MATERIALIST’S COLUMN SOCIALISTS COLUMN
Edited by E. W. R oh »
Reader» of Th«* Journal who have
taken un intere»t in the discussion
of Lincoln*» religiou» lie'ief will And
im additional intercut in the enclosed
^Borial upon this subject which
wax published in the Chicago 'Herald
In February 1892. It is u cundid
Htiitcnient of what every well in-
formed historian knows to be the
fact». The Rev. Mr. I’help» haH been
trying to niak«> a great deal of cap­
ital out of what he in pleuHed to
terin my “(leliberaU) and conscious
tni»repreHcntation of Lincoln’s rel-
Igion,** my "purpose to slander the
fair name f Lincoln, etc." I will just
say that I have a largo volume of
testimony, explicit, personal and un­
impeachable, of which this editorial
is the merest outline. Some of this
testimony has never yet been pub­
S. H. VAN TRUM I',
lished.
Mt. Angel, Ore.
Editorial from Chicago Herald
without faith in the Bible
or it» teachings, On this point the
testimony is ho overwhelming that
there i» no ba»iH for doubt, In his
early life Lincoln exhibited a i power­
ful tendency to uggn-HHiv«" infidelity,
But when he grew to be a politician
he became more »«"cr«>tive an<! min­
^^mittal in his religious belief, ile
was shrewd enough to realize the
necessity of reticence with the con-
vi.'tion» he pos essad if h«" hoped to
succeed in politic».
It ia a matter of history that in
1834, at New Salem, III., Lincoln rea«l
and circulated Volney’a “Ruins” an«I
Paine’n “Ag of Reason,” giving to
both books the sincere recommenda­
tion of his unqualifi«*«l approval.
About that time or a little later he
wrote an extensive argument against
Christianity, intending to publinh it.
In this argument h«" contended that
the Bible wasn’t inspired and that
Jesus Chri. t was not the son of God.
He mid this compilation of his views
to numerous frienils an<i on one oc­
casion when so engaged his fri<"
and employer, Samuel Hill, snatched
the manuscript from it» author’s
hands and throw it into the stove
where it was quickly consumed. A
Springfield frien«i »ays of him in
1838 ‘Lincoln was enthu»iuHtic in hiH
Infidelity.’ John H. Stewart who wan
first ln-v partner, declares: ‘I.in-
^ffiln was an uvowcil and open Infidel.
He went further against Christian be­
lief than any man I ever heard. He
alwnys denied that Jesux was the
Christ of God.* Judge David Davis
(of U. S. Supreme Court and Lin­
coln’» executor) »tated that Lincoln
hail absolutely no faith in the Chris­
tian sense of the term.’
These authorities ought to be con­
clusive, but there - is further testi­
mony. ThiH latter is Important as an
explanation of Lincoln's frequent al­
lusions in his Presidential messages
and proclamations to the Supreme
”eing. To the simplicity of his na­
ture there was added a poetic tem-
porament. He was fond of effective
imagery, and his references to the
Deity are due to the instinct of the
poet. After his death Mrs. Lincoln
said: ‘Mr. Lincoln had no faith and
no hope in the usual acceptation of
He never joined a
those words,
c) urrh.’ She denominates what haH
^Ben mistaken for religious sentiment
‘a kind of poetry in his nature,'
adding ‘he was never a Christian.’
Herndon, who was his latest law part­
ner and biographer, is even more ex­
plicit. He says: ‘No man had a
stronger faith in Providence—God—
than Mr. Lincoln, but the continued
use by him late in life of the word
God must not be interpreted to mean
that he believed in a personal God. In
1854 he asked me to erase the word
‘God’ from a speech which I had writ­
ten and rea«l to him for criticism, be­
cause my language indicated a per­
sonal God, whereas he insisted no
such personality ever existed.’
So it must be accepted as final by
every reasonable mind that in religion
Mr. Lincoln was a skeptic. But above
all things he was not a hypocrite or
pretender.
He was a plain man,
^^igged and earnest, and he pretemled
be nothing more. He believed in
humanity and he was incapable of
Pharisaism. He had great respect
for the feelings and convictions of
others, but he was not a sniveler,
He was honest and he was sincere,
and taking him simply for what he
was, we nre not likely soon to see his
like again.”
