[William McKinley]

I can't agree with your perspective that when he was talking about diamonds and gold he was talking about diamonds and gold, since he gave examples of men building businesses selling bonnets, for example.

The acres of diamonds are to be found by examining what people desire, and by fulfilling needs.

[RightWhale]

Sure, he went on to give a lot of examples of his take on the old story. He wasn't talking about literal diamonds and gold. However, in those days it was the peak of capitalism and others did talk of literal diamonds and gold. Not that you would find diamonds in your garden, but that you could become financially rich beyond the dreams of avarice, become one of the captains of industry, right here in the Land of Opportunity. For a while it looked like they could transform the city of man to the city of God in their own times. Lots of optimism. Then the 20th century came along and we aren't real pleased with the results. So we are back to the more spiritual interpretations. But for a while they were talking about real shiny material stuff. Horatio Alger.