones or relics of that patron saint to be sacredly enshrined in the editorial rooms of the St. Louis Republic and the Globe Democrat. Whe will not say with our colored brother, John Jasper, that “the sun do move.”—American Baptist. What Does The Alliance Purpose To Do? The Alliance makes its own deo.lar ation of purposes. They are clear, distinct, and no one need be mistaken as to their meaning. Its purposes are not to break up either the Dem ocratic or Republican parties, but to tench them the necessity, of going back to the people once more for men IIOMER, BANKS COUNTY, GEORGIA, WEIiNESIiAY. APRIL 29,1891. and measures. It aims to present the needed reforms in economic con ditions in such a clear, reasonable and truthful manner that they can not be ignored or longer delayed. It seeks not the destruction of either political party, but to reform and con trol them in the interest of the whole people. It aims to take the politics of the people out of the hands of the political bosses, great and small, to rid it of ihe incubus of dishonest and tricky politicians whose solo purpose is to perpetuate their own existence. It is these political bosses and chronic politicians that will in the end over throw present political organizations, because they will not be able to rule them under Alliance influence to serve their selfish ends. The ele ments of destruction arc at present almost entirely confined to the old parties themselves, and consist of those who are opposed to any and all reforms and are fighting against a purer and better government. Those arc the factors that will destroy both the old parties if permitted to exist much longer, and not the Alliance which seeks better laws, happier con ditions, and “equal rights to all and special privileges to none.” If the politician,would forever destroy the Alliance let him make such laws as will be a lasting benefit to the people. If he would end this agitation that now threatens, let him remove the cause for such agitation. The pur pose of the Alliance is to better pres ent conditions,blot from the statute books unjust laws and restore the government to that condition where honesty and integrity are the neces sary requirements of all legislators. This purpose will be persevered in, will be contested for on ail occasions, and defended under all circumstances, until they Lave become the law of tli land and the inheritance of the people. Let no one mistake that fraud, deception, political chicanery, or any other unfair method, will block its progress or change its course.—National Economist. Desperation. It is said that the national banks are negotiating time loans and mak ing them payable in gold only. These creatures of the government are so intent upon degrading silver and dis crediting treasury notes that they are conspiring to impair confidence in the legal tender of the government. The act is a treasonable one, and their combining together to effect their purpose is a treasonable con spiracy and their charters should be immediately revoked. To treat the flag with disrespect is properly regard ed as a grave offense, and to attempt to discredit the Nation’s money is a greater crime. It is an assault upon the sovereignty of the government, and these creatures of the law assume to be greater than their creator.— Ciucinnatti Equirer. Third Party. Prior to the organization of the Farmers Alliance and Industrial Union, the -majority of the voters of this country were divided between the two great political parties. The Farmers Alliance, acting in accorance, with its declarations of purposes, “to labor for the education of the agricul tural classes in the science of economi cal government, in a strictly non partisan spirit,” has, irrespective of party affiliations, drawn her numbers, from both parties; and to-day we see men all over the country acting in harmony for the advancement of Alliance principle and objects who a short time ago were arrayed against each other politically. What does this mean ? To my mind it conclus ively proves that these men have awakened to the realization that they have interests which are nearer than old party ties, and wrongs which could not or would not be redressed under the management of existing parties. If, as members of the demo cratic or republican parties, they were unable to get the parties to shape legislation to thtir interest, is it not stretching the probable a little too far for them to expect, as members of the Farmers Alliance and Industrial (.tliiion, to get these parties to legis late more favorably for thorn ? I think ■it is.- t If, then, we have failed in the past to accomplish our. aiffis as individual members of existing parties, it only remains for us as an organization to do that which we have been unable to get others to do for us. The realiza tion of the need for different legisla tion and tlic determination to accom plish it creates anew party at, once, .uid its existence is none xhe less Whethcrtts existence is personated by a particular , name, or only known by. the pulsation of the public pulse. Thu Alliance should discard the idea of expecting to carry out, its de mands by means of any existing political party. It should put its own Shoulder to the wheel, for until this is done, it will accomplish but little. In this matter it should more slowly, conservatively and surely. Let us send men who are fully in harmony with us to our legislatures, to eon gyess, to the Senate; and when the organization has become accustomed tq the wielding of its mighty power, we can lay hold on the highest office in the land. Until then let us wait and work, not running the risk of a backward movement by attempting tp accomplish wlmt we are not fully ripe for.