The record-union., 1891-04-06
CHRISTIAN SOCIALISM.
Lively Interest OF Churchmen in the
Farmers Alliance.
WASHINGTON. March %. 1891.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
WASHINGTON, March %, 1891.
John Brisbin Walker, editor of the
Cosmopolitan magazine has delivered an
address at the Catholic University al
Washington which is attracting much
attention. The address was an argument
for Christianizing the socialistic move
ment most prominently typiied at the
moment by the Farmers Alliance The
subject, as well as its exponent, was
chosen by Bishop keane, the rector of the
University. The audience consisted of
the faculty of the University and of the
priests, representing all parts OF the
Union. IN attendance upon the advanced
courses in theology.
Mr.. Walker censured the Church in
plain, bold language for its too exclusive
attention to the rich and cultured classes.
its evasion of the clear duty to speak out
against the unjust and dishonest modes
OF accumulation that rear up the gigantic
fortunes of the day, and its tolerance of a
corruption i'll politics that eXpeiS Chris
tianity from the organic life of society.
proper organization Of society he
said would result in materially reducing
the burden Of toll TO the multitude, and
by altering the present unjust distribution
OF wealth, would lift the masses to COM
fort while tightening their labors. Justice,
not charity, was the need of the hour.
Speaking to the company of priests before
him, he said:
should it not be an important study
for you to determine how far the laws
and existing social conditions bear upon
this poverty on the one hand and sur
piusage OF wealth upon the other and if
convinced that this system is iniquitous
and the laws unjust, aid in bringing the
strength Of the united congregation to
bear upon the enactment of legislation
which. while not inequitable to those in
possession, will clear :iIG highways of all
legal toll-gates eXacting Unfair tributes
from labor ?''
Combination, not competition, he held
to be the true economic policy. Compe-
tition was at war with Christ anity-the
policy of unrestrained greed and selfish
ness. The great corporations, by con-
solidatlon and absorption, were teaching
the people how best TO conduct their in
dustrial operations, put the end must be
the good of all, and not Of one or a few.
He proposed, as a national motto: From
every man according TO his ability; to
every one according to his needs.'' That,
lived up to as a nation and community
meant Christian people.
The lecturer took a hopeful view of the
prospects of Christian socialism. The
masses Were being educated to the situa-
ton. and educated fast:
''Out in Kansas there came about a
change of 100000 votes from the old par
ties, after campaign of discussion
scarcely covering six months.'
The pOstoffice, he alleged, was a great
and convincing sOcialistic example:
''lf the Government can handle the
mails so safely and efficiently, and at
such minimum of expense, why not
express packages? And if it can ship
the mails and express packages over n
H.-lT cI ~ -,l-
the passenger and his telegram, and his
telephone message?'
Mr.. Walker was emphatic in advocacy
of the State operation Of railways. He
thought that even the owners of that now
imperilled kind of property might well
come the change. Said he:
The president of one of the great lines
of railway, who was in my Office recently,
III the course of conversation about rail-
way matters, said that he was then en-
gagged in watching the Legislatures of
thirteen States and Territories through
which his line passed. Legislation in
any one Of these might cost his road
millions of dollars. He did not say so,
but from such q task of ceasless anxiety
he might turn with thoughts of relief TO
a conversion Of his fortune into Govern
ment bonds-an annual interest which
would be paid regularly without any
worry upon the part of the holder Of the
bonds-a percentage contributed cheer
fully by the farmers and owners of NOV
ing crops, because they would no longer
feel that what they paid was merely going
to enrich men already overloaded with
wealth."
One passage in the address commanded
special attention by its touch OF novelty
and from u suspected personal allusion.
Ii is az follows:
''It is not the unfortunate alone who
are taking an interest in social problems
to-day. All classes of men realize that
no matter how comfortable themselves,
their grandchildren or great-grandchil-
dren, under existing laws are liable to
be candidates for charitable institutions
Mr.. Walker is the possessor of a fortune
not inconsiderable even in these days of
multiplied figures, and the passage was
assumed to express his own fears that in
the not distant hereafter his accumu!a-
tions might go to swell those of some of
the billionaires.
State socialism, as an instrument of
Christianity, is generally said to have
taken n great hold on the imaginations of
many Of the Catholic clergy. Its exploita-
ton at the Catholic University of Amer
lea, under the auspices of the rector of
that NATIONAL institution, has not only ex-
cited the liVeIieSt interest, but the first re-
ports of the address We're widely received
with incredulity. All doubts, however,
were set at rest by q statement of BiShop
address was accurate, and the address it.
self had his approval.
BEEcHAM's pills act like magic on
weak stomach.