Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-11-22
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LANoAsTER. NOVEMBER p, lsS6
The ArehbIshOp's Pastoral.

in his pastoral letter, upon the Henry
George idea of the lack of the right of
property in land are as convincing in their
logic as they will be effective in their in
fiuence. The promised combination of the
Socialistic element Of the population with
the laboring element will receive severe
check in the repulse which this high
Catholic church authority thus gives to
the doctrine that there should be no prop
erty in land. This idea OF Mr.. George was
30 captivating to the landless that Pow
derly threw himself with his Knights of
Labor into the arms of this new apostle of
progress ; to find, when the embrace
was made, that he was clasping a whole
armful of false doctrines that he was en-
bracing an ardent believer in the right of
man to the free enjoyment of light and air
and earth, also the use of all that the earth
produced, free from the tax laid by the sell
fish government of any country to protect
its labor from the competition of that of
other countries. Mr.. Powderly's Knights
Of Labor are supposed generally to believe
in the doctrine of protection, which is de-
Tended chiefly as the means whereby the
wage of labor may be made greater.
But Mr.. Georges doctrine about the lack
of property in land is more damaging to
the laboring interest than his free trade
doctrine would be, since it would stop the
Improvement of land and the works OF
labor engaged in it. AS Archbishop COrri-
gan pointedly says, man has the use of air,
and light and land, but of land he cannot
have the full enjoyment unless he has the
right of ownership, because it must be i'm
proved to be enjoyed. Who would toll to
cultivate farm if every other person
had like right with himself to
use that farm after its improvement, or
what sculptor would cut marble who
did not own the stone. The experience
OF all the past ages has taught the need TO
ous civilization of the right Of property.
and it is not likely that we will have new
revelation at this late day, and a revolution
in the conditions which give to man his
bread at the cost of his sweat, and to those
who have labored the right to the enjoy
ment of its fruit.
~ io a o1idhSC tlldL ttl'
class, which is particularly interested in
preserving the right ofproperty that it may
have the employment that it seeks, should
be the one that is always expected to strike
down this right, which gives them their
bread. 1t is the old story of grasping for
the hen that lays the golden eggs /; it will
doubtless be repeated in every age while
time lasts. Georges will be always springing
up to teach doctrine that fresh expert
ence of the generation will again prove TO be
false. But while there is such sound doctrine
taught by the teachers as that in Archbishop
Corrigan's letter, it would seem that the
Georges would make slow headway in their |
false leadership. We take from it this elo-
qIently expressed thought:
"To strive to base an argument against
ownership in lands by reasoning on the uni. |
versai distribution OF air and light is only a
freak OF the Imagination. Human industry |
cannot scatter a cloud from before the face OF |
the sun, not lit a fog that may be freighted |
WIN damaging vapors we take the air and |
tne light as God gives them, and we owe |
him thanks for his bounty. 1t was only the
earth which fell under the primeval curse |
when men had sinned, and only the earth, |
not the air or light, which mans industrious |
toll can coax back TO something like its origi-
nal fruitfulness. When he has done so Sis
Just reward is to enjoy the results without
hindrance from others. Il
Once deny the right OF ownership and you
SOW the seed OF stagnation in human enter.
prise. Who would burrow the earth TO draw
forth Its buried treasures II the very mine he
was working was at the mercy of the passer-
by whom its riches might attract Who
would watch with eagerness the season when
70 SOW and to reap and to gather the harvest
which is the very fruit of his lsbors, il he is
told that those who stand by the wayside |
idle are equally entitled to its enjoyment ?" |