—T. R. Hardaway, in Na tional Economist. Her Noblest Work. A young girl belonging to a fash ionable and exclusive circle in society married not long ago a man whose profession brought him into some what close business relations with many worthy but plain people. Knowing that it would gratify him she invited them all to her wedding reception. One of her friends, amaz ed at finding the house tilled with these homely guests, asked the bride what it meant. “It means,” she an swered gnyly, “that in my marriage 1 propose not to advance his pleasure but his life.” A young girl usually looks forward with delight to the love which is to be given her; or if she is mercenary, to the establishments; or if she is ambitious to the social positiou that she hopes to attain. Some girls look no farther than the bridal pomp, the veil, tbe gifts, the admiring crowd. How many remember that it is not only a ring which the husband puts on the wife’s hand, but his honor and his future!' She can make his daily life broa*d and noble, or she can drag it down to base levels and fill it with trivial vulgarity. No rules, no duen na can keep the thought of love and marriage out of a young girl’s head. It is right that they should be there; but as the most pure and solemn re alities which life can give her, not as material for silly and immodest jest ing. God may give to a young girl the ability to paint a picture, to write a poem, to earn a fortune; hut if ho gives to her as a wife a human soul to strengthen and to bring nearer to him, he lias put into her hands the noblest work which a woman can do on earth.—Youth’s Companion. Just Look at This. We are sorry, indeed, that any of our neighbors should so twist the truth an to spoil its, beauty and make it appear to be somethin-/ else, but from the reading of the clipping given below we must infer that our neigh bor, the Echo, has been misled as to facts. Here is tvhat he says: “The Knight of Labor wants eight hours work and the farmer works from sun up to sun down. The Knight of La bor want the pension list to grow, the farmer wants it wiped out. The farmer wants free trade, the Knight of Labor wants protection. There is no community of interests between them and this is why the farmer is a democrat and does not want a third party, and why the Knight of Labor persists in efforts to build up a third party.” The imaginary difference be tween the Alliance and the Kniglits of Labor is about the same as the difference between six, and a half a dozen. . Anybody who knows any thing about the principles of the Knights of Labor knows that the above is about as much a misrepre sentation of them as could be en couched in as many words. If Brother Tate will take the time and trouble to read the K. of L. he will find more pure democratic senti ments expressed therein than lie cau compile from all the Democratic platform Riuce the war. The reason that the the third party question is agitatiog the minds of thy people is because the republican and the dem ocratic party has refused to promul gate the principles of democracy. The Knights of Labof and Fanners Alliance people having been forced to organize under the * til of secrecy in order to mature, aj platform of principles and sot A forth dyinads for su<ih legislation as will, give to the humblest ti ler and torfsr tlie same recognition by the government as the most princely lord of wealth; having done so it remains to be fern whether or not the democratic party will cease pandering to the whims of Wall street tor boodle and take up the demands of the people as proclaimed at St. Louie and reaffirmed pt Ocala, or whether people will of necessity be compelled to organize a. third par ty. One thing is certain, the Knights of Labor and the Alliance have shaken hands on the Ocala platform and no amount of side shows or misrepre sentation will cause division, weaken their faith in each other, or elfect a compromise or surrender oft principles. —Alliance Vindicator. The New York Sun, extreme demo cratic; the New York Tribune, radical republican, and the New York. Times, acknowledged m igwu.mpkare all sing ing the same tune in opposition to the sub-treasury plan. Nothing else seems to trouble them but cheap money to the people. This shows plainly that they are all actuated by the same desire and governed by the same motives. It is Wall street against the sub-treasury plan from now until the people decide which they will take. Let the fight come on; the enemy is now located and the Alliance guns can he turned in the right direction.