Morning journal and courier., 1886-05-03
AT DAVENPORT UHuRoH.

Sermon Touching Upon the Labor
 Problem-The Boycott Has No Busi-
 ness i'm America-It Will Have to be
 Put Out So That 1t Won't Come Back
 Strikes vs. Arbitrat1On-Wages and
 CompetittOn-The Law of Christ.
 Rev. I. c. Meserve, of the Davenport church, preached at his church yesterday morning and evening. Eight persons joined the church at the morning service.
 In the evening the pastors discourse was applicable to the present troubles existing between capital and labor. His text was from Galatians 9th, 2nd: F'Bear ye one an- others burdens, and fulfill the law of Christ" The difference of the relations ex- isting between labor and capital in Europe and America was first considered. The speaker here noted that the situation was far worse in Europe than in this country, but that there is more trouble here, which is owing to our greater freedom. The Amer ican trained workmen and the American small capitalist have in 8 large measure gone out; that is, the class of workmen who make an entire article. Corporations and piece workmen have come in, bringing poorer wages, less sympathy, more irritation, more system of pressure and more social distinc- tion, working clothes being a new social badge. But is not less 8 man with his working clothes than with his dress suit. We are apt to compare the present times and prices to the times and prices directly following after the late war, when prices were very much inflated. If we compare the prices existing at present to those existing before the war the comparison is much more favorable As a result of the increase of corporations and piece workmen the workmen combine and try to control time and price. They have a perfect right to do this; but the question arises, are they wise to do this since the result is counter combi- nation and the creation of class of people who livs by their wits4 A person who is 8 member of any society has no right to hin- der man who does not belong to his society from doing what he pleases. Those who love liberty will not yield to dictation. Tyranny is difficult to exercise in this country. Work men should dc everything possible to gain their end before they strike. They should consult their employers. If employers and workmen cannot agree they should favor ar bitration.
 The boycott has no business in America and will have to be put out with such an ex- pression of feeling that it won't come back. Strikes and boycotts are probably short lived and are much of a craze as roller skating, which was an existing craze for one winter here and then went as other evils have gone previously, and may the strike and the boycott go the same way.
 Under the law of Christ employers will consider workmen instead of profits, less money will then be made and employers will be in less haste to be rich, then there will be more heart in commerce and over-produetion will be lessened. We were not all made to be rich.
 If an employer should say he could not live with less profits this principle of less profits does not apply to him. Brains must direct muscle either in the individual or in societies and conscience should direct brains. Under the law of Christ workmen will be more content not with wrong, but with the inevitable. Love which is a mutual consid- eration should animate all, and may God bless the consideration of his word by all it's hearers.