Publication information |
Source: Commonwealth Source type: magazine Document type: editorial Document title: “A Warning to the Rich” Author(s): anonymous Date of publication: September 1901 Volume number: 8 Issue number: 9 Pagination: 6 |
Citation |
“A Warning to the Rich.” Commonwealth Sept. 1901 v8n9: p. 6. |
Transcription |
full text |
Keywords |
Robert Morris Kemp (sermons); McKinley assassination (religious response); anarchism (religious response); McKinley assassination (lessons learned); society (criticism). |
Named persons |
Robert Morris Kemp; William McKinley. |
Document |
A Warning to the Rich
R
“As thoroughly as one could well be, am I out
of any kind of sympathy with the principles of anarchists; but I cannot be unmindful
of the possibility that, wicked in their ways of attaining, but with foundation
principles worthy of attention, they seek the equality of all mankind. May it
not be that one of the lessons this great bereavement to this land of ours,
dedicated as it is to the principle that all men are created free and equal,
may be to stop us in the mad career we are in these latter days mapping out
for ourselves, of forgetting our brother placed beside us in the mad rush for
wealth, which our selfishness covets? There can be no doubt that wealth is the
god of this land of ours to-day, and wealth, with its tyrannous grasp, holds
its weaker brother. Strikes and labor disputes disrupt our social economics,
and the under man has little chance in the race for justice.
“The power and the might of the wealthy class
bear down to-day too hard upon the poor. There is no reason why a man, because
he has the power, should grind down his employe [sic] to work for starvation
wages that he may raise his percentage of profit to an infamous degree. God’s
gifts of plenty wondrously abound; there is enough for all, and a rich overabundance
for many.”