St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-26

the Nation, where the same burning theme
is handled fully by several correspondents.
One lady tells the wise editor that he knows
nothing about the matter. She says. as
your correspondent did. that shop and sew
Ing girls are utterly Unfit to take the place
OF strong-armed Bridget. and that they
would not attempt to do so, because they
know they would be practically outcasts
from the society of friends and lovers, who
would not seek them out in kitchens and
wash-rooms. The lady seems to have the
best OF the argument. even though dealing
with such infalIible men as Parke God
win and the editor of the Press. The Illus
trated Christian Weekly, of Dec. IL, speak
ing of the 200, 600 girls who live in ''pov-
erty. hunger and dirt says:
Of course the incessant toll, especially
where it br ms in SO little reward. where life
is struggle Tor bare subsistence, deyitallZes
the body aud depresses the whole mental and
moral tone. 1t is no wonder the victims of
this hard life sink into sedden despair.
Sixteen hours day. for 81 or SIS a
week would deyitaIize the strongest man in
few months or years. No wonder these
girls would hardly pass muster in the ser
vant-girl employment Offices But what is
thu remedy? The Christian Weekly seems
u be somewhat at sea on this point. After
showing that the churches are not the Or
CARNATIONS fitted to intervene between EN-
ploYer and employe. it says:
But surely the Christianity which these
churches represent and embody ought 10 be
able to find q solution for the dark and per-
picking problem.
must be permitted to doubt the truth of
this Surely" 1 prefer to take the mega
tive. What Christ :anity do these churches
really represent and embOdy? That Of the
nineteenth century. And what is the pre-
vailing belief of the nineteenth century?
Well, l could quote hundreds of orthodox
Christians OF high character who bewail the
patent fact that the church is trying to
serve God and Mammon. though Christ
said the thing could not be done. The
Christianity of the nineteenth century has
large quantity of alloy in it. 1t cannot do
the needed work.
The Christianity that must do this work
should be one that practically sets forth be-
fore ''gainsaying generation the great
superiority of the law of love as basis for
reform. The law of selishness, as the nec-
eSSary basis of trade and business, is now
governor. and dictates the most cruel and
Soul-destrUying doctrines and conduct. To
buy cheap and sell dear" is the simple
duty of all men who propose to engage in
production or distribution of material pro-
duets and all Christians. as well as all men
OF the world, must act in accordance
| with it.
The Pioneer Press and the Illustrated
Christian meekly attribute the terrible con-
dition of the 200. 900 starving girls of New
7 Ork to competition in an overSupplied
market" Too many people ready to work.
and not enough people wanting their serv-
ices-therefOre they must suffer. Darwin
and his tribe OF descendants from the
ourang- outang race say they ought, as the
weakest to get out of the way and let the
stronger develop to the utmost. And OAR
win is All exponent of the prevailing senti-
ment and practice of the nineteenth cen
| tury-the greatest boaster and braggart of
| all the centuries.
And yet there is hope. Prof. John B.
Clark. lecturer OH Political Economy in
Amherst college. says that competition at
first developed moderate emulation; then, a
destructive contest and. in its last stage.
is the parent of monOpOlies. Well. the
monopolies are getting few as well as huge.
and their necks can be reached and pierced.
They are easier to fight than myriadS of
smaller enemies. and can be overcome.
| What then? Prof. Clark is also an advo-
cate of cooperation as supplying the needed
means OF swift and perfect production and
distribution. The current of opinion in
| the social science circles of the world are
with him. Let cooperation be tried fairly
and thoroughly, and l believe it will be
| found to unite the law Of love and the
highest economic veal of the masses. Y.
Minneapolis, Dec. 81.