, 1863-07-21
THE COMPETITION OF COL
OREEb LABOR.
4 Roman Catholic View OF the Ques-
tlons
From the Catholic Telegraph. by the Very Rev.
prasc.lf II q n = -

From the Catholic = Telegraph: M 5y the Very Rev.
In the yarious articles which we hare pre-
.ented forthe consideration Of our readers, on
the subject Of slavery, we hare bad chiefly In
view the prosperity and elevation Of the white
]aborer. 1t is to this class of Men that we are
most devoted, and with which We are most in
communication from day to day. There Is
surely no one Of our readers, however much
that we would advocate any question which
We thought injurious to this deserving class
Of men, or entertain = design however ra-
mote, to diminish the sources Of their pros
peTity: We belong to the same stock. We
| are heir to hard hands and life maintained by
the sweat Of the brow. The history Of our
church In the United States forhids, moreover,
any thought at the kind. Our filth has been
prupagated By the poor; they are truly the
bune and sineW OF the church; they and the
priest have been hand and hand in every labor
Of love, and hence there would be no excuse
for him II We wrote, or spoke, or thought, or
took part with any one In any political move
ment prejndical to those to whom We oWe so
much. It IL for them that we 1abor; their
permanent good Is the motive which gives
impulse to our mind and heart We wish to
throw open to them continent; to give them
power to select their place OF abor in any
part Of the land, without being subjected to
the Injustice and tyranny which are tho ro-
sults Of pro-e1averJ legislation. We desire to
see them free to cultivate the land for them
their severe toll, integrity Of life and Chris
tim fortitude, will give honor to our church
"A people whose lives will not be lavished In
luxury acquired by the blood aud tears aud
upholy bondage Of their fellow-mea- Our hos
tl]it5 to the restoration Of slavery Is not 40
much for the emancipation Of the blacks as for
the social elevation and independence OF our
white brethren.
The great argument constantly used against
our position IL this: If slavery be abolished
We will be overrun BY colored people, who
will compete with the white lnborer, and
finally aapplant him This Argument, or
rather ass! rtion, has no force They have
been running into Canada for years, and yet
they hare been able to accomplish nothing
ogalns: the white laboring population Their
presence has only added to the character OF
the white man for energy and iatel!sct. Ne
parts Vi Ohio, but they have not prospered.
To compare these people with the white man,
however poor his coudition, would be " r.
diculous excess" We know Of but oue set
tlen.ent which gives Indications of permanent
prosperity, and this Is to be attributed to the
1ac, that they became converted to the Catho-
lie faith, and the old church threw her mantle
over them, nnd though they were black she
gave them sanctuary and drove away the
wolves, spiritual and temporal But if slavery
be abolished the negro Will return to the
SHOWS of Canada or the Northwest The
sun attracts him; 10 that the fear Of
any competition between him and the
white laboEer becoming success In the North,
is q .pba1sasy-a halluclnation such as mind
present Is to prevent the rebuilding Of the
slavery eeifice. It IL now in ruins oyer all
the South, pulled down By the hands that
built 1t. Allow 1t to be patched up and the
white labofer Is sgain shut out, Or allowed to
enter only on an equality with the slave. So
mote>t chance for the white laborer to con-
tend ogai1st It. This Is knoTn to all; but
remove the nuisance, blot 1t out, and the
poor white man think 1t no longer degsada.
ton to work, and he ascents ot once to d po.
sition which, under any other circumstance,
is upattainab1o. In no other way will the
rich climes CT the South be ever thrown open,
with the remotest chances Of SUCCESS in lite,
to the emigrant 1aborer.
Am not arguing fairly, my Catholic coun-
trymen? You know what it is to labor to
eaye up enough to purchase few acres Of
and seanty In is return. Are you willing to
perpetuate IN Institution by which your chill
dren are shut out from the fertile fields of the
Southt Are you content to keep kitchen
gardens for men who despfse you2 Do you
wish to Occupy the same position here that
guilt Of this war is not on our souls, but If
any good can be produced from It, let us
claim 1t and preserve It and not allow it to
slip from our hands.
We do not wish to see the black man In
comp etition with the white. We desIreto see
thip between the two raees. We have no anx-
ieiy to SEQ them intermlngled, neither work
Ing together, nor eyen cultiyating adjacent
feids. The natural superiority OF the white
rate ought to b. carefully preserved. This Is
impossible So long as slavery exists because
great extent, in the power Of the rich planter
Is the slave. Abolish the system. and thu na-
tive power OF the white man Willlbc instantly
developed. Then the excessive wealth Of the
planter disappears, and 80 does the crushing
poverty Of his poor white netghbor. In j
ened By toll, there will be more equality.
more confensment, more moral power. In
stead OF vast plantatione, with hundreds Of
elaves to labor for one family, small farms,
IKE IKE Emmy spots, will dot The land, as in the
latior? It will BIZ time enough to grapplo
with That point when slavery Is abolished
Political Questions are In constant Develop
ment, and according as the exgency arrives,
the ditticulty will be regulated by the proper
power. There Is no danger that m undue
prevalence o1 tae negro lace WILL ever 01asTact
The busy ma:ts of the white man.
So hr, NC hare considered the question In
Its social aspect The raan who has the saliva
t,on OF his nefghbor at heart. will have ample
snhiect for med tatlon, when he considers slny-
cry in religions view. This widespread
ruin Of Eouls uncared for and untaughs; the
rit1ation Of natural rights; the merciless di-
visions Of fa1nilies; the horrible degradation
-all these appeal to the Catholic; and dark,
indetd, must be lis spirit, if they make no
Impression on lis Conscience