TOOK TIIEIR RELIGION SE-
RIOUSLY
The Denver Post of April 1st gives
an account of a Methodist meeting
in North Denver broken up by a
priest at the head of a mob of about
70 persons, some o’f whom had shot­
guns and stones. The priest leading
entered the church while the people
were praying, shouting, “Stop it,
• itop it, this is not the right religion!”
The worshipers were pelted with eggs
and decayed vegetables. The dis­
turbers were brought into court for
their offense.
"PROFIT SHARING PLAN”
By Churl«*» Sehl
was to receive of the product of hie
labor for the permission to work.
This quarrel has gone on until the
present time, differing only in form
and degree.
As the workers came to understand
that they were being exploited, they
demanded- n ore and more of the
wealth they produced.
Their increased education and con­
sequently a general desire for the
lietter things of life has caused them
to )>e an intelligent dissatisfying lot.
And with their increased natural de­
sires constantly causing them to be
more discontented, how foolish it is
to expect that the producers of the
world’s wealth will ever lie satisfied
until they become the sole owners of
the product of their labor.
.Schemes will come and scheme
will go; but the class-struggle will
stay until the people own and operate
the principal means of wealth pro-
duction.
Since the Federal Industrial Rela-
lion» Committee huH been at work,
the idea that the difference» between
Cupital ami Labor cun largely be
overcome by having the employer»
of lubor udopt the "Profit Sharing
Plan” ha» reached it» height. Not
alone by thouu good people who are
member» of "Welfare Organization»,”
but by men like Daniel Guggenheim
of the American Smelting and Re­
lining Company, ami Geo. W. Perkin»
of the International Harvester Com­
pany.
Why Much otherwi»e practical men
»hould expect intelligent working peo
pie to follow them into »uch a dream
i» difficult for one to under»tand.
There are, of course, many details
WAR PRAYERS
in their scheme but the principal ones
arc these. If you make the employe
“An unpublished article by Mark
»ort of feel that hr is a stock holder Twain, ‘The War Prayer,’ was re-
in the company he will be drterm- called by Dr. Henry Neuman, leader
ine«l by the gro»w profit» of the cotn- of the Ethical Culture Society of
pany.
Brooklyn, in an address on ‘Mark
Their share of the profits will u)»o Twain' in St. Louie not long ago.
I»- regulat <1 according to the length The aiticle tell» Low a regiment on
of service. Like real stockholders, its way to the front usHembles in’a
they will be called into the meetings church and ; ray» for victory. A
with the directors ami told all about white-robed stranger then enter» with
the troubles and trials of their com­ a message thr.t the petition will be
answere«! if the men care to repeat
pany.
At these meetings the worker« will the prayer for victory, after under-
be told that while the interests of s'.andir.g it» full import. Then be
Labor and Capital may not be identical bid» them listen while he outline»
at the point f distribution, they are these unspoken implication» that
ut least identical in the sphere of pro­ must accompany their desires:
duction; .because some labor leaders
’O Ixird, we go forth to smite the
have said so, and consequently the foe. Help us to tear their soldiers
mor«- interest you take in your work, to bloody shreds with our shells; help
the better it will be for “our com- us to cover tiieir smiling fields with
pale forms of patriot dead; help us to
puny.”
Labor organizations are all right, lay waste their humble homes with a
they say, and we ne««<! them; but by hurricane of fire; help us to wring the
allowing the worker to “have a voice h«"arts of their unoffending widows
and a share of the profits" the class­ with unavailing grief. For our sake,
war will be converted to a pink-tea. who adore T‘ ee. Lord, blast thjir
If the Bankers and Captains of In­ steps their way with tears.’
dustries of the Unite«! Statas would
“Because he was to’d that the
allow them elves to be such utopian» prayer would be regarded as sacri-
in the management of their great en­ legous, Mark Twain never had it pub­
terprises as they are in this ques­ lished; but it» appearance just now
tion of "Profit Sharing" Germany finds all truly Christian people ap­
would have had all “our foreign mar­ proving its truth. Over in Europe the
kets" long ago.
