Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-07
PlTTsBURG. SUNDAY. SEPT. :, 1890.
IMPERFECT ETHICS.


natural suggestion concerning the utility o
church and the value of sectional organiza
ton is made by the editorial comments o
the New York Times on Mr.. Powderly':
course in standing by the New York Cen.
tral strike after be had placed himself on
record against it. The Times recognizes
that Mr.. Powderly's reply to that will be
his dutyo of standing by the ''Order" whether
it was right or wrong; but proceeds to dis
sent from the idea as follows:
Our country right or wrong" is an intelli-
gible motto, and so is "Our church right or
wrong" Patriots and devotees believe that
the maintenance of their respective institu-
tions is even more essential than keeping them
out Of mischief But the "order' is a con-
trITance to promote the welfare of laborers.
Ii it does not promote their welfare it is good
for nothing, even from Powderly's point of
view.
This argument that there is a radical DIFF
ference between a national government or
church organizations on one hand, and a
labor organization on the other, coupled
with the assertion that the purpose of labor
organization is to promote the welfare of its
members is calculated to arouse the sur
prised inquiry, What is the purpose of
States, or what object is attained by
churches, if not to promote the welfare OF
their citizens and members? A cynical
view might indorse the Times position as
recognition of the fact that most govern
ments and good many churches are of no
possible use whatever, but even that would
leave the Times logic in a very hating con-
dition. If the government of a country
does not benefit its citizens by protecting
them against domestic violence or foreign
aggression, what possible reason can there
be for that devotion of support which would
stand by it right or wrong? If a church
does net promote the welfare of its members
by giving them the inspiration of true re-
lgion and raising the standard of morality
there is authority io- saying shat it should
be torn down and cast into the fire. 1t is
only on exactly the basis as that which our
cotemporary assigns to labor organization
that any shadow O. reason can be lound for
such unreasoning fealty as the Times ap-
proves in their case and disapproVes In the
case of labor organizations.
On the basis Of the conviction held by the
vast body Of union workingmen, that labor
organization constitutes a system as essen
tial for their interests as either Church or
State, it is as jpstifable to take the attitude
that they will stand by 1.-THE order" right or
wrong, as for any one else to say that ne
viii do the same by his church or his
country. The order, or union, represents
system which be regards as essential, and it
is just as logical to say that 1t must be
upheld, regardless of right or wrong, as to
make the same declaration with regard to
anything else. The Times ethics are weak
in admitting that the principle is allowable
in any case. Is it the duty of man to
support his church In something which he
knows to be wrong? Protestant civilization,
at least, says not. Would it have been the
duty OF an anti-slavery citizen to have
supported this Government in a war for the
extension OF slavery? VIII any man say
that Chatham, when he was convinced that
the English Government was wrong in at
tempting to coerce the American colonies, |
wasibOund to give his support to the minis |
try? The mere statement OF these questions |
furnishes the answer.
Oi course where the issue is the utter ex-
inctiOn OF government, a church, polit1- |
cal party or a labor organization, the uues- |
tion to be decided is whether the importance |
of its preservation outweigbs any errors
which may have imperiled its existence. |
The man who thinks that the organization
to which he owes fealty must be preserved, |
is not supporting it fright or wrong" but is
defending its right to existence The
French statesmen who stood aloof from the
war while it was simply a
war for magnifying the Napoleonlc ide1.
but plunged body and soul into the strug-
gle for preserving the French Republic,
Showed just appreciation of the distinction
The idea that there is anything which iti
the duty of men to support, fright or
wrong" is very vicious theory; but when
grave leaders of public thought admit it to
be true in any case, they can hardly blame
he ardent leaders of labor struggles for ap-
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