Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-06-29
A RED HOT DAY
Coming for the MiIlionaires and MOnop.
Olists Who Cypress Labor to the
Point Of Starvation Wages.
A Warning From the Pulpit Delivered
in Beecher's Most Impressive
Language and Manner.

NEW YORK, June 26.-The Herald prints
the following report Of the sermon delivered
on Sunday by Henry Ward Beecher on the
| strikes among workingmen: His text was
taken from the first epistle of St. Paul to
Timothy: "Charge them that are rich in this
world, that they may not be high-minded,
nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the liv-
ing God, who giveth us richly all things to
enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich
in good works, ready TO distribute, willing
to communicate; laying up in store for them
selves a good foundation against the time to
come, that they may lay hold on eternal
life" AT the outset the preacher remarked
that christianity does not require poverty
and does not improve by it. The idea, he
said, that man must dispossess himself of
his worldly goods for the sake of leading a
right life was not christianity. 1t was
medieval, and based upon an entirely false
idea OF piety and the means of salvation.
st. Paul nowhere rebuked men Tor being
rich, but for abusing riches. Men were
bound to control riches like every faculty
by the law OF love, and love itself must not
be selfish, but must discipline itself into
heroic disinterestedness. Whatever a man
had he was bound to ADMINISTERS in this law
of love, which was the law OF the universe
and was the organizing law of the unfolding
said, furnished him an opportunity TO imi-
tate the Savior by taking theme from
contemporaneous human life. He then re-
hearsed briefly the condition of the prevail
ing strikes and rem arked that the mischief
is going further and further, SO that not only
merchants and traders but every consumer
of perishable articles of food is made to sui
fer. Mr.. Beecher said he the more readily
seized this opportunity because he did not
IxUo nf 10 fraI uh r
handlers strike was justifable. The men
had cause of complaint, and in holding out
they were only exercising their right of
working where they could best find remuner-
alton, that law which covered all occupa-
lions and applied alike TO employers and
employed. Although there had been some
threats of violence on one side of
orderly one, and was seeking its objects prac-
tically by moral influence. He deplored
that the effect of the movement and its sue
cess should be weakened by unwise threats
of violence of few men in Jersey City.
There was no need, he said, for him to dwell
upon the evils of strikes. They were tran
silent. They might be mischievous for
time, but they quickly passed away, while
permanent benefit often followed them. Men
did sometimes come into better conditions of
employment through them, and in general
all those organizations-the Knights of
Labor, guilds, workmens unions and organi-
cations for strikes-were of the nature of
popular educators.
STRIKES AS EDUCATORS.
They were teaching the common people
how to combine and work together-that
was education. Practically, education in
human life reduced to its simplest elements
was learning how to live with others in the
conduct of business. The mass of mankind
was infinitely inferior in intelligence to the
few that govern them, while the great
strength of the mass of mankind was on the
side of the poor. All forms of magistracy
we're infinitely weak in The presence of man.
kind at large, and yet mankind at large
could do nothing for itself. 1t was blind,
blind. Everywhere throughout the world
intelligence in the long run ruled. Now,
anything that gave intelligence to the work
ing people was of service TO the whole COM
munity, and Mr.. Beecher repeated emphat-
ically that workmen's organizations, teach
ing them to govern themselves and leading
them to the study OF political economy,
opened up a roundabout and rude, but still
real process for their education. When the
faults of these organizations were flung into
mems faces it might be replied that
the whole human race has advanced
by stumbling. The wisdom of The world
was the result of all the blunders that could
be committed. Everything tried that
was fantastic and even fatal, but by and by
men stumbled into that which was right
The mischief of ignorance and poverty was
that il didn't know how 10 get along, and
too many foolish and Easteful steps. But
by and by it would begin to take right steps
One thing was very certain, that our SYM
patty should be with the multitude; that il |
should be with the poor and weak, not with |
the rich and strong. The disposition of the |
christian community should go toward those |
who needed most and were most helpless, |
and 1t should not be prepared beforehand to |
go out to those great organized accumula- |
lions of capital and power with which the |
representatives Of the people were more apt |
TO be acquainted than with the poor. The |
low OF compassion, of christian love, was to |
give most to those that needed most-so that |
a generous man looking out upon the various |
schemes that are now sfioat between labor |
and capital, aud employer and employed, his |
disposition should be toward the weak null |
titrde rather than the strong few. 1t was |
not until combinations OF capital took place; |
it was not until legal person was estab. |
lisbed IN corporation and men had to deal |
with an impersonal employer that men be- |
gan to feel the pressure of selfshness. Now.
sel6shness did not specially belong to cor.
porations any more than TO individuals.
INTELLIGENT SELF INTEREST.
The keynote of business was, or at least |
ought 20 De, an intelligent self-ipterest- |
Selfishness, however, with the mass of men
acted in very narrow sphere, whereas in
combinations it was solidified and became
terrific power. There was electricity In every
Harmless wire that runs from the telephone
or the telegraph instrument; but when cleo
tricity was combined in the heavens and
it struck with blasting power.
Now, l am not 10 speak, said Mr. Beecher
against banks, brokers, capitalists, corpora
tions, railways-God forbid. Without Them |
society would collapse and lie fiat. Oae |
might as we'll attempt TO take the beams out |
Of house on some charge, or the bones out |
of the human body-and they are hard and |
oftentimes disturbing, but they are necet airy. |
Nothing is more legitimate than the COM |
5inations that grow up in industry, but the |
law OF selhshness is not to be permitted TO |
have full swing in them; and that message |
which we are empowered to bring as moral |
teachers ministers of Christ-is that the
power held by commercial organizations |
must be held according 10 the law of chris
.ianity, of charity and love. l do net DENY
that benefits accrue to society from combined |
capital that could never be experienced in
any other way. / do not doubt that you
:heapen goods by nj anufactlring large
quantities with improved machinery and |
hat they are brought more easily within
each OF the poor. 1t is a good thing to
cheaper all the conditions OF life, but
We can't afford to cheaper men in order to
make cheap goods. II business is carried
IN so as to degrade man, and il stands in the |
way of his progress, makes beast of him
,r at any rate treats him as If he were one
t is to be condemned. We lack true moral
impulse in combinations OF capital. EN-
,loyers sometimes say: "We know what |
men are; we own our own business and are
lot to be dictated to as 10 whom we shall
lire or what we shall pay them" "Well,"
aid Mr.. Beecher, "Its as long az it's broad |
The workmen say: 1--WE own our own labor
md are not to be dictated to as to whom we
hall serve" Now, no man really Gowns"
INV business that degrades manhood. that
makes life heavier and more burdensome for
men, which resists the meaning of Gods
lecrees.
CHIvALRIc VIEW OF LIFE.
Neither employer nor employed had any
light to make his position an engine of inhu-
n anity. The law OF love had yet to be
earned in the great mechanical industries.
/ was difficult in the heat of competition
md the struggle for chespness of produc-
ion 10 say TO an employer: "You must
IKE care of your men," but the trouble was
hey did not want to take care of their men;
hey renowned the obligation. The ten
Iency, the genius of administration which
he employer should set up before him
hould be humanity to those who were en-
'loyed. The strong should feel them
elves 10 be the knights of the
Teak; those that we're wise were the
OF the ignorant; those that
Tere good were Gods missionaries to those