The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1883-02-14
For the Central Presbyterian.
A Protest Against Oppression

Will not every secular as we'll as reli-
gious paper lit up its voice in behalf of
the oppressed employees of corporations?
Cannot something be done to deliver them
from the cruel exactions of these soulless
bodies? Not long since some conscien-
tious men united in a respectful petition
to the officials of a road requesting them
to let them rest on Sunday. The man
ayers, in answer to their request, engaged
other men who stand ready to fill their
places. They then say to these worthy
Sabbath-keepers awe will lay no bur
den on your consciences. The company
does not ask any man to violate his con-
victions. But if you will not work on
Sunday stand aside and make room for
men who wiU work" This is nothing
short Of discharge for keeping the Sab
bath. 1t is tyrannioal in the extreme.
This is virtually compelling them to work
For the managers need not be told that
these men are poor. They have large
families dependent on them. They have
not much ahead perhaps. They are un-
fitted by their previous training for other
vocations. If they leave their engines it
IS to begin life anew, with needy families
and want staring them in the face. Now
this is hard. 1t is monstrous to subject
men to such an unnecessary hardship.
There are very few men, even Christians,
who would face the alternative, unless
they have in them the stuff out of which
martyrs are made. I am aware that the
Christian and true theory is I" to obey God
rather than man" ITO do good and
dwell in the land, and verify thou shalt
be fed" But it is trying to practice that
1t requires heroism such as few men DOS
sess who are not Christians. They feel
that these are trying circumstances. To
stand and hear them talk, would evoke
every spark of sympathy for them. They
are forced to view it not only in the light
Of duty, but in the light of the rugged
realities Of life as well. 1t ought to stir
rs to enter our indignant protests against
such treatment. Ought not the humane
feeling of a civilized people to make it.
self heard and felt in opposition to these
soul-trying demands? 1t is folly for a
few men to attempt to cope with corpo-
ration. If all of them would unite in
such a movement the Sabbath difficulty
would be solved. While there are many
Who would cooperate with it, there are
many who would not. The result is that
the few who are brave enough to stand
by their convictions are sacrificed and
suffer. The men are not to be excused
who do not obey the dictates of con-
science. They ought to abandon the SER
vice Of the company rather than engage
in unnecessary Sabbath labor But sit
mated as they are, this is more easily said
than done. AS the mems duty is clear,
the wanton cruelty of that power that
forces them unto this dilemma cannot be
condemned too severely because this
work is entirely unnecessary. Granted
that it IS necessary to run mail trains and
perishable freight trains Though it is not),
where can be found the necessity to run
coal trains? To this it is said that all
other great roads run on that day, and
we cannot enter into successful competi-
ton with them unless we follow their ex-
ample. That is the secret Of the matter.
1t is the pressure of competition, coupled
With an Unsuitable greed for gain. 1t is
not necessity at all. Therefore the alter
native thrust upon these good men is all
the more cruel This unfeeinp conduct
cannot be justified on the plea of neces-
sity. On the contrary, men who know
cay it would be better as matter of pol
icy, to rest on Sunday. The men need
this periodic rest. Their systems demand
It, If they get it they can do more eff
Gent work. Then too, collisions result
ing from over-work would be less liable
to occur. And more has been lost in
collisions than has ever been made by
using this day.