‘prayers before battle’ for victory
Let us not forget that Capitalism must be translated along the line of
is international and that the strug- Mark Twain’s ‘War Prayer:’
‘Help us , O Lord, to put an in-
gle between Labor and Capital is
cons<*quent!y an international problem «lelible blot upon the honor of the
and not peculiar to any groop of in­ nations that should be following in
dustries in this or any other country. the footprints of Him who taught
Suppose the profit »haring plan man to love their fellowmen. Help
were adopted in a few large corpo­ us to bring death and sorrow into as
rations. I say a few b««cause I don’t many homes as our trusty guns can
suppose any one will imagine that it reach — especially let us destroy the
could be adopted all over any one young men of the armies we face,
country at the same time, and sup­ that the future strength of their
pose that the faithfulness of the em­ country may be weakened.’
ployes of a given industry enabled
We hear fools talk about the
“their company” to best their com- ‘glory of war,’ and we are asked to
feel reverent when we are told that
petitors, what would be the effect?
Some industries would go to the the armies ’stopped battling on
wall and their employes would be out Christmas day for an hour’s ‘pray-
of a job. With the increased efficlen- er* ”1 — Miami Metropolis.
cy of the workers in the successful
company, it would mean that only
Adams, Mass.
a part of those workers of the de­
Mr.
J.
E.
HOSMER,
feated Industries could find work.
Silverton, Ore.
And only those who were in a po­
sition to move to the town where the Dear Friend and Fellow Patriot:
work had gon«.
Althongh I am a very busy person
No matter what kind of a scheme
is adopted, it will certainly not cre­ I am going to take time to write you
letter, because we like your “grit."
ate new markets or increase the de­
mand of the consumers to such an I have intended to write you for a
extent that it will prevent an in­ good while, but I can not do nearly
all the things I want to do as I too
crease in the army of unemployed.
Unless the workers receive an in­ am laboring under many difficulties,
crease in wages to equal their in- slehder means and indifferent health,
creaeed efficiency their production will etc. But never mind, I am going to
be so much more greater than their do what I can as long as I can. Our
power of consumption and con­ Savior said of the woman: “She hath
done what she could,” and according
sequently more “ov«*r production.”
Looking at this question from an to my way of thinking that amounts
international view point, it is easy to a great deal more than it doe» to
to understan«! why the interests of tell what one would do if only he had
Labor and Capital are not identical, $50,000 or some other thing. I always
even in the sphere of production, as think that is an excuse for not doing
anything at all. We have been watch­
some labor leaders imagine it is.
So many apprentices to so many ing your fight and we greatly admire
journeymen, no Tailor System, no your pluck in fighting the old Roman
piece work and no bonus system are “beast." We know the struggle is
the demands of Labor which widen against almost overwhelming odds,
the gulf between the identity of in­ but the “battle” is not always to the
“strong,” and it is only as we each
terests at the point of production.
Aside from whatever our deduc­ do our “little bit” in the place where
tions may be after we have analized we are that we can hope to win the
the “Profit Sharing System” there is battle at all and you have been doing
one historical fact that we cannot this.
We understand all the indignities
lose sight of; and that is that no or­
a
sheriff can put upon a prisoner if
ganization of men ever stopped so­
cial evolution by nny scheme of reg­ he wants to do it. But I can tell
sheriff Esch that he has gained a
ulation.
President Wilson is ridiculed be­ good deal of undesirable notoriety by
cause he claims that Capitalism his treatment of you while you were
would be all right if only the men on under his charge. American patriots
the inside of the game could be made all over the country have been watch­
to play fair. And so there are others ing your case and your courage un-
who imagine that the exploitation of der such tremendous difficulties has
Labor would be a peaceful game if strengthened the cause for which you
only the exploited worker was given and all we true b’ue American pa-
a voice in the management, of his ex­ triots are fighting more perhaps than
any other one thing you could have
ploitation and a share in the profit.
If wo want to save time in the done. I have just been writing to
discussion of this question, let us first the editor of the “Peril,” Mr. Geo.
understand why Labor and Capital D. Reason of Wilkesboro, N. C. (he
ever had a "falling out" in the first is “all wool and a yard wide too”),
and in speaking of your case to him
place.
