Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-04-23
THE LABOR QUESTION.


TIE LABOR QUESTION.
EXTRACT FROM THE FAsT-DAY SERMON OF REV.
A. d. sPAULDINa OF WEST BRATTLEBoRo.
wish this morning to place the benevo-
lent character OF Christianity, as manifested
in Christ and his apostles over against one
Of the most serious problems that has arisen
in this our beloved land. More especially
because of the words Of our honorable Gov
ernor in his proclamation, who says, Let us
implore comfort for the sffiioted, relief for
the distressed, and hope for those who are
oppressed or despair" 1 wish as a Chris
tian minister and loyal citizen TO discuss the
present aspect Of the relation between 30
called "capital and labor" l enter into this
discussion with the most candid spirit, and
desire to consider IL in accordance with such
principles "a would be pleasing TO our Lord
were he present In our midst. There was
never, perhaps, an era in the worlds history
when II would seem q more imperative de-
mand existed for the leaven Of Christian
truth and principle to become everywhere ac
tive and effective in permeating human soci-
ETY. than to-day, so that the religion Of
Christ may not only gather together In the
sanctuary the rich and the poor but also
that they may meet in real sympathy
along all the practical walks Of our everyday
life
The minister of the gospel, yea, every
Christian, should read the signs of the times,
not as an optimist, nor as a pessimist but,
taking our stand for truth and righteousness,
aim at the golden mean. Communism Is in
the air, and 1t arrays one class OF society
over against another class. This problem
must be considered by the church Of God
Many to-day are looking upon the church az
their enemy. We must come out and make
our real position known.
At the outset, therefore, let me say have
no sympathy whatever with that commun.
istic idea which everywhere cries, Equality at
any cost" The idea is not scriptural, neither
is it founded in the nature Of man. Men
may be equal in q sense before God 80 far
as his offers Of mercy are intended for all.
But men are not and never will be- equal in
respect to the levelling Of all social dstctions
The communistic sense Of that word equal
ity" can never be realized in human society
unless men return to a savage condition. Go
to some low tribe in Africa or on some far of
island Of the sea, where they have not even
civilization enough to elect chief, and there
you will find an approach to equality, and no
where else. The cry, therefore, that asks
for a division Of the wealth OF our land
equally among all, is demoralizing in the eX.
treme. And II this should come about we
would hear the funeral knell Of the laboring
mans prosperity. 1t is necessary in this
world that some should be employers and
some employee; some .men Of wealth and
others dependent on their daily toll for bread.
What would our nation be to day without the
great fortunes, or the aggregation OF small
fortunes and savings that have built our rail.
roads and factories But fOE accumulated
capital there would not be 3 days work for
the laboring man. On the other hand, where
would we be without the sturdy working pop
ttiat ha hopa nd ~ Hua
tries Without labor there is not profit or
increase for the capitalist, and his gold is AZ
idle and useless A. in its native rocks and
sands. The two classes are mutually inter
dependent and when either class ceases TO
exist, human progress is impossible.
The wild and fsnAtical cries which we
sometimes hear, at the present, from the Ia.
boring men, are against reason. They seem
to forget that often the factories and shops
of our capitalists have been run without
profit for the sake Of the workmen, TO tide
over period Of ruinous business. This was
conspicuously true at the opening OF the late
civil war. And it will probably occur again
il labor and capital are left to work out their
own interests with mutual understanding. 1t
is by raising false issues concerning the nat
ural relations Of these that serious injury
will come to both.
We hear it said now and again that 1.-The
r ch are growing richer, and the poor are
growing poorer" But there is neither fact
nor argument to this statement when consid-
cred in the light Of history. Go back TO the
middle ages and consider the old feudal sys-
tenn. Under this the man who owned the
soil practically owned the man on it, aud
the rights which are vested In the govern
ment were vested in that one ruler, who was
both owner and employer. TSke the stAtis-
tics OF Great Britain recently published.
These show that in the last ffty years the
wages Of the workingmen-the carpenters,
masons, weavers, etc have Increased on an
average Of over 100 per cent. Then turn to
the city Of Philadelphia which ia sometimes
called ''lhe city Of homes for the working
people" We find that on an average the
| homes Of the workingmen are much better
than the houses in which these same people
we're born. believe that q fair geneTaliza.
ton from facts will show that many of the
rich are growing richer but at the same
time q large majority Of the prudent and in
dustrious workingmen are also becoming
richer There has been for the last POO years
| a steady progress Of both. Not of one up
ward and the other downward but of both
toward intelligence and thrift
Then it must be remembered some Of the
wealthiest capitalists in this country began
life with nothing but their brains and their
hands By patient and unremittinR toll, as
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