, 1891-07-15

tLlIllpN5. L hOh I NhLlN ~ LIldht II III 20
ment for the socialist here, but | do wan
to see n disposition manifested by think
ers and teachers 10 treat every man an
woman fairly who has anything to utfcl
rs a remedy for what the pope speaks uI
as the misery and w~retchedness winch
press so heavily at this IN on the
large majority of the poor" As tc
bringing the state into the sphere thai
is not its own" the socialist points i'
many things now done by the state
which were formerly done by private
individuals, and shows that its sphere
is constantly being enlarged | might
quote many extracts from the encyclirll
which give strength to the socialist po-
sition, and which The Standard Crlls
'paternal, 70 10 distinguish them from
socialism, but my limited space fOrbids
and | leave those interested in the gus
ton to find these points by Il perusal Of
the letter.
There is a difference of opinion rs to
The attitude Of the pope toward trades
unions and similar organizations, such
Us the knights Of Labor This differ
ence is due to a careless reading Of the
encycliCal or To no reading AT all. There
can be no doubt that the pop is opposed
To all combinations Of workers whose
objects arc the regulation Of wages and
conditions Of employment by the meth
DDS which tine trades unions se-ar
compelled to use if they would accom-
plish anything. He says of associations
of w~orkiugmeu:
But there is "a good deal OF evidence which
gurs To prove that many Of these societies are
In the hands Of invisible leaders, and are man
sgrd on principles far from compatible with
Christianity and the public well being, and
that they do their best TO get into their hands
the whole Held Of labor and to force workman
either to join them or to stnryc.
The meaning of this is clear, as is also
Che following, to all of us who have been
long connected with labor unions, and
bave many times noticed the disposition
on the part of the powers that be to
come down with a heavy hand upon the
unions when they were crowding the
bosses rather closely:
There arc times, no doubt. when It Is right
that the law should Interfere to prevent asso-
citation; and when men join together for pur-
poses which are evidently bad, unjust or dan
gurous to the state. In such cases the public
authority may justly forbid the formation u
resolutions, and may dissolve them when they
already exist.
The pope believes in associations, but
no far AS l am able to judge from his
letter he thinks they should be only Of
the kind which we call beneficial" or
insurance societies; and he advocates
the admission Of employers and employees
on equal terms to labor associations. No
union man need be told how completely
the latter proposition runs contrary to
the main objects of unions. There must
be some sound reason for the refusal of
the unions to admit employers when
that IS recognized rs the universal rule,
and supported with more unanimity
than any other law of the organizations.
OF course, if any one believes that tho
interests of the labOrcr and the capital
ist are or can be identical under the
competitive wage system, then such an
one cun indorse the pope's plan; but how
such a belief is possible passes my under
standing
The pope believes that the way to
remedy the evils under which we live
today is by softening the hard hearts OF
men and arousing their sense OF justice
through the influence of Christianity.
No one can quarrel with his desire to ao-
complish the end in that way, aud much
good would result If his belief were
given IA thorough practical test by or
ghnized Christianity; but it is necessary
to maintain a fire department while
preaching against the sin of arson. If a
business man tries to conduct his cstun-
lishment today on the lines laid down
by the golden rule no is soon driven to
the wall and leaves the field to the une
who does business ON business primri-
NaI4L 80 - mn a..
into the hands Of the CurmOrlnt.
don't like tho pupc's use Of the cN
preston master and man" Idon'L like
the way he lays down for the instruction
Of the master the need Of properly
caring for the ''mun"-that the former
must not work the latter beyond his
powers of endurance, and must see that
he has sufficient food. 1t reads too much
like a horse or an OK, and not "A human
being WAS under consideration. / don't
like the pope's failure to urge the neces-
sity Of education for the nottingham,
30 that he may clearly understand his
rights. 1t is right that the head Of the
church should be deeply concerned about
the soul of the poor man, and the claim
that he should lbs properly fed, clothed
and rested is all right, but that his mind
should be trained, so that hc MAY learn
to do for himself all these other things,
is of greater Importance, or so it seems
to me. | don't like his misreprcsenta.
ton Of the views of the land reformcrs
and tho socialists; but, rs said before,
he is probably misinforned upon these
points
Those are some of the things | dislike
about the enCyclical, but taken As a
whole ! believe that every friend of the
poor and every man and woman inter.
ested in bringing to pass a better state
of things, in inauEurating the reign OF
justice and peace, will be glad that it
was written 1t has already awakened
to thought thousands who were indiffer.
ent because they failed to see the seri
business Of the present situation. and it.
errors caunot long survive in an atmos
phere of right reason where brains arr
at work drlving or'truth.
Jos. Il. BUCmANAN.
Modern ThieVcry.
Observe that crime just now is rr
Elective. We are not breeding Bill
Sikcscs with our civilization, bus small
Cagliostrus. We rob "a store of its dia
mBu1g lpIurlyp1y w. ,,nt 49, g,,l,