THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MONEY QUESTION.
By T.
THAT there is a money question, no one can deny. The presidential campaign in this country two years ago had no other issue that could gain the attention of the people. Some political speakers and writers tried to have the “tariff” and other questions discussed, but no one cared to talk of anything but the “money question.” And, altho nearly two whole years lie between us and that heated campaign, the “money question” is still the political issue. President McKinley in his speech in New York a few days since said that it is an obligation “to the people to insist upon the settlement of this great question now, or else to face the alternative that it must be again submitted for arbitration at the polls.” The President sees, then, that this “great question”—this money issue—is still alive, and that unless something is speedily done, his party will have to meet it at the “polls” again in two years hence. And discussions in Congress, yes, in fact, all over the country, show that there is a money issue. But why all this talk about money? Is it because there is so little wealth in the land? Is it because destitution is so gaunt and haggard that it is so necessary to be all the time talking about money so as to provide a way to relieve the distress? Let some great enterprise be launched that insures good dividends and security and there is no lack of the millions that come rolling out to be invested. Great fortunes, almost fabulous in their colossal magnitude, are being amassed. And there may be seen much reveling in luxurious and costly pleasure that is wanton and wasteful in its extravagance. And still there is a money question. This money question, too, has been agitating the public very strongly for four or five years, and the agitation bids fair to continue. And all this notwithstanding the fact that the country is fairly surfeited with wealth. Then, after all, is it truly a “money question”? When the bare facts are revealed, does not the real question consist in the concentration of practically all of this wealth in the hands of a few men, while thousands of others are destitute? And will it be possible to ever devise a monetary system that will give each one all he wants, especially since a few seem to be willing to grasp all that can be produced? The true inwardness of this “money question” is very clearly set forth in the first part of the fifth chapter of James. And when we see these evidences of the soon coming of the Master, so overwhelmingly abundant all about us, we should be comforted by the admonition, “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.” The Lord is surely coming, and the day is near. At that time every question will be settled, and the settlement will be eternal as well as right. T.