Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1891-05-30
PAPAL ENCYCLICAI,.
Pope Leo Defines His Position To-
ward Social Questions.
Relation OF tho state to the Individual,
and OF Capital to Labor - Valuable
Advice Given to Workingmen
and Employers = Duty of the
State.

DdDdl euCyCllCdl O1 ldUOT ON bnb
task which the pope has set himself for
the guidance of the church, it's position
towards existing social questions. 1t
goes on to refer to the pressing imnor-
tance of those questions and the difficult
ly arising out of the complex character
owing to the numerous concurrent fac
tors requiring consideration, yet solu-
ton can be obtained by applying the
eternal principles upon which the teach
ings of the church are based, now as
ever Mems relations towards each
other as individuals or parts of society
must have the sanction of old authority.
The law is stated in Deuteronomy ", 81:
Mother shalt thou desire thy neigh
bor's wife, etc. The divine law there
fore rejects the socialist solution which
will abolish private property, substitu-
ting collective, common ownership.
In proceeding to consider the rela-
tions of the state to the individual, the
encyclical says: ITO think that the
authority of the state ought arbitra-
rily to inv ade the family intimacy is
great and pernicious error. The state
can undoubtedly intervene when the
condition of the family is too disastrous
but then only to alleviate it and to safe
guard the rights and interests of the
public power without violating the
rights of individuals. To go beyond
these limits would be to violate the ma
ture of things. The state should neith-
er destroy nor absorb the paternal pow
er to reconcile the rights of the state, of
capitalists and the proletariat. We
affirm unhesitatingly that human efforts
are impotent without the concurrence
of the church.
The encyclical goes on at length to
recall all 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. 1t is also a capi-
tai error to believe that the rich and the
proletariat are condemned by nature to
fight duel without end. One has need
for the other. Capital is powerless with
out work, and work without capital.
Let masters remember that both di-
vine and human law forbids the draw
ing of profits from the misery of the
poor. Besides that, religion means nec-
essary corporations of human means to
attain sacred purpose. The state
ought to watch over the well being of
society Just as individuals should watch
over the purity, morals and interior OF
the families, safe keeping religion, jus.
tice, moderation and an equitable divi-
sion of public charges, all of which
would contribute largely to the ameli
oration of the conditions of the prole
tariat. The larger this general pros
perity, the less likely will workingmer
be to have recourse to exceptions
means to better their condition. AS citi
zens the pro,etariat have the same
rights as the rich, and consequently
have right to the same interest as be
ing part of the state.
The government should carefully OBJ
serve all obligations, distributing jus
, tice impartially. Absolute equality was
! however, a chimera. The social hier
archies were based on natural princi
Piles. The state ought to see that al
, covenants relating to work were con
] scientiously observed and oppose any
: thing that might cause popular passion
to yield to unhealthy excitement, pre-
vol1ing troubles and violence. Sinai
wages often give rise to strikes, disas
: trous not only to the workingmen an
their employers, but to the general in
. terests of commerce and public indus
y try. Government ought to preven
e such crises. Moral dignity, which
e equal among poor and rich, exacted IT
n pose from work on certain days. Th
y state ought to take care that workme
= do not become the prey of spectators
/ Mans work should not be carrieS S
e far as to succumb under an excess c
d corporal fatigue. The physical forces {
g every man are limited. Beyond tha
e limit it is forbidden to go. Therefor
@ expediency was shown in establishin
o certain limitations on working houl
e and providing that they should be inte
y rupted by period of repose, varyin
according to conditions of time AT
e place, the public health and the natul
& of the work. The question of wag,
d was particularly delicate one to tre
N with exact justice. The salary agree
20 upon should be paid; at the same tin
D. justice equally demanded that the agre
TO ment entered into by the workingme
N ought to be respected. The state shou
1T see these reciprocal obligations ex
lie cuted An important element in Il
question was that the worlSingm;
.. ought to be able with the wages or S;
airy to provide for himself and fami
ut the necessaries of life.
re The pope particularly mentions
l. worthy of commentator associatio
Is for mutual succor, societies for insu
ance against accident, sickness a
le death and the protection of childre
t. and especially of female children,
1T which he attaches particular imp'
as tance. The tradesmen's associatio
r. and ancient corporations so useful
At the past ought to be adapted to prese
nd needs. Those associations would beti
RS answer the ends intended if they we
TT composed of both workmen and mi
to ters. In that case they would devel
usefulness more and more.
j. A WYOMING man has settled the gu,