The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-24

ROME, May 23.-The papal encyclical on
labor was made public yesterday. In
nDeuing it diiates on the task which the
pope had set for himself in defining for the
guidance of the church its position toward
existing social questions. 1t refers TO the
pressing importance of those questions
and the difficulties arising out or their
complex character, owing TO the numer-
pus concurrent factors requiring conSid-
nration. vet a solution could be obtained
by applying the eternal principles upon
which the teachings of the church were
based. now as ever.
Mems relations toward each other as
individuals or parts of society, the letter
continues, must have the sanction OF old
authority The law is stated IN Deuteron-
omy V. 2l: 'Neither shalt thou desire thy
neighbor's wife: neither shalt thou coveG
tby neighbors house, his field, his man
servant. or his maid servant, his OK or his
ass. or ANYTHING that is his The divine
law, therefore, rejects the socialIstlc solu-
ton which would abolish private prop
erty, substituting a collective common
ownership.
In proceeding to consider the relations Of
the state to the individual, the encyclical
saws: 'fTo think that the authority OF the
state ought arbitrarily to invade the faml-
ly intimacy is q great, a pernlciouS error.
The state can undoubtedly intervene when
the condition of the family IS too dlsas-
irons. but then only to alleviate it, and TO
Safeguard the rights and interests of the
public power without violating the rights
of individuals. To go beyond these limits
would be to violate the nature OF things.
The state should neither destroy nor alb
sorb the paternal power. 10 reconcile the
rights of the state, of capitalists and the
proletariat, we affirm unhesitatlngly that
human efforts are lmpotent without the
concurrence of the church"
The encyclical recalls at length all that
the church has done to better the lot of the
proletariat and TO show that it is a capital
error to believe that the church is for the
rich alone and an enemy OF the people. IL
is also capital error to believe that the
rich and the proletariat are condemned by
nature to fight duel without end. One
has need of the other. Capital is power
less without work and work without cap
itaI. The proletariat cannot and ought
not to iniure capital or the masters who
dispense it, but, in order to obtain respect
for the rights of labor, they must abstain
from violence They should not have re-
course TO sedition, nor listen to the Chin
erical promises of agitators. On the other
hand, masters ought to respect the Indl-
yjduality of man. They should act as
Christians toward their workmen, not
treat them inhumanly or expect beyond
their strength.
Let masters remember that both divine
and human law forbids the drawing Of
profits from the misery of the poor. Be-
sides that, religion means necessary coop
pration of human means to attain sacred
purpose. The. state ought to watch the
well being of society, just as individuals
should watch over the purity, morals and
interior order of families, safe keeping re-
Ggion, justice. moderation, and an equlta-
bic division of public charges, all of which
ri a
lion of the conditions of the proletarlat.
The larger this general prosperity, the less
likely will workingmen be to have recourse
to exceptional means to better their condl-
tlon.
AS citizens the proletariat has the same
rights as the rich, and consequently have
right to the same interest as being part
of the state. The government should care
fully observe all obligations, distributing
Justice impartiaily. Absolute equality is
however. a chimera. The social hierachies
are based on natural principles. The
state ought to see that all covenants relat-
ing to work are conscientiously observed
and oppose anything that might cause
popular passions to yield to unhealthy eX-
citement, provoking troubles and violence
Small wages often give rise to strikes, dis
astrous not only to the worNingmen and
their employers but to the general inter
ests of commerce and public industry.
The government ought to prevent such
crises.
Moral dignity, which is equal among
poor and rich eXacts repose from work on
certain days The state ought to take
care that workmen do not become the
prey of spectators and usurerS seeking
TO abuse their weakness in order TO OBJ
tain excessive and dishonest profits
Mans work should not be carried so far
as to Succumb under AN excess of cor
poreal fatigue The physical forces of
every man are limited. Beyond that limit
il is forbidden TO go. Therefore eXpedieucy
is shown in establishing certain limita-
tions on working hours and providing
tnat they should be interrupted by Il
period of repose, varying according 70
conditions of time and place, the public
health and the nature of the work
The question of wages Is particularly
delicate one TO treat with exact Justice.
The salary agreed upon should be paid
AT the same time justice equally demands
that the agreement entered into by the
workinemen ought to be respected The
state should see these reciprocal ohlipa-
tions executed. An important element in
the question is that the workman ought 10
be able. with the wages or salary, ITO pro
vide tor himself and family the necessities
of life. In all these questions it is essen.
tial that state representatives should not
intervene inconsiderately. IL will suffice
TO reserve examination of these points for
the judgment of associations. In order to
safeguard the interests OF both capital aud
labor the authority of the state ought tC
intervene only 10 the extent that the gen
eral interests demand. IL Is Of social ad-
vantage that the laws should favor Il mul
tlplicity of properties as the best means OF
preventing opposition between extreme
riches and extreme poverty, but II Is alsC
necessary that property should not be
overtaXed. The state commits injustice
IN undue eXactions from individuals.
Institutions for aiding and facilitating
conclilation between the various socia
classes are especially useful in obtaining
desirable results. The pope particularly
mentions rs worthy of commentator as.
soclatlons for mutual succor. societies for
insurance against accident, sickness and
death, and the protection of children and
especially female children. 10 which he at
taches particular Importance The trades
mems associations and ancient corpora.
tlons so useful in the past ought 10 hs
adapted TO present needs. Those aSSof,is
tlons would better answer the ends iu.
tended II they We're composed of both
workmen and masters. In that case they
would develop usefulness more and more
The encyclical eXpatiates on the adyan
tages OF liberty and the right Of comhiua
tlon. W hen such associations act in such
way as to Justify suppression, the state
ought, IL eifecting suppression. 10 H.
precautions hot 10 violate the rights Of !
olvldua!s, and ought not to advance die
public utility as preteXt for abandoning