New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-25
DRANDREWS ON THE STRIKE
a SERMON BY THE PRESIDENT OF BROWN
UNIVERSITY.
I'm MsCUsSEs THE ARGUMENTS OF THE RAIL
NDAD OFFICIALS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES
both SIDES At FAULT.


nAD OFFICIALS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES
both SIDES AT FAULT.
The large congregation OF the First Baptist Church.
n BROOKLYN had the good fortune last evening OF near
ing the Rev. DR.. E. b. Andrews, president OF hio""
University deliver a thoughtful ana eoquen' au",o'
upon "The strike.o DR.. Andrews has been "a cloSc
student Of social and economic questiohs' ana HIS
OPINIONS are worthy Of the deepest CONSIDERATION
Ha fs a man of scholarly and impressive appearance
ana his voice has the true ring OF eloquence. Inc
large number OF men and women who iistehed WIN
rant attention TO the sermon last evening cohgrd"
lated themselves that they had listened 10 master
fnl and important discussion Of the troubles on ue
1eev York Central Railroad. lie took as his text
proverbs xviii is: ole that justifeth the wicked
ana he that condemncth the righteous both OF them
N abomination to the Lord" DR.. Andrews said in
NJ:
These words voice the spirit which the religion OF the
Bibh always incucaes. gigantic conflict in the labor
wad affecting all Of and putting In requisiton ehth
Of the space devoted by our daily press brings
pronunciamento, way or the other from everybody
We should try 10 make 1t q Just one
In controverssry upon the New-fofK Cehtfa roau
each side has greatly erred. The Knights OF Labor
whether aggrieyed Us alleged not entirely excuse
ess for striking unprepared. strike is ike reVo
luton an effort extort justice by means which, az tne
moment terrible NO strike can succeed without
hurting many people The authorities on the
also have made great mistake in not referring
the difficulty Of arbitration. We cannot agree TO Mr.
Webs that there is nothing to arbIat Ihefe
is certainly evidence that the men were dismissed
for belonging Knights OF Labor and not the iest
item Of this the statement Of people on Mr.. "eoos
side the discharged men OF having persecuN
others for not joining their order The puoc ana esp
cialy laborng public interested TO know ne ru
or faisehooi allegations If they are true WeoD
is trumphanty justified afraid that they are true
II So Mr. refusal arbitrate Will be construed
to mean that he had been dischargng men Tor being
Knights but is afraid this Far better let inc
whole case go to Board of Arbitration Unless the
managers actually hostile to organized labor wheh
they deny nothing but good come to them from gh
while present attitude cannot but subject them 10
compromising suspicion.
The railroad is culpabe also in employing to defend Its
property irresponsible armed not officers OF the law
who have shot aud Violently wounded several nohensve
persons Che laws Of New-York provide In recognized
WAYS for all needed defence TO persons ana property
There is no proper for importing private mta'
Upon central contention in the case whether OF
not the Central road has dismissed employees Iof HeOe
ship the knights Of Labor, the pubic cannot oecue
without investigation. 1t is natural 70 inquire winch
a. the contestants the right in Its own theory
Tho authorities Of the road insist upon dischaghs 'ne
men without giving any reason. This IS common anu
legal, but morally it is wrong workmans reputation
is main part his fortune he Is discharged iof no
fault OF his but simply for lack Of work. he should know
it and not be left to classd with the ntmprate or lazy
Surprising their contention true, tho knights u'
al they have been in striking now have far oeir
case say supposng this statement OF their side corf
/ fear that Mr.. Powderly has not toiu US al.
Perhaps he does not know ALL l am aifaia
that the knights practised persecution upon men w
willing to Join them. II 1t Is outrageous ana con-
demnable II common, that would leadin certain places
It has already ledto abuses as great as labor mas ever
suffered capital And it is as unwise as 1t Is wrong
for unwilling members labor organization are certain
to betray at the first opportunity know now mpof
tant it such bodies to get in outsiders Ihey heeo
70 do be strong In struggle ike the present ou'
1t can Go good TO swell their numbers Dy iorce
they must do 1t by education and persuasion woua
As soon suffer tyranny Mr.. Webb's hand as at MI
Lees hand.
I now come TO the point which wish especially to
.r,nbasize There danger that the folles and III,
80. ., labor unions NAV lead many welf-wishers OF
humanity to oppose and condemn AL labor orsanauohs
rs evil. Intrnsicaly, 1t is not So The Organization "
lsbor has wrought immense good already anu PROMISES
still greater In the Good people can not nave
weighed the matter when they regard Mr. Powdery Is an
intruder in the case and speak OF It as the idea neu
for great corporation 10 deal with its men, ono oy one
That is heartless capitalfsts-hot a-aI"ass uc
sire II they could have their way ispofers' 10 'e'
,,o,,d not bc better of than slaves When business
man wishes swell dividends his easiest course 70
cut his payros and nine out or ten OF ein "oua
do SO IL their help not TO stand In opposition 10
them Organization is Of the chief causes OF hsh
vapes and OF good treatment in general OF aborng men,
Nor 4. this refued by the fact that many Individual
skilled workmen fare well who have no membership
in societies They are protected py Ihe Tcs" '"' ""
many a manufacturer is by a trust In his hhe
OF business though ne IS not member OF H.
Organization Is the order OF the day In the INDUSTRIAL
world 1t legitimate aborers everywhere anu
more important there than anywhere else II Is the ouy
Of every friend OF humanity while critcsne freely us
erro TO encourage the organization OF labor Inc Iaoo'
world Is very large part OF all humanity NO progress
Is possble unless IL be elevated In SIX generations
yanderblt's blood may indstneushsble In the very
same veins with OF Powdery and his strikers You
cannot build up humanity by any plan touehin: It's upper
tenth and leaving rest to sink Nor should our fend
ncs 70 banded labor should 1t be forced uniof
tunately to have recourse to the strike. 1hs'
Is ITS only weapon in extremity. Many strikes
have done great knowledge that men may strk
does good continually. wisdom and Justice grow more
10 characterize laborers and employers alike this las
rcsor, will become ateu hence less often necessary
and finally 90 out OF use altogether.
Whence shall come spirit thus TO harmonic The
interests now all about usl Christianity aon'
ean furnish 1t. 1t and It only knows the heavenly
art OF furhering practical brotherhood among men, making
the rich feel kindly toward those less fortunate chaiso
IN crises like the present and disseminating among TN
laborng masses the character which will lead them truth
fully to stand by another when oppressed