From the very day that one man I said, "There is a man with a back-
And they have "jumped” on
was compelled to work for another hone.”
man in order to live, a quarrel start­ you again. Rut “fear not and be not
ed as to just how much the worker dismayed, for I am with thee.” One
with God I* a majority. It may inter­
est you to know that both my hus­
band and I are on the Firing Line
in thia work and although 1 am nat­
urally more energetic than he, yet he
is doing good work also.
I am never off the job except when
I am asleep. I am working constantly
for the "Menace," the “America). Cit­
izen," the “Peril," the “Yellow
Jacket," etc., and also the "Cam­
paign," our new State paper. And
we American patriots will never rest
until we have driven this old “beast"
out of our fair land, even as the
swine were driven into the sea. I get
lots of insults on the street every
day I am out from the poor dupes
of this false system, but I only laugh
over them to myself and that sort of
thing will never deter me in the least.
I too, like yourself, am a very de­
termined person and you know a
"fellow feeling" makes us kin. I meet
with all sorts of people, the ignorant,
the stupid, the indifferent, the cow­
ardly ami the selfish. (I use these
terms in this particular connection.) I
But what does make me angry is that
we real American patriots have got
to fight this battle for these classes of
people, because it would so much
easier to do if only every one who
believes in the principles of Protest-
antism would only protest against
the presence of this Roman "beast."
Just think of the monstrous injustice
of trying to put “The Silverton Jour­
nal” "out of business,” a little paper
which is trying to do some good in
the world and never a word said
about "Father" Felon in the “Western
Watchman" with his infamous “To
hell with the U. S. Government."
Why! In any other country he would
be strung up for "high treason" as
he ought to be. Just a word more in
conclusion. "A man who tries to do
some good in the world and fails, is
worth inSnitely more to the world
than the man who tries to do nothing
and succeeds." But you will not
“fail." No man of your spirit can
"fail.” With our best wishes to your­
self and also to your wife, the brave
woman who kept The Journal going
while you were in “durance vile" for
no fault of your own, I have the
honor to be
Very Patriotically Yours,
• • • • •
INDULGENCES
In 1517 Pope Leo X issued a Bull
for the sale of Indulgences. These
sold at prices ranged according to
the social or political position of the
purchaser, and his ability to pay. It
was a source of immense revenue to
the Pope and his subordinate digni­
taries. Kohlrauch’s History of Ger­
many, p. 254 (quoted by Cathcart),
says, “The sale of Indulgences was
let out for entire provinces to the
highest bidders or farmers-general.
and these again appointed several
sub-farmers, who, for the sake of
gain, committed the most shameful
abuses. They selected men of elo­
quence and impudence to excite the
minds of the people, and induce them
to purchase by wholesale. They sold
Indulgences for the heaviest crimes
committed; for perjury and murder;
nay, the promise of Indulgence could
even be obtained before the commis­
sion of the contemplated crime.” The
following is the form of Indulgence:
May our Lord Jesus Christ have pity
on thee...................... and absolve thee
by the merit of his most holy pas­
sion. And I, in virtue of the apos­
tolic power entrusted to me, absolve
thee from all ecclesiastical censures,
judgments, and penalties which thou
mayst have deserved; moreover, from
all the excesses, sins, and crimes,
which thou mayst have committed,
how great and enormous soever they
may have been, and for whatever
cause. I efface all the marks of dis­
ability, and all the notes of infamy
which thou mayst have incurred on
this occasion. I remit thee anew a
partaker of the sacraments of the
Church. I again incorporate thee in-
to the communion of saints, and re-
establish thee in the innocence and
purity in which thou wert at the hour
of thy baptism; so that at the mo­
ment of thy death the gate of en­
trance to the place of pains and tor-
ments will be shut to thee, and. on
the contrary, the gate which leads to
the heavenly paradise will be open
to thee. If thou art not soon to die,
this grace wi'l remain unimpaired till
thy last hour arrive. In the name
of the Father, and the Son, and of
the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Friar John Tetzel, commissary, has
signed it with his own hand.”
