Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-23
THE POPE's ENCYCLICAL.
Leo XIII Believes That Universal Cooper
alton in Life IL Necessary.

THE POPE's ENCYCLICAL.
Leo XIII Believes That Universal Cooper
alton in Life is Necessary.
The full text Of the pope's encyclical has ap-
peared In his exordium the pope dilstes upon
the task which he has set himself in defining
for the guidance Of the church its position to-
ward the existing social questions The pope
refers to the pressing importance of the matter
and the difficulty in dealing with it arising
from its complex character. owing to the
numerous concurrent factors requiring con-
sideration; yet he says, q solution can be OBJ
tanned by applying the eternal principles on
which the teachings of the church are always
based. Now, as ever. mems relations toward
each other as individuals or parts Of society
must have the sanction of the old authority.
The law is stated in Deuteronomy iii21. mon
concupisces uxorem proximo tut, non domum,
non agrum, non ancillum, non bouem, non
sinum. ct universe qua illus STUNT" The
dlvlne law. therefore, rejects the socialist So
luton OF the social problem, which would
aboiish private property substituting Q col
iectlVe and common ownership.
THE STATE AND THE INDIVIDUAL.
Proceeding to consider the relations Of the
state to the individual the pope says: ''To
think that the authority Of the state ought
aroltrariiy to invade family intimacy Is O great
ana pernicious error. Undoubtedly il can in
tervene when the condition of the family 10 too
disastrous but only to alleviate it and to safe-
guard the rights and interests Of public power
without violating the rights Of individuals To
go beyond these limits would violate the nature
OF things. The state should not DESTROY nor
absorb paternal power to conciliate the rights
Oh the state, OF the capitalist and Of the pro-
letariat. We affirm unhesitatingly that human
efforts are impotent without the concurrence Of
the church"
CAPITAL AND LABOR.
A long demonstration follows, recalling all
that the church has done to better the lot of
the proletariat. The pope says:
"A capital error lie to believe that the rich
and the proetariat are condemned by nature
to battle and duel without end The one has
need OF the other. Capital is powerless with
out work, and workers are powerless without
capital The proletariat cannot and ought not
TO lnlure either capital or master. But in order
to obtain respect tor their rights they must
abstain from violence. They ought not to have
recourse to seditiou, nor listen to the chimeri-
cal promises Of agitators. On the other hand,
masters ought to respect the individuality and
dignity of the man and Christian in worimen.
and not abuse them inhumanely in their work
nor exploit them beyond their forces Let
masters remember that the divine and the hu-
man law forbids them to draw profits from the
religious
means 1t is necessary that there should be o
cooperation Of human means
DUTY OF THE STATE.
The state ought to favor the prosperity of
society as much as of individuals 1t ought to
watch over tho purity, morals and interior or
der OF families; a safe-keeping religion. justice
and moderation and the equitable division of
the public charges, all of which contribute
largely to the amelioration of the conditions Of
the proietariat. The larger this general prosper
lily the less will workers seek recourse to excep-
tional means to ameliorate their conditions
Proletarans have the same right as citizens as
the rich, consequently they have q right to the
same interest on the part of the state. Govern
ments should carefully observe their obliga-
tons In the distribution of justice.
EQUALITY A cHIMERA.
absolute equality, however, is a chimera
Social hierarchies are based on natural prin-
nants related to work are conscientiously OBJ
served, and should oppose anything that might
cause popular passions. Yielding to unhealthy
excitations would provoke trouble and violence
Small wages often give rise to strikes disas-
trous not only to the workmen and their mas
tiers, but to the general interests of commerce
and public industry. Governments ought to
prevent an explosion at these crises. The moral
dignity which is equal among the poor and rich
exacts repose from work on certain days.
The state ought to care for the workmen and
not let them become the prey OF spectators
and usurers. who are seeking to abuse their
weakness In order to obtain excessive and dis
honest profits. A mans work should not 20 to
such an extent that he is forced to succumb
under an excess of corporal fatigue. Every
body Q physical forces are limited and humanity
forbids that they should be exceeded. Con-
sequently, expediency is shown in a certain
Limitation Of working hours, which should be
interrupted by period Of repose, varying ac-
eording to conditions Of time, place, public
health and the nature of the work"
THE QUESTION OF WAGES.
''The question of wages is particularly deli
cate. Justice exacts that an agreed salary
should be paid. At the same time the agree
ments entered into by workmen ought to be re-
spected. The state should see that these reci-
procal obligations arc executed. An element
OF the question is that a workingman ought to
be able with his salary to provide the necessi-
ties of life.
In all these questions it is essential that
state representative should nos intervene in
considerably. 1t will suffice to reserve exam
ination Of these points TO the Judgment of as
sociations in order to safeguard the interests of
both employers and employed. The tutelsge
and authority OF the state ought to intervene
only as much as general interests demand. A
great social advantage lies in laws which favor
multiplicity Of properties. These are the
best means to prevent opposition between ex-
IRENE riches and extreme poverty, but 1t is also
necessary that the properties shall not be over
taxed. The state commits an injustice in un-
due exactions from individuals.
AIDING THE POOR
institutions for aiding the poor and facilitat-
ing a Cancellation between the various social
classes are especially useful in obtaining desira
BILE results" Following this idea. the pope the,,
particularly mentions associations for mutual
succor and institutions for insurance in case of
accidents sickness and death and the protec-
ton OF children and girls. The pope attaches
particular Importance to working peoples as
sociations, and says that ancient corporations.
so useful in the past, ought to be adapted to
present needs. These associations, he adds.
were formed if they were composed of both
workmen and their masters, and their action
ought to develop more and more.
THE RIGHT TO COMBINE.
The pope then expatiates on the advantages
of liberty and tho right of combination as long
as these associations do not present auy incon-
veniences to public interests but in suppressine
the state ought to take precautions
not to violate the rights of individual and
ought not to advance the excuse of public
utility as a pretext to abandon sound political
principles. Unhappily, it often occurs that
these associations are made the puppets of
exploiting their poverty. Il is
important to create counter associations to
withdraw workmen from these unjust op-
pressions.
COOPERATION PRAISED.
The pope greatly praises those endeavoring
hot tor fhn AZ