Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-10


our part to any actual trials, expressions
or sufferings of men, and its due practical
operation has tended always to do away
with jealousies, suspicious and antagonisms
between the one Father of us all. We
may confidently claim for the Church of
Him who by his presence consecrated the
carpenter shop at Nazareth, that, however,
at any time or place it may have been
tempted to shelter itself under the patron
age or protection of earthly power and
wealth, nevertheless its deep, constant pur-
pose has been to soften asperities of feel
ing, to promote natural goodwill Ito curb
injustice as between man and man. And
if there be, as unhappily there often is,
forgetfulness by many of the blessed
changes wrought in human conditions by
Christ's religion, we may not ignore the
significant truth that the unchallenged
claim of men of our day to considerable
Justice and all righteous recognition by
their human brothers rests finally and
completely upon the dignity and sacred
ness of the humanity taken into the God
head by the Word made flesh, and by Him
redeemed unto the liberty of the children
of God. 1t is evidently painful that the
existing industrial system is subjected
not only to vehement criticism, but to
perilous strain, and one of the most dis
couraglng elements of the situation seems
to be the hopeless or despairing one
Of those who deal with the oyershadowing
questions which throng so persistently up
on the mind and heart of our generation.
1t seems scarcely to be expected by many
that solution of the problems can be
reached by applying to them any devices
of human sagaclty or any reconciling
principles of economic science. 1t is often
assumed without question, alike by reck-
less passion and thoughtful earnestness,
that there is no soothing for the uneasy
world; that opposing interests and aims
are here met in moral strife. We do not
venture to intimate that we have any
swift and potent cure for the evils which
we must and do deplore. But we are con-
fident that it is a fallacy in social econ
omics, as well as in Christian thinking, to
look upon the labor of men and women
and children as a mere commercial COM
modify to be bought and sold as an in
animate and irresponsible thing 1t is the
employer who seeks and finds the inner
soul of the operative, who respects his
manhood, and perhaps translates for him
into fact the inarticulate longings of his
better nature; it is the master whose
watchful sympathy finds room and play in
the cottages of his wearied workmen, and
in all the life which has its center there
it is he who has found the open secret of
wisdom that is "peaceable' because it is
"from above" and is "pure," "gentle" and
"easy to be entreated" ANY social SCI
ence which eliminates from its considera-
ton the value and significance of human
feeling or human susceptibility to the in
fuence of kindness, justice and loving
manliness-has surely left itself fatally
MANNED and incomplete. The heart and
soul of man cannot be bought or hired for
money il any market, and to act as if they
were not needed in the doing of the
worlds vast work is as unchristian as it
is unwise. We may not therefore omit
to urge upon all those to whom our words
may come the profound need of a
righteous and full appreciation of the
moral and spiritual factors which enter
into industrial questions. To bear in mind
the hardships and heavy cares of our
brother men, to remember our common
kinship in the great family of God, to
ponder their necessities, to stand ready and
glad to plead their cause, to brighten their
lot and comfort their distresses-this is the
exalted office of Christian men-it is the
hopeful method of peace and goodwill.
And let it never be forgotten that there is
here a reciprocal obligation laid upon
labor-a duty defined by every principle
of righteousness and truth. That duty-a
duty fully and fifty recognized by large
numbers of Christian workingmen-plainly
is to treat the employer, in his most diff
cult position, with all considerable and
thoughtful regard. His legitimate inter-
ests may not be ignored-and it should be
the steadfast will and purpose of his work
ing associates to protect those interests and
defend them against all unjust aggression
He is frequently placed in situations of
great embarrassment, and the kindly pa
thence and sympathy of his workmen may
bring relief. He is always entitled to
that-and there is grave injustice when it
is withheld. Combinations which cripple
or hinder his rightful freedom of action,
unreasonable demands concerning the
hours and compensation and division of
labor-these are not in the way of SUBJ
stantial right, and any temporary or pass
ing triumph for them is but the delusive
promise of a method bad in morals which
renlly invites and compels disaster. The
stars in their courses through Gods sky of
truth fight against ungodliness and wrong;
and they who would claim equity must do
equity. In considering these relations be-
tween employers and employed, we desire
to express our profound interest in the pro-
visions that may be and should be made for
penetrating the life of the great masses of
men with positive Christian influence.
If the worlds exacting labor is to be
done-in any accord with the principles of
the kingdom of God-there must of neces-
sity be, on the part ofemployers, a distinct
and unqualified recognition of the spirit
ual needs and claims of the workmen
whose toll they control or direct"