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmnmmmmmmmsnumumsn
To Carry the War Into the
Enemy’s Country
i
-
I
We have completely defeated the Roman ( atholic Hi­
erarchy in the Court», and, although at a great coat in
work, money and imprisonment, yet we are now ready to
carry thin war for freedom and righteounneiM into the
enemy'a country. You helped un in our defense, will you
help us in our “forward march?"
G. H. Winters ....................................... ...................... 111.70
Drain Friend» ................................................................
1.00
Kate C. Lawrence ..........................................................
5.00
Portland Friend ...................................... ......................
1.00
/‘utntnnnummmuumuunmmuuuam:
THE CASCADE REAL ESTATE CO.
Silverton, Ore., Jourifal Bldg., has the following property for Sale:
See Cascade Real Estate Co. for
bargains.
List your property with E. W. Ross,
the new manager of the Cascade Real
Estate Company.
Seven-rcom House and Lot in Gei­
ser Addition on installment plan.
Four-room House and Lot, 70x210,
on Mill Street. Good location, only
$1750. $200 :ssh, good investment.
Do you want a man to work?
Business Chance: A saw mill that
will cut 700 rail road ties in a day,
250,000 feet of logs cut, 50,000 feet in
the pond; all you have to do is to fire
up and go ahead. Price only $1100,
half cash, chance to buy 500,000 feet
near the mill.
Fine Lot on Fitch Street, a dandy
nuiluing sight, close in, it ’Till not be
on the market long, only $350. Come
quick!
$2000 buys a nice little farm near
Lady, how would you like to buy Amsville, of 15 acres, all cleared.
a dandy little business in Silverton. Fruit, berries, house and barn; all
We have it for »ale. Write to Cas- I fenced. This is a bargain. Will ex­
cade Real Estate Company, Silverton, change for farm property near Silver-
Oregon.
»
ton.
Fine lot between Portland and Ore­ A 54-acre farm, 12 acres hops, fruit
gon City on car line for sale for $800, trees, berries, garden, grain land,
$50 down, $15 i er month, T’.-is is a fine house, hop house, barn and mac­
large lot 50x138% feet, It will in- adam road, fine water, plenty of
crease in value.
pasture. Call in and get full partic­
Buy a lot in Geiser’s Addition— ulars.
best buy in Silverton—must sell and
$2,500 buys one of the finest homes
you get the advantage of the forced you ever saw. There are eight lots,
sa’e. You can pay for this lot and lots of fruit, ten room house, etc.,etc.,
the CASCADE REAL ESTATE CO.
paved streets, city water—on« of the
will bui'd you a bunglow—pay for it
best places in a town that has a future,
in tead of paying rent to the other Scotts Mills, Ore.
fellow.
FOR SALE — 1500 lb. Draft H« rse.
Do you believe in dreams? Your
Buy a dandy home in Oak Grove.
dream of a home will come true if you
«ill let the CASCADE REAL ES­ Oregon. Four-room house, 22 fruit
TATE COMPANY’ tell you how to buy trees, lawn, on car line, good garden,
e’ese to church, school and depot. $2u0
a home on the installment plan.
FORTY’ LOTS for sale in South down, balance $20 per month. Price
Salem—high and dry, fine location, $1800. Beautiful location.
8 1-3 acres right in the city with
cheap end on easy terms.
Fine Large Lots in Salem, sightly ' one of the best houses you ever saw,
fine barn, chicken houses, all kinds of
location, low price, small payment
fruits, grapes, berries, walnuts, etc.,
down and small monthly payments.
cement side walk, paved streets, elec­
FOR SALE — A ni«e large lot, tric lights, sewer, city water, Can je
50x120, in the Capital Citly. Fruits of subdivided. Close in. A dandy bar-
every kind, in Oregon Electric Line, gain at $7600. Half down, Long time
2 blocks from school, near church. on balance.
Good bargain at $250.
Dandy building lot in Davenport
$1500 buys seven acres, one mile Additio" "»n very easy terms, Will
from Silverton, all in cultivation. I take a good cow or a horse «r both,
Hard mackadam road, small house. a little cash, and $5.06 per mont’
for balance.
