The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-06
4 PREACHERS PLAIN TALK
Rev. DR.. Edison Discusses Some Phases
of the Labor Disturbances. .
He Attributes the Trouble largely to Foreign
Agitators and to the Political Dema-
gogues Of the Country.

cal Alliance was notable by reason of address
! of rare interest by DR.. Ell. A. Edison, pastor OF
| the Memorial PresbvIer Church. on the labor
! question. He said that it TO be observed
at the outset that the disturbances causing the
present social agitation in the country were
largely un-American. We raised our own
corn and beef but imported agita.
tors. They were Russian Nihists and
German Socialists, both of whom had found
plenty OF causes for discomfort in their native
lands. Then they had flown in upon US from
the BRUSH isles. The Irish in Ireland were not
numerous the Irish in America. By
centuries of misrula they had been made plot
tiers against authority One could not but ad-
mire the passionate loyalty of an expatirated
people toward the land of their birth.
second cause of the discomfort was TO be
found in the insncerity of our politics. Form
erly the fatterer found in kings houses,
but now there will ever be found fatserers on
the side OF the many. There was only kind
of demagogues-the bad kind-bue there
many varieties. There was the laborer who
was DOT a laborer, but leader of laborers; there
was the citizen who desired the votes
of laborers, aud was their swift ad-
Vocate on every platform. They were
amiable toward all poor mems fancies
and workingmen's dreams They patronlzed
labor unions and pushed social revolution
With little reflection as to where they might end.
MT Po~cerly had already discovered the dema-
gogue's fingers and feared them. Class rival
ries in the country would reach far less formid-
a6le proportions We're not such strlfes the dema-
gogue's tools. Let US, said the speaker, "have
ten men chnrlish but honest. rather
than one man with his AK to grind"
There was question that labor in many
always q source of malcontent. Another source
was to be found in the defective legislation re-
gardlng monopolies. the waste of public lands,
stock gambling, etc. There were other lines of
influences which aided in aggravating the situa-
ton. and none were Important the dis
turbine effect of Sunday labor. The last eport
of the Massachusetts Bureau of Statistics
showed that out of 720. TIA working people in
that State. ll5.778 were required to work
Sunday. In the House of Lords of England
member had recently said: THE current of
feeling is toward closer Sunday observance
Public opinion has stopped the Sunday postal
delivery in London. With Sunday amusements
not favor 1T Ii seven days work was insisted
upon the men felt that their employees were
feeling. Then the interruption of home life
caused by Sunday labor, made men unhappy.
the interruption of church life made them care
less; the constant strain made them nervous
If on the Lords day labor was learning the
devils lessons. capital was sure to suffer the
more from the DEVILS work.
The drink evil also cited
as greatly affecting the industrial problem.
Wnen one went TO look for remedies for these
problems he encountered chaos itself sLalssez
faire' had long been declared to be the only dis
position of the question Every remedy was
delusion which ignored the law of wages. At
tennis TO nullify or change the natural law OF
value were useless a battle against the laws
of light The. survival of the fttest was
all that could bs gained from the Darwinlan
theory, and that meant the destruction
OF, the laborer, for he weaker. 1t but
natural that the laboring element had turned
for help to the halls of leg Station, and the
methods of relief in this direction were now
numberless. Every man had his scheme.
and 1t Was the best scheme. In the multitude
OF couaselors there would be safety but for
the assurance that among theorists so fierce
every would be likely to kill off at
least single antagonist. Mr.. Powderly. the
Brutus of his executive board. Father
McGlynn, instead of abolshing poverty, abol-
ished the leadership of Henry GEORGE. and
fierce as was the issue between the c.. B. & @.
rail way corporation and the Brotherhood, that
strife was not quite SO hot as the between
the engineers and their felow-work-
however. certain lines of governmental action
that would lead at least to partial cure of our
ids America was not ideally. and ought not to
be practically dumping-ground for -Europes |
nth. In building nation, why should We shell |
ter blood thirsty demons and crazy idealists. |
whose passion was destructiona [Applause.l
DR.. Edison gave In conclusion what he
sidered the real solution of the problem-"the |
only effective way OF securing social happiness |
and prosperity is in the prevalence of Christi
anity." LII no higher law were invoked the |
forces of evolution would continue to crush the
weak Nothing would avail which did
reach the springs of character. The doctrine of
positive grounds the nature of the social CO.
operation of each class and each member of the
and the rules which must regulate
Is just and beneficial exercise.
DR.. Edson, at the close of the address, was
heartily applauded, and it was the opinion of the
Alliance that the paper should be published.
o.lowed.
Rev. DR.. Jenckes said the paper should be
published. it swept she whole moral arch of
he universe" He also WAS in favor OF the min
sters taking some action concerning the BARRIERS
nd Sunday observance The thirty-fve minis
ers present should Spontaneously and unbe-
nownst to another" write a note to the
ournal on the subject
The association appointed Messrs. j. A. Rond-
haler, s. A. Keen, W. r. Jordan, R. v. Hunter
nd r. e. Neighhors committee to meet with
he one appointed by the Sunday Teach
rs Union, to consider what could be done to
ecu re the location in Indianapolis of che pro-
osed- new department of instructions OF the
International Sunday-schooi Association.
lfter, the adjournment of the min
held the mg joint na ,s
ouLty Sunday school Union being fully repre-
anted. As an indication of tho interest felt IN
le matter, only two of the entire number were
bsenr, and they We're necessarily so, one, at |
asst. being out os the City. The first step /
lken was to consolidate the committees iuro
ne body. and E w. Halford was chosen char
ian, and Charles D. Meigs secretary. DIR. Gill |
ert was present, and an outline of the
roposed new work and made suggestions as to
le steps necessary to be taken by the Sunday
,hool workers. A subcommittee consisting of
ev. r. V. Hunter, j. B. McNeely and e. W.
afford was appointed to formulate plan and
prepare a programme for the Contemplated
snarai meeting to be held the lectnre-room
the First Presbvteri2n Church on next Sun
W afternoon, at o'clock. The committee will
eet this afternoon at o'clock at the study of
ev. DIR. Gilbert.
Tried Murder His Mistress.
ZANEsvILLE, o., March 5.-Late last night
ichard j. Hanes. ex sheriff of this county ana
1tl recently supposed to be wealthy. snot his