The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-03-26
FL n tie CathOie World. for March 1870
Views Of the Labor Movement.
BY =. WHARTON coLLLNs.
(CONTINUED.l


The origin and object Of the controversy
is agreed on by every one. The dissent Is
upon what shall be the principle and the
method according to which the desired re-
lief shall be gained. In6delity, under the
name of socialism, would have it done with
out God, on grounds Of naked natural
equity or rational justice. 1t would act in
dependently Of religion, Christian faith and
Christian charity. It would push the
church aside. and presume to finish in an
other name the work of our Lord Jesus
Christ commenced more than eighteen
centuries ago.
Hence, unless one prefers to hide his
head in the sand, with the vain notion that
the immense food roaring and rising round
us does not exist, because he does not see
or bear it, it is time for him, if be is a
Catholic, to consider from the point Of view
Of his faith what stand be should take, and
what is his duty toward the poor and
toward society in the crisis the struggles Of
laborers for power in the State will soon
bring on in this country Of universal suf-
frage 1t is not merely question of Civ
ing and distributing aims and assistance
that is to be solved. but great problems Of
social organization and rights are put be-
fore us. We must decide (I) what there
is in the labor movement that religion ap-
proves and encourages; ~ what there is
in it religion condemns and (3) what it
contains that is merely temporal or indif-
ferent to the church.
1t certainly has something of each Of
these three elements
In any way the matter is approached it
presents religious as well as political
question to be solved, religious as we'll as
political duty to be performed for it in
wolves the rights Of the poor on us, and our
duty to them as Christians. What if the
demands of the laborers were just, and that,
notwithstanding this, we should oppose
them? What socialism, as a whole,
should be opposed, it is admitted that The
present poor-laws and charitable institutions
are insufficient, and some more thorough
system of relief must be adopted. The
workingmen insist that this shall be done,
and for this purpose Claim to elect those
who are to govern the State, and make the
laws. Religion cannot neglect to interfere
without leaving multitudes of souls Of the
poor TO be seduced into the naturalism.
sensualism, and in6delity the socialists pur-
pose as the consummation of the move
ment. Nor does the question Of our
religious duty toward the poor in this crisis
cease to demand an answer upon mere
refutation Of socialistic theories. 1t does
not suffice to show thaAtb Utopias Of Ba
bout, Owen, CADET, St. Simon, Fourier,
and Noyes are abominable, but the Just
principle of economic distribution must be
found and applied under penalty of eternal
anarchy. The negotiation of one medicine
as unfit, does not dispense from finding an
other that will cure. when, indeed, disease
exists and, we take it for granted that nc
Christian who has heard or read of the sue
cessive burdens and bardships of the poor
operatives and peasants of Europe, will say
that there is no disease to be cured, or who
is heartless enough to abandon the case on
the ground that it is incurable. Certain il
is that the hardworking poor will not con.
cede that they suffer no injustice not
cease to demand permanent relief; and il
religion ignores, denies, or abandons the
sick, they will resort to philosophical quacks,
who will lead them to their moral and
religious ruin. Worse; as foreseen BY
His Holiness Plus TX, they will repent the
apostasy Of the French revolution, and with
the same sacrilegious and despotic spirit,
but with more cunning and method, pro.
hibit religion itself.
{, Their main lever in accompIing this will
be the labor movement, if they succeed in
controlling it. Hence, what sce shall do
with it, is question of vital importance.
AT the outset the Catholic must give a
negative answer to all propositions and
plans for disturbing rested rights or vio-
lently resisting the laws, or lawful authority,
under pretence Of establishing justice This
proposition needs no argument to show its
wisdom and conformity with divine law.
Next, the Catholic will opposes agra
rianism, which is the forciNe taking Of all
property to distribute it in equal portions
among the people. This is forced equality /;
very different thing from associated labor
Finally, the Catholic viii also even Op-
pose association when she would organize
corruption and irreligion under the guise Of
philanthropy and ffaisnity.