p. 230 | THE TREASURE IN HEAPS by T.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 14, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 15.

THE TREASURE IN HEAPS.

By T.

In our last issue attention was called to the great “heaps” of treasure that have been accumulated during the last few decades into a small number of individual hands. And in passing, it might be well to again state that the first verses of the fifth chapter of James tell us plainly that “treasure” is to be “heaped” together, “for,” or, as given by the Revised Version, “in” the “last days.” This fact should be kept before the mind; for as we see so much treasure being gathered into “heaps” by a few dozen men in each of the several countries of the world, it gives us one of the unmistakable evidences that we are in the “last days.” This is not set forth as the only evidence that we are rapidly approaching the end. No, by no means. There is an overwhelming array of evidence in addition to the “heaping together of treasure.” And as you see this evidence, line upon line, do not be deceived, but know of a surety that the last days are here.

But there is a phase of the heaping together of treasure that is not shown by the large individual fortunes. And let us proceed to examine it. It is simply wonderful, as was stated in last week’s issue, what vast sums of money a few individuals have been able to accumulate. These fortunes are not merely reckoned by the single million, neither by tens of millions, but hundreds of millions are within the grasping ownership of single individuals. And when, as was quoted recently from Mr. Shearman, we can say that the billionaire, not the millionaire, but the billionaire, is actually in sight and may be expected within a few years, what enormous proportions do the figures assume! And how literally do we see the fulfilment of that most expressive Word of God that “ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.”

“But what is the other phase of heaping together of treasure?” you ask. “Tell us about that.”

You already know all about it. All that is needed is to call your attention to it. You know the history of the corporation perfectly well. You also know that practically every commodity that is in daily use by the people comes to you through some corporation. One corporation supplies your sugar, another your flour, another your matches, another your each kerosene and gasoline, another your coal, another your clothing, another your shoes, and so on, and so on.

“But,” you say, “I buy all these things of the merchants here in the town where I live. I don’t see how any corporation has anything to do with them.”

Yes, it is true that you buy everything you want from your local merchant. But he buys from the big corporation. And so, after all, the corporation controls and handles every commodity known to trade and commerce. In the earlier days of corporations the sums that each corporation controlled did not appear so large. In fact, it is about impossible for any one corporation to become so vastly rich, because competition, occasioned by many other corporations and individuals doing business in the same line, serves to localize the trade of each and keep it within bounds.

But a master mind conceived the idea that if it were only possible to get a monopoly of all the trade in some one of these commodities, then how rapidly could he heap up his millions! And so the scheme of combining the various competing corporations into “trusts” and “syndicates” is launched. At first there are many difficulties to meet and overcome. For some of the corporations as well as private individuals desire to continue in business as they are. But the organizers of the “trust” are persistent. Their watchword is that they must “crush” the corporation or individual that “refuses to come into the combine.” “No stone is left unturned” in accomplishing their purpose. Legislatures are corrupted; justice is blinded by bribes and turned away from her course by intrigue. The monopoly must reign supreme. And neither outraged justice, nor the piteous cry of those being trampled underfoot, seems to awaken a single kindly or generous emotion in the breast of him whose only mission is to “heap together treasure.”

Within the last few weeks there has been organized the Milk trust of New York, with a capital of $15,000,000; the International Paper Company, with a capital of $50,000,000; the enamel-ware manufacturers, with $25,000,000; the American Steel and Wire Company, with a capital of $87,000,000, etc. Thus it has been going on with a rapidly-increasing activity for the greater part of the last two decades.

It should not be overlooked, either, that these trusts and combines have intertwined with each other so that one sustains and helps the other in their hoarding of wealth. The big trust gets special privileges from the railroad, presumably on the ground of their “large volume of business;” they combine the influence of their vast wealth to elect their special men to office so that they may control the government in the interest of “heaping up” larger and still larger mountains of wealth; in short, each trust is linked to every other trust to work in every way they can for their common interest.

Now look at the picture. Not only do we have the individual fortunes outrivaling the extravagant fables of antiquity, but trusts and combines come in to pile still higher the already towering “heaps” of wealth. Thus what men could not do while acting in their individual capacity, or even in the capacity of ordinary corporations, they combine in trusts to accomplish. And it is a truth as literal and clear as a shining sun from a cloudless sky that the whole plan of the organization of business to-day is to pile the treasure of the entire world into

“heaps,” to which just a comparatively few men may point and say, “This is mine.” And if these men could only be induced to leave the shrine of mammon long enough for their understanding to be opened to the words of inspiration, they would also say, I “have heaped” this “treasure together for the last days.” But the mammon-god is so exacting that he leaves no time for his worshipers to study the Word of God. In their furious rush to get rich, even at the greatest sacrifice to themselves and the oppression of others, little do they dream how literally they are fulfilling the Scripture prophecy. Can nothing be done to arrest the attention of at least a few of them, so that they may be turned from the destruction of the blinded course they are following?

“Capital and labor” is one of the topics of the hour. It is discussed extensively and with warmth. Many remedies are proposed. The “single-tax” man is sure his plan would be a success; the bimetalist grows ardent and eloquent in telling how his theory, if applied, would level things up by pouring the bounties of the horn of plenty upon all; the Socialist is sure that his plan is an ideal panacea, and so on, and so on.

We have no discussion with the capitalist or any of these who are so bitterly opposing him in his amassing of wealth. We only call attention to things as they exist to-day, and point you to that sure Word of God which says, “Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.” You certainly can not fail to see the fulfilling prophecy. Are you ready for what it portends? T.