The Labor enquirer., 1888-03-24
4 4 4. A BISHOP d.
'iml,e . -i3Giaa5 x
Who Sees the Storm Clouds
Gathering in the Social
Is aai.as Skies. ..a,e. 3
but HE OFFERS NO REMEDY.
'"0ar Modern industrial systsl ID .
ysini Sacrifice Of Human Beings
- to Capitals

article in the, March Fo,zm BY
. Bishop Spalding, the Roman
Catholic bishop of Peoria, Illinois,
are remarkable as showing the
vast progress of thought being
made. in the realms where, dwell
the aristocracy. 1t will readily be
conceded that when men of Spald-
ing's surroundings and associa-
tions begin to advance and ask
"Whither Are We Drifting1" as a
nation, there is hope-for advance
ment and even liberality of
thought in the most unheard of
places. The article is entitled,
"Is Our Social Life Threatened"
1t would of course be willful
blindness to maintain that our
country and its institutions are be-
yond the reach of harm, or even
to affirm that there are no causes
now at work by which they are
threatened; but whatever our
opinions on this subject may be,
whatever our confidence or our
misgivings, we must all recognize
that the character of great peo-
pie cannot be made worthier by a
discipline of fear, which is not the
best even for child.
The social and political life of a
people constantly growing in
knowledge, wealth and power is
itself constantly changing; but to
change need not be to change for
the worse. The civilization of
China is not superior to ours be-
cause it is more permanent and
unalterable. Where therei is ques-
tion of men and mems affairs, not
to change is not to live; and it is
inconceivable that social and po-
litical conditions which cores
pond we'll enough with the needs
of 100000 or 100000 farmers
100 years ago, should be all that
is required by the more highly or
ganized and complex society of a
great, populous and wealthy re-
public, brought face to face with
issues and problems unthought OF
before. Consistency is least diff
cult to those who act from habit
and motives of expediency rather
than from the promptings of rea-
son and conscience; and a free
and enlightened people will be
more concerned to bring their
principles and laws into conform
ity to truth and justice than with
what they or their fathers may
have decreed.
The notion that there is peril
because certain customs and con-
stitutionalities which our ances'
; tors approved of have ceased to
commend themselves to our judg'
ment, is primitive and provincial
Not only our own history but that
of all the civilized nations ha:
been a history of developments
here and there interrupted or ar
rested, and consequently history
: of alterations. p! as
Popular government, in making
the will Of the majority the ruling
power, not only supposes a Ger
! tain mutability in society and pol
itics, but makes such provision TO
!. change as to render resort to vic
lent and revolutionary method
r inexeusable and criminal.
n But does not the organization o
t labor forebode evilp In all age
It and countries he who earns hi
i bread in the sweat of his broy
# earns it hardly. Work is good
d but to be forced to work at a mas
It ter's bidding, to be forced to worl
day by day, or lack shelter AM
e nourishment for ones self ant
n wife and child, this is evil; ant
5, the effort and tendency of Chris
6 tian civilization and popular gov
!" ernment, in theory, at least, is t
e tighten the burden and sweete
n the bitter bread of those who toi
with their hands. .Bossuet d.
Ie clared that the rich are receive
linto the church onlv on c6nditio