Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-07-14
LABOR'S RIGHTS.
CARDINAL GIBBONS PAPER.
A Short Discussion on It's Dignity and
Responsibility.
He FAVORS LABOR UNIONS,
What the Cardinal Thinks on the Subject Of
Secret Societies.

BALTIMORE, July 13.-Cardinal Glib
bons has prepared for the Cosmopolitan Mag
qzine of New York, for the August num-
Der, an interesting paper on The Dignity,
Right and Responsibility of Labor"
"a contented and happy working class"
says the Cardinal, sis the best safeguard OF
the Republic, while ill-paid and discon-
tented laborers, like the starving and en-
slavec populace of Rome in the time OF Au-
gustus Caesar, would be constant menace
and reproach to the country. Labor has
its sacred rights as we'll ss its dignity. Par
amount among the rights of the laboring
classes is their privilege to organize or form
themselves into societies for their mutual
protection and benefit. 1t is in accord
ance with natural right thGt those VINO
have one common interest should unite
together for it's promotion. Our modern
labor associations are the legitimate sue
cessors of the ancient guilds OF England.
In our day there is a universal ten
dency toward organization in every de-
partment of trade and business. In union
there is strength in the physical, moral and
social world, and just as the power and
msiesty of our republic are derived from
the political union of the several States, so
do men clearly percsive that the nealthy
combination Of human forces in the eco
nomic world can accomplish results which
could not be effected by any individual
efforts. Throughout the United States and
Great Britain there is to-day continuous
network of syndicates and trusts, OF COM
psnies and partnerships, so that every op-
Grafton, from the construction OF a levla-
than steamship to the manufacture OF a
needle, is controlled by a corporation.
When corporations thus combine 1t Is quite
natural that mechanics and laoorers snouio
follow their example. 1t would be as un-
lust to deny the workingmen the rlgnt 10
band together because OF the abuses incl
dent te such combinations to withhold the
same right from capitalists because they
sometimes unwarrautably seek to crush or
absorb weaker rivals.
'.Another potent reason for encouraging
labor unions suggests itself. Secret socle-
ties, lurking in dark places and plotting
the overthrow of existing governments,
have been the bane of Continental Europe.
The respective policy of those Govern
ments and their mistrust of the lntelli-
gence have given rise to those mischievous
organizations, for men are apt to conspire
in secret if not permitted to express their
views openly. The public recognition OF
the right to organize implies confidence
in the intelligence and honesty OF the
masses. 1t affords them an oppor-
tunity of training themselves in the
school of self government and in the
art of self-discipline. 1t takes away from
them every excuse and pretext for the for
nation of dangerous societies; 1t exposes
to the light of public scrutiny the constl-
tuition and laws of the association and the
deliberation of the members. 1t inspires
them with a sense of their responsibility
az citizens and with laudable desire OF
meeting the approval OF their fellow-cltl-
zens. II is better, ss Mr.. Matthew Ar
mold observes, that the body of the people,
with all its faults should act for itself and
control its own affairs than that 1t should
be set aside as ignorant and incapable, and
have its affairs managed by so-ccalled
superior class.
''God forbid that the prerogatives
which we are maintaining for the work
ing classes should be construed as imply
ing the slightest invasion OF the rights and
autonomy of employers. There should
not and need not Re any conflict between
labor and capital, since both are neceS-
sary for the public good, and one depends
on the cooperation of the other. A con-
test between the employer and employed
is as unreasonable and hurtful to the
social body as war between the head
and hands would be to the physical body.
Such antagnism recalls the tabled con-
spiracy on the part of the members Of the
body against tire stomach. Whoever tries
to SOW discord between the capitalist and
laborer is an enemy of social order"