Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-30
Christianity the Chief Element in
the New Economic Doctrines
PROMULGATED BY SOCIALISTS.
The System Outlined and Its Teachings
Compared With Christ's.
THE BASIS OF ALL TRUE REFORMS
twnrrrEN ron THE DrsrArcH.l ]


1t gives one a kindly feeling toward this
outspoken advocate of advanced" econom-
les to find that this sentence is to stand in
the first column of every issue of it: 1--WE
love the truth more than any system, and
out of free discussion and inquiry the truth
will come" Here, evidently, is the light
of some kind of dawn. When we all get
10 discussing, not only economics, but
questions theological and ecclesiastical
after this fashion, the sun will begin to rise
at all points of the compass at the same
time. And then that day. of which St.
Paul was glad to think, toward which he
was ever looking-'that day" will have
come indeed.
1t is one of the best features of the Ddwn
that it does not expect s'that day. to-mor-
row. Its editors are not of that ill-educated
class who, as Mr. Lowell says, know no better
than to spell evolution" with an initial
"R." Another good point is that the paper
does not lay claim to any editorial omni-
science. 1t does not know everything. 1t
does not attempt to set down either the Con-
stitution and bylaws of Utopia, or the pro-
cesses by which they will come into being.
'It does not see all light" it says in its
modest prospectus. "It knows no panacea
that will cure all social ills; it does not be-
lieve that it is yet day; but it does believe
that it is dawn; that we may see at least in
what direction the day will break. Thither
it points, gladly communicating to others
what light it has, gladly welcoming all
ITS CHRISTIAN BELIEF.
Best Of all, the Ddun is Christian. It be-
lieves that that immeasurable influence
which has in the past won victories of un-
told value over evils of ignorance, of bar
barism, of injustice, of oppression, of un-
righteousness in all its shapes, is still the
strongest influence in the world, and has
battles still to fight and victories to win
which shall make the future more glorious
than the past 1t believes with Constantine
of old, that the conquest of the world is in
the power of him who can put upon his side
the church of Christ. 1t is truth, after all,
as the Ddpn believes, which must win the
day against all falsehood and wrong. And
truth. somehow, has never passed beyond
the teachings of Christ of Galilee. 1t is not
little notable that after 20 centuries of
advancing culture, Christ is still in advance
of us. No ethical truth has been discov-
cred anywhere, in all the sacred books of
the East in all the PHILOSOPHERS of the
West, which Christ did not utter ages ago.
Christ is still the Master. And to-day the
ideal state of things, of which the most
enthusiastic visionary. can dream, the
perfect ideal, which shall transform this
earth into the very best of all possible
worlds, it is nothing more nor less than sap
piled Christianity" 1t is simply that
''Kingdom OF God" which Christ preached,
and toward which we approach just in pro-
portion as we learn of Him. The wise pur-
pose OF the DaUn, then, is to apply Chris
tianity to social problems.
Here are the principles upon which, the
editors of this paper believe, the new state
of things will be best advanced. It is
worth while setting them down here in full,
as the expression of the convictions of q
great number of earnest, thoughtful and
wise men to-day. The principles are these:
First-The basing Of all social, political and
relations on the fatherhood of God
and the brotherhood of man, In the spirit and
according to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
notwithstanding with the inner and max
simple system. The spirit giveth life. Systems
are important aids, but only aids. National life
must be educated, character must be devel- |
would remember this, it would begin with the |
inner. 1t would not seek to systematic hu- |
manity into perfection, but to Christianize So
ciety into brotherhood
FAULTS OF OUR SOCIAL SYSTEM.
Third-Molding the social order. Christian |
ity, however, does not concern the individual
alone. Christ preached social gospel. There |
is a social law of God. Men to-day too often
forget this. As individuals they strive to apply
their Christianity in business, and they largely
fail. Little wonder. Business itself to-day is |
wrong. 1t rests upon negation, of the social |
Ia W. Each man for himself and company for |
itself. 1t is based on competitive strife for |
profit But this. is the exact oppo- |
Let no man seek his own, but |
each his neighbor's good" To at |
tempt, therefore, TO apply Christianity to mod
ern business is to attempt to be unchristian in |
Christ on the sands of disobedience. This cam
not be done. We must change the system. We |
must found business upon social law. Com |
bination must take the place of competition;
be carried on. not for private profits, but for |
the public good. We must apply our Chris |
tianity to the social order.
Fourth-Failure to apply this viewed as the |
main cause OF present social ills. DdtUn finds |
here the main'cause of the changes that to-day |
threaten society and the church-plutocracy,
ief. immortality, intemperance, prostitution,
crime Reforms upon these especial lines can |
therefore only alleviate, not cure, the cause
being left untouched.
Fifth Christian Socialism, the cure for
'hese. We mean by this no fixed, cast iron
'ystem of any nature, no magic panacea of any
description. no sudden transformation of any
sort. but Cl contentmeut to proceed one step
1t timei (2) leaving to science and expert
,nce the exact form that society should adopt
ret (3) ever gradually and thoughtfully pro-
,eeding toward the general good of association +
md an association ~ fraternal and not pater-
lal; (2) democratic and.not tyrannical e, de-
true individuality and not ignoring
t; ~ land and all resources of the earth to be
leld under some system as the gift of God |
'qually to all His children: (5) capital and all
means of industry to be held and controlled in
ome way by the community as whole and
quitably in all its parts, thus (6) realizing at
ass the ideal of Christian Socialism, the Faith. |
rhood of God, the Brotherhood of man in the
pirit of Jesus Christ.
SOUND CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE.
Now that, it seems to me, is good Christian
ense. 1t rests this whole great matter of
ocial reform upon the stable and perma- /
tent foundation of Christian righteousness
This, that or the other may be expedient;
uch and such may De the details; on these
matters let us agree or disagree as best we
nay; but here let us stand together in the
f6rmation that the one need of the world
o-day in the face of these hard problems
rying for solution, is the need of good
borough Christianizing. Every political
uestion," Said Mazzini, SIS rapidly be-
oming social question, and every social
uestion is rapidly becoming a religious
uestion." All problems come back at last.
ailing of solution elsewhere, to Christ, the
faster.
1t is the Christianizing society that we
eed. It is the growth, not of system. but
f spirit. We will do we'll to think less
bout the system and more about the spirit.
ha IL