—National Economist- Urcna. Hot Weather for April. Cotton planting is about over with in this community. We were glad to see Judge Moss and Colonel Edwards at Washington court Saturday before last, on legal business. While Colonel Edwards was engaged in business Mr. John Moss and Mr. Dock Dalton borrowed his road cart to take a ride. The boys had not gone far till they had a wreck. The cart broke down. When the colonel was told what had happened lie did not say anything for some time, thinking about how he would get back home, l’he bailiff, Mr. J. A. Martin, Mr. F. M. Bell and Mr. Phil lip Martin soon had the cart ready for traveling arid the colonel went on his way rejoicing that it was no worse. The wood workmen would like to know whether or not he got home all right. [We reached home in safety, hut a little sore on account of the jolting.— Ed.} Cheap. Brother A1 Harris preached a good sermon at Mount Pleasant third Sun day. May God bless his labors. There is a good Sunday school at Mount Pleasant. Fathers, mothers, where are your children on Sunday? Are they fishing or hunting? There are children in this community that are starving for Christian training. Parents are responsible for the souls of their children. God forbid that parents should be a stumbling block in the way of children. Come to the Sunday school and learn more of the Master. Mount Pleasant church intends buying an organ. The Way Will He Cleared As We Go. The driver of a tram-car through the streets of our city starts with his car upon a line which runs continu ously to his journey’s end. If he goes on straight ahead he will suftly come to the destined place. Should he be able to see all the route at once he would observe many coal-wagons, funiture-vans, timber-carriages, brew ers’ drays, and the like, blocking up his road along the rails, and lie might mourhfully ask: “How can I move SINGLEGOIT THREE CENTS. all those?’ But he taxes no such' lengthened view and asks ng,sstJctr useless .question. As heaves along all sorts of obstructive*' traffic gives way before him—evstf the van de mons yield him the road. When one of them is a little slow in getting out of the way, oifr driver blows his whistle, ami, after two or three shrill appeals, the obstinate vehicle retires As the rails run all way, so does (hear. Just so weare%„ ,| le raib of eternal life. - Os' amt beavrii there are n ’thousand obstruc tions, and if wetlfink of them all, we may yell lie fearful: "but they will ' one and,all disappear as we come to them. If they should seem likely to bar our progress, we must sound the whistle of prayer, and in due season tl icy-wili turn aside, and leave us a clear road along the lines of covenant gi'soe. Therefore go ahead, and fear no impediment; for the iine is laid, and wo have a legal right to travel along it, and none may lawfully hin der us. This is what I learned from the driver of the tram-car. Written for The Ciazette. The Liquor Traffic. “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”—Solomon. The dramshop is the great curse of humanity, and license is but the co operation of the government in crime find murder, arson, wretchedness, poverty and woe are hut tho fruits of this traffic. The protection of our political system, the protection o’ our sons and daughters, our husbands, our fathers and our brothers rests upon the downfall of this terrible demon which walks the halls of legislation and grasps the throats of our legisla tors. It tramples beneath its feet the sacred rights of the Sabbath day. It boldly defies the law, and drags its victims from the highest walks of life to the lowest depths of hell. It spares neither young nor old, matron or maiden. This liquid demon will burn the manhood of the most gifted. It will wring from a crushed and starved wife the last morsel of suste nance. It will polute all channels, destroy all affections, degrade all aspirations, breed disease, transmit misery, damn and ruin the souls of men. A. A. White. It costs something to care for a child aright; hut it pays for all it costs. Said a wise matron to a young mother, “Never think that you are doing too much for your child. Never think that you may be denying your self too freely in order to give yourself to the care of your child.” Aud that was sound advice. There is no dan ger of overloving. There is no dan ger of excessive self-forgetfulness in behalf of those for whom God would have us live and die. Hie Arena says: “It is idle to make laws and leave the public impulse dormant. Arouse the peoble and the devil will disappear. Make men see and feel that the rum-seller is a great er curse to the community than a professional thief; that a saloon is a more positive evil to a neighborhood thau a shanty filled with smail-pox patients, and a fire will he kindled which will purge the country of its greatest crime and misery breeder, whose colossal shadow envelops Chris tendom, and carries a thrill of misery, a pulsation of vice, a throb of degra dation wherever it falls.” My friends, did you ever think that God seems to be partial to the wicked? If you have, correct your views on that point. If there be any partiality, it is those who are ready to die, and for whom he throws open the portals of heaven, while he allows the wicked to have more time to reflect and repent —Rev. H. C. Settle. The police of Augusta, Ga., by or ders of the new mayor, are keeping close watch of the law breakers of the licensed saloons. For the last three Sundays, back doors have been c losed as well as front doors, and eaery one found violating the ordinance ha* been fined SIOO. —Dcmorest Times.