Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-14
CARDINAL GIBBONS ON LABOR.
Views on Its Dignity, Right, and Response
biIity-Trusts and Syndicates.

Cardinal Gibbons has prepared for the
COSMOPOLITAN Magazine Of New York for the
August No. an interesting paper on The
Dignity, Right, and Responsibility of
Labor" "A contented and happy work
ing class" says the Cardinal, is the
best safeguard of the republic, while
ill-paid and discontented laborers, like
the starving and enslaved pOpulace
of Rome in the time of Angus
tus Caesar, would be a constant menace
and reproach TO the country. Labor has
its sacred rights az well as its dignity.
Paramount among the rights of the labor
ing classes is their privilege TO organize or
to form themselves into societies for their
mutual protection and benefit. 1t Is in ac-
cordance with natural right that those who
have one common interest should unite
together for its promotion. Our modern
labor associations are the legitimate sue
cessors of the ancient guilds of England.
In our days there Is universal ten
dency toward organization in every
department of trade and business. In
union there is strength in the physical
moral and social world, and just as the
power and majesty of our republic are de-
rived from the political union of the several
States so do men clearly perceive that the
healthy combination of human forces in
the economic world can accomplish results
winch COuiU uOl Dt tuttltu Nv duN lItll-
vidual efforts. Throughout the United
States and Great Britain there is to-day a
continuous network of syndicates and
trusts, of companies and partnerships, so
that every operation from the construction
of leviathan steamship TO the Inanufac-
ture of needle is controlled by a corpora
ton.
when corporations thus combine it is
quite natural that mechanics and laborers
should follow their example. 1t would be
as unjust TO deny TO workingmen the night
to band together because of the abuses in
cident TO such combinations as 10 with
hold the same right from capitalists be-
cause they sometimes unwarrantably seek
TO crush or absorb weaker rivals. Another
potent reason for encouraging labor
unions suggests itself. Secret socie-
ties, lurking in dark places, and
plotting the overthrow of existing gov
ernments have been the bane of CONT
mental Europe. The repressive policy of
those governments and their suspicion Of
the intelligence and virtue Of the people
have given rise to those mischieyous or
CARNATIONS, for men are apt TO cOnspire in
secret IL not permitted TO express their
views openly. The public recognition of
in the intelligence and honesty of the
masses it affords them an opportunity of
training themselves in the school of self
government and in the art of self-dis-
cipline it takes away from them
every excuse and pretext for the for
nation of dangerous societies; it ex-
poses 10 the light of public scrutiny the
constitution and laws of the association
and the deliberations of the members: il
inspires them with sense of their respon-
sibility as citizens and with a laudable de-
sire of meeting the approval of their fel-
lOw-citizens. II is better as Mr.. Mathew
Arnold observes, that the body of the
people, with all its faults, should act for it.
self and control its own affairs than that it
should be set aside as ignorant and incapa-
BILE and have its affairs managed by So
called superior class
God forbid that the perogatives which
we are maintaining for the working
classes should be construed as implying
the slightest invasion of the rights and au-
tonomy of employers. There should not
and need not be any conflict between capt.
tai and labor since both are necessary for
the public good, and one depends on the
cooperation OF the other. A contest be-
tween the employer and employed is I'M
reasonable and hurtful TO the social body
as war between the head and hands would
be to the physical body. Such antagonism
recalls the tabled conspiracy on the part of
the members of the body against the
stomach. Whoever tries TO SOW discOrd be-
tween capitalist and laborer is an enemy Of
social order"