p. 8 | OVER TWO BILLION by T.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 26, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 26.

OVER TWO BILLION.

By T.

Since the first day of January, 1901, new consolidations of capital to the extent of over two billion dollars have been gathered into trusts. A big trust means that there is some masterful leading spirit back of it, who is able to combine and control this vast wealth. It means also that there are but very few men who stand with him to own and receive the benefits from these great fortunes. In carrying out their big undertakings, they may incidentally give employment to a large army of men; but at heart the organization is despotic and intensely covetous. Men are trying to find some omens of good cheer in these conditions that confront the world, but there is no good cheer in them. Wrong principles are working, and nothing but wrong can result.

It is only necessary for the attention to be called to the situation when it will be readily seen that an unprecedented condition is confronting us. This amassing of wealth cultivates the spirit of selfishness, and the fruit of selfishness is despotism. And thus may we see the dark image of tyranny that is rising. But in order for despotic tyranny to hold undisputed sway, it must have an ignorant and superstitious people to rule over. Where the attempt is made to exercise tyranny over a people that are educated and enlightened by the principles of freedom, there is bound to be a violent clash.

There can be no question about the general intelligence and liberty-loving spirit of this age. Neither can there be any question but that some strong men have sprung up who have both the ability and the disposition to grasp immense fortunes, and to hold and manipulate them with a merciless hand. All of the luxuries and the profligate and selfish expenditures of money that are the usual accompaniment of despotism are indulged by these present-day “kings of commerce and trade.” The proverbial “half an eye” is not taxed in seeing that a broadly intelligent and free people will bring on a terrible conflict in resisting these conditions.

The selfishness and tyranny of the age is not confined, however, to the rich. The desire to control money and use it for purely selfish ends is a strong part of the make-up of every unregenerate heart. And woven into these conditions of selfishness and greed are all the vices and passions of an age that is crazed with a desire for luxury and exciting pleasures. Exciting amusements and luxuriant revelings are sought by the people with the intensity of madness. The rich revel in every pleasure that their hearts can suggest, and the poor are envious of them in consequence. Instead of the poor being ignorant now and looking up to the rich with a superstitious reverence, as they did in the days of the feudal lords, they have minds that are made keen and sensitive by the general intelligence and freedom of the age, and they are smarting under what they consider the injustice of the wealthy class.

In this we are not presenting a mere theory. We are speaking of facts and conditions that confront us. The Lord, in His sure Word of prophecy, has foretold that the end of all this will be the stormiest troubles that the world has ever known. Scenes that beggar description are staring the world in the face. Are you prepared to meet them? T.