The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-05-17
THE WAGE WORKERS.
Remedies for the Conflict.
Second and Last Of Rev. w. ). Mar
auis' Sermons on the Labor
Question, Last
Evening.


Question, Last
Evening.
At the Broadway Presbyterian church
last evening, Rev. w. s. Marquis
preached his second and last sermon on
the "Wage Workers Conflict" treating
ON the remedies for the trouble. Like
the preceding discourse of that gentle-
man on the same subject, it was most
excellent and interesting presentment of
the great problem. Every seat in. the
church was taken; notable feature was
the presence of many workingmen and
Knights of Labor. Below is given
synopIical report of Mr.. Marquis sermon:
Render therefore, to ali their duties; tribute to
whom tributc Is due; custom TO whom custom
fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
Owe no man any thing but to We one another,
for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law
For this thou shalt not commit adultery; thou
ghalt not kill thou shalt NOT bear false witness;
thou snalt not coyet; and there being many other
commandments, IL is briefly comprehended in
this saying, namely, thou shalt love thy neighbor
myself
Love wolketh no III to his ncfghbor; therefore
love is the fulfilling of the law. Romans -, 40
The struggles OF one generation are, in
the main, its efforts TO throw off the evils
bequeathcd it by preceding generation.
If it does not succeed, and the land goes
on increasing. there comes French rev.
Olution and reigns terror. In our con-
sderation of the nature and origin of the
conflict last week, we discovered seven
principal causes, viz:
l. The unequal and Unjust distribution
of the products of labor.
2. Intemperance and extravaganza
among wage workers.
3. Over immigration and vicious inns
migration.
4. The communistic doctrines of im>
ported socialists.
5. Indifference of employers to well
fare Of employed.
O. Irreligion.
7. Unjust laws and poor enforcement
of good laws.
Now it is evident, no one simple spe>
GihI Cdu Nult thNSO N'hos II 10 u
complicated disease and requires com
pound remedy, containing many ingredi,
enls. And so find my correspondence
in answer to the questiou,-What RENEE
dies would you suggestT-have proposed
a great variety of remedies. They may
be classified. however, under four heads,
first:
CoERCIvE MEASURES.
Suggestions of this character came
from both sides, C. i. One employer
thinks there is need of more back bone
among employers and state authorities in
visiting unjust demands. Another says
"enforce the law against intimidation and
boycotts. and there will be no more con-
fiict between capital and labor than there
is between capital and corn or calico.
II this is not done he thinks the only
thing is for capital to combine against
organized labor. On the other hand
while all disapprove of the boycott as lis
legal conspiracy, and of the strike as un>
wise, expensive and Inefficient many of
the answers from employed were in favor
OF using either as a war measure, when
everything else failed Fight the Devil
with his own weapons" Now will such
measures heal the breach? Not in them
selves. The most they can do is to make
each fear the other, like France and Ger
many with their great standing armies.
As Abram 5. Hewitt says, capital is now
ready to discuss" But such measures
and such an attitude will drive capital
into bonds and bank vaults, and make
harder times than ever, There is only one
place for force in the solution of this
problem, and that is in the enforcement
of law. There should go up demand
for law and order. all over the land Let
the men talking guns and dynamite be
senced. Let the man who throws q
bomb, or sets an Internal machine with
murderous effect, be hung. We have
right to cry for redress, but not to strike
with the red hand of riot. We must be
willing to bear even oppressive laws until
they can be remedied by the peaceful
means provided in our form OF govern
ment.--the ballot, am glad to see Mas
ter Workman Powderly in his last circular
taking just this position. Second:
LEGISLATIVE REMEDIES.
But enforcement of law will not reme>
dy the evils if the laws are oppressive in
operation. The numerous legislative
remedies proposed by my correspondents
shows there is need of reform in that
direction. One wage worker suggests
that government assist the surplus labor
Of our large cities to our unoccupied
western domain. Another believes many
evils would be remedied by government
purchase and operation of all railroads,
telegraphs, telephones, etc A prominent
merchant advocates postal banks, where
the laborer can deposit small savings
with security. Others would prohibit
pauper immigration, over-immigratiOn,
and socalistic agitators; others would
prohibit the liquor traffic; some pin faith
fully TO the eight-hour law. Thus we see
almost every man has his pet remedy by
law. 1t would be impossible in one dis
course TO handle each Of these, even if
able to do so. The real question of i'm
portance is, what do these suggestions in
dicatc? just this: There is demand
for legislation in this direction, and true
to our American instincts, I'VE, the peo-
pie" are looking around for the right
laws with view TO securing them
through the ballot box. These sugges
tlons also indicate that patriots should
rally around the ballot box The educa-
ted, respectable class have, to an alarm
ing extent, surrended the government to
q the rabble. Iu our large cities especially
il is often disgrace to be found among
the city Officials. If this Discrimination to
take hand in politics continues and in
creases among the better citizens, the
day will come when some Cesar or Ma,
poleon LII will see his opportunity and
proclaim himself imperial dictator.
Eternal vigilance is the price of lib
erty." Let every citizen make it his
motto, and remember he must account tC
God for the use of his political power
Third,
ECONOMIC REMEDIES.
Not only must laws he remedied and
enforced, but their vices must alst
II. l.