A bargain, if taken soon.
See Cascade Real Estate Co.
$1200 — Three acres in Southe'r
Now we have it. Lot at one half Calofornia, water for irrigation
price to the person who will build a -3->oom house. $300 cash, balance to
$1500 house cn it, good location on cuit purchasei at 7 per cent.
We have land for sale in Cali-
South Water Street. Also other lots
fornia,
Washington, ., Idaho and Al-
in this part of Silverton with the un­
derstanding that houses built must be berta; any place, tell us where you
want it, and we place you right
of $1000 valve or over.
where you want to live, We have
$12,000 buys a twenty-four acre
land in Lake View for $60 per acre,
tract adjoining Silverton, all in culti­
for a small payment down and bal-
vation. Good buildings, stock and
ance 30 years time, 5% per cent
farming implements can be sub­
interest. This
----------
----- is .....
irrigated
___ _____
land and
divided. Would take $6.000 in ex- lies in tTe famous Goose Lake Val­
change on other good property, This
ley . from 2 to 10 miles from Lake
property should not remain in the View. Also
so a butcher shop and
market long as it is guilt edge goods. slaughter house in Laks View
at a
Come quick!
bargain.
FOR SALE — Two Turbine W ater
Do you want to buy a beautiful plot
Wheels, Shafting , Mortise Gear of ground w th fruit and berrie: al­
Wheels, Boxing, Couplings, Rolle? ready in bearrg, with wood shed luilt
reed Mill, etc.
and two tent bouse«? This is a bar­
$85. an acre buys an excellent Wal­ gain on the installment plan. T1 *
do Hills farm. This farm is worth property is three blocks from ear line
over $100 per acre.
that runs int< Portland. Price $1800.
Grants Pass property, lot 150x200, $!'>0 down. $15 per month. Now’s the
5-room house, big barn, city water, time and The Cascade Real Estate Co.
are the people. Covne and see!
lights, etc., only $1500. Terms.
knorwledge and education; to subju­
gate human reason to the yoke of
faith; to extinguish liberals, rational­
ists, and deists by one stroke of her
Infallibility. Infallible dogma is bril­
liant light, which every intellect must
recognize, whether willingly or reluc­
tantly.......... The Church claims its
right to enter the world’s domain,
and recognize no limits but the cir­
cumference of Christendom; to en­
force her lav s over her subjects; to
control their reason and judgment, to
guide their morals, their thoughts,
words, and actions.......... to supervise
the lectures of the professor, the
diplomacy of the statesman, the gov­
ernment cf kings, and to scrutinize
their morality, and punish their
faults.”
Thomas Cannon Pope, historian of
the Vatican Council which decreed
Infallibility for the Pope, defines
w’hat is meant by the action of the
Council, as follows: “The Council
will vindicate its authority over the
world, and prove its right, founded on
a divine commission, to enter most
intimately into all the spiritual con­
cerns of the world; to supervise the
Assistant State Engineer Percy A.
acts of the king, the diplomatist, the
philosopher and the general; to cir­ Cupper this morning received his
cumscribe the limits of their specu- statement of taxes due upon four
lative inquiries; to hold up the lamp lots located in the suburbs of Okla-
which is to light their only path to.homa City, Oklahoma, for this year,
which amounts to the enormous total
of $1.28. Mr. Cupper states that his
property is situated just on the out­
skirts of the city, which has a pop­
ulation of 7,5,000 people, and between
a big school ai.;l the city with street
cars passing in front of it, and he
expresses surprise at the insignificant
amount of the taxes as compared to
what he pays upon some property in
eastern Oregon. — Capital Journal.
Oklahoma is strongly socialistic in
her conception of human rights, and
does not believe strongly in taxing
all the people for the benefit of a
few who manipulate affairs. We are
not so in Oregon. We like to be
taxed. We even tax ourselves to sup­
port the state institutions, instead
of making them self-supporting, in
order that the contractors who furn­
ish supplies may get a rake-off. We
also tax ourselves many thousands
of dollars for the benefit of Roman
Catholic sectar.an institutions. Great
is our love of taxation.
L. D. R.