Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-07-10
VACATION PAPERS.
The INDUSTRIAL PROBLEM rIEWED
FsON AN ETHICAL srANDPUINT
The Cause aud cure OF Our Labor Troubles.
Msmmon Is the Nations cod The
strife Tor Earthly Things-Inor-
diuste Love of Money the
Root OF All Evil
l..

The dscontent manifestiug itself ON the |
part of the laboring population throughout
the country is forcing earnest thought ON the
subject 1t cannot be waved aside rs a little
cloud that Will soon pass away. Nor will il
do to say that it is an evil that belongs to the
social economy, that cannot be remedied, and
that, therefore, must toe simply let alone. 1t
Is assuming threatening proportions, aud it
IS becoming chronic 1t may be settled
peaceaoly this year (even this is not certain
rs yeti. but it will return again next year
Each year 1t grows more formidable. If it
is left TO itself we may look for serious dis
turbances and violent outbreaks, and life
and property will become more aud more in
secure.
1t is important, therefore, that the subject
should be aiefully studied, in order to as
certain the cause, or causes, and 10y ascer-
tanning these we may hope to find also the
cure.
The subject may be studied from different
| points of view. 1t may be studied from the
standpoint of political economy, which pro
| fesses to explain the laws that govern the re-
| lation OF capital and labor, and IL may I've
| treated also in an ethical point OF view. In
| looking ut the sub ect from an ethical stand
| point we do not mean merely to inquire into
| the right ana wrong of the strikes that are
| going on, but rather to go back of these and
| try to ascertain first the underl wing causes of
| this form of social discomfort.
| The cause is really one. when we consider
| that all the abnormal conditions of the social
| economy may be traced to the principle OF
| sslHsbpeSS that has infected our nature, but
| 1t is also complex, and may be aualyzed in
| tracing the different forms in which the
| principle OF seltshness reveals itself.
| 1t needs hardly to be said that il each
member Of the social economy would seek tC
| promote his neighbOr's welfare rs he seek
to promote his own, there would be no labor
troubles The capitalist would then be con
cerned for the laborer, and the laborer fol
the capitalist each would find the one neces
sdry to the other, and employe and employer
would move in harmony without collision
| But when the capitalist consultS only hi:
own interest and the laborer does the same
the TWO come at once into conflict, and eact
| seeks To gain advantage over the other.
| l. true, indeed, that these interests need moi
| necessarily he in conflict, that hat is for tht
true interest of the one is, at the same time
the true interest of the other but Just her,
arises one OF the evil effects of the principle O
selhshness, that the individual, looking on lN
to himself and failing to take in the socia
| econuu,: e which he is a member, becomes
blinded TO his own true interest. The capi
talist aims to make the largest profits posi-
bic from his capital, and the labOrer to secur,
the highest wages possible from his EN-
| ployer, and then the contest begins gov
erned, not by right, but by might That ha
| bCtb, loi bue ulpsL part, lut uhluIt hl tues
contests, and allowing that the same humai
nature governs both, we may say the mora
| wrong Is about equal on both sides. In
given case the wrong may happen to b
greater on the one side than on the other, bu
that arises rather from miscalculation,
want OF good judgment, than from the il
tention on each side. We do not mean
say that all men are purely selfish, or equal
selfish, but we mean that so far as these tw
interests come into violent conflict, and r,
fuse to settle the difficulty amicably, by a
/, bitration or otherwise peacefully, the unde
| lying cause is selishness. Thus far we pr,
sumo all will agree with us.
/ | II 1--WE inquire now as to the form in whiC
| the principle of seliishness manifests itself j
| these labor troubles, We think it can b
traced to mems seeking and striving tor ID;
terial things, the supply and qualification {
= | bodily wants, property and wealth, as tn
highest good. II is true of men UNIVERSAL
that those are the wants they seek to satisf
!, first, and it is true OF our country in particU
: lar that we are governed by an inordinst
love of money. Mammon is our nation
| god