St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-10-26
ihE iEME III LABURu
archbishop Ireland's Compre-
henslve Lecture on This
Phase Of the Question.
70 Man Can Afford to Give Up
His Soul to Labor Servi-
tude.
The Eight-Hour Day He De-
clares q Move in the Right
Direction.
Capital and Labor Must Rec
ogniZe the Great Brother
hood of Man.

AIcnOtSIlGD IIcltlIlu ldSt eNcHlUS QC-
dvered his regular fortmghtly lecture at
he cathedral, the available space of
which was completely taken up. His
grace took for his theme another dis
course of the labor question. and deliv-
cred an exhaustive disQuisition on 1.-The
Time to Labor" He said
Labor is man in action. Hence. when
the question of labor is under discus
sion, it is necessary TO keep before our
eyes the human being. with all his
natural rights and duties. Nor can we
leave out of the question mans Creator
and Supreme Master, who has endowed
him with rights and imposed upon him
duties. who demands that rights be
respected and duties be fulfilled. We
speak recklcsSly of the freedom of man,
as if it were proper for him to do what
sOeyer he pleased: and so we speak
recklessly of the freedom of labor. as if
the contract were just when laborer and
employer are conserving to il, whatever
the burthenS it lays upon the labOrer.
The labOrer is not free TO degrade
in himself human nature, the inaliena-
bic rights of which are in the keeping
of the Eternal; nor is lie free to enter
into bargain, the results of which are
10 eStOp the performance of his duties
as creature and servant of God. No
word. perhaps, is tritied with SO much,
and made TO cover up so many wrongs,
as that of freedom, and this is as true
in the realm of economics as in that Of
politics.. or pure ethics. Man is free to
think and act within the circumscrip-
ton of truth and Justice: outside these
The So-caled freedom is license. and
rebellion against Almighty God, whose
presence IN the living world is over
looked, and whose rights are put aside
when the talk about rights is most
noisy. God reigns, and His rights are
supreme.
Religion gives the principles which
Mead TO a solution Of social problems.
1t enables us TO define the minimum
wage TO which labor is entitled. 1t will
eua5le us TO describe the time limita-
tons OF labor.
Limitations Of tIae Time OF labor.
The several aspects under which man
comes before us are to be considered.
There is his physical life The laws of
nature i'll its regard must be observed.
The precept OF the decal0gue-Thou
shalt not kill-dOeS not only condemn
murder and suicide, but all unreaSona-
bic expenditure of physical forces. and
all omission OF tie requirements for
their renewal and preservation. The
Vigor and health OF the body must not
be destroyed by excessive and unduly
prolonged work. The laborer is not
the property of the employer, to be ex-
hauSted of strength and vitality at the
good pleasure and TO the greater profit
OF the latter; nor is the body of the
r3.b0rer his own belonging, so that ne
Slay sell its bloom and energies at his
own will.
Man IS an intellectual and moral
being. lie is not cared for in proper
ton TO his needs when he is the healthy
animal, as is the valued horse, nor when
sufficient attention is given to him. as it
Is to costly piece of machinery, to
maintain his body in good order,
and guard it from untoward accident.
or premature decay. AlfiS not done for
him when he is in as good condition as
the well-fed and well-housed slave.
This was the reproach OF the age of
human Servitude, that the victim had
seldom other life than that of his phvs-
lcal nature. The laDorer must be al
lowed time Tor mental growth. for social
Improvement. for spiritual elevation of
soul. Order him to work so many hours
III the day, and so many days ill the
week, that the little respite allowed him
must be given altogether, or nearly SD.
to sleeping and eating, where comes the
room for manhood or tor the REQUIRE
ment of manly attributes? VIII you be
able to recognize in him rational and
moral being. child of the Most High?
The laborer is born for heaven. as
we'll as for earth, and 1t is his inalen-
able right, from which no power of in
dlVldual or society may deprive him, to
lit himself for his future home, and
To Acquit himself
of ha
upon him as the creature of God and
the heir to paradise. This must be
given to religion. if we would have him
cultivate his moral life, and practice the
moral virtues that render him benefit,
instead OF a threatening danger, to his
1ellow-men and the whole social fabric.
Man is a social being; he has needs of
mind and soul which are satisfied ONLY
III communion with other members OF
the social family. He suffers, and falls
below the level of normal humanity,
unless he mingleS with men in Joyous,
fecfeatlng etfuSIOu of spirits. Lock
MN out from mirth ana healthful re-
taxation. and you drive inward the
forces OF nature. to gather into volcanic
hres and burst forth in uncontrolled
passion. to the Wreckage of moral and
social order.
Man has from nature the right to
surround himself with wife and chill
dren. This right is inherent in the
poorest no less than in the richest. The
salvation of country and of human So
clety IS concerned i'll it. interviewer
with It, and as part of its very self, is
the duty, not simply tc support the ply
seal life OF the family, but to bring
10 them direction and instruction and
1cTour out upon them tenderest love.
kftd toll, spent in purchase of mate
bread, must be limited in duration.
~ time Is to be had by husband and
@Ither TO give meaning to the sacred
Yelatlons binding him to the mother
and her offspring.
The Cause OF labor, the Cause of
Society.
l plead for the laborer and his family.
for their earthly lives and their immor-
tai hopes. | plead, also, for society and
for all whose interests are dependent
upon its safety. The working classes
are the bone and sinew of the land:
they are the larger portion Of the popu-
lation. 1t is well for the land where
their lot IS one OF cOntentmeDt and ease,
where their intellectual growth is not
stunted, and their moral and religious
life is not scared. The material pros
perity OF the land is secured. The de-
termination of the laborer leaves its i'm
press on industry and commerce. The
public peace, too, is beyond danger
from plottings and revolutions. HUI
mainly oppressed and deprived of its
rights IS never satisfied. The day of re-
action comes. Armed force only delays it
and makes its approach the more dread
ful. The first care of state mindful of
its best interests, ard of all enlightened
citizens within its pale, Should be the
Improvement of the masses of the
people and vigilant protection of their
rights. do not say that the mere op-
portunity, which cessation of woik
brings. will secure this improvement;
but without tie opportunity the i'm
proyement is impossible.
Excessive Work.
The Encyclical says: ''Daily labor
must be so regulated that it may not be
protracted during longer hours than
strength admits. How MANY and ho,u