Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-09-05

the world depends on them, and therefore |
they will be autocrats.
But labor is rightly exultant as fulfilling
It's original and natural purpose.
When a man has been appointed to po-
sition of importance and responsibility, and
finds himself week by week and year by
year accomplishing the tasks and fulfilling
the purpose of his appointment thexe is a
feeling of satisfaction or even of exulta-
ton which naturally takes possession of
him.
It is kindred feeling to this that sug-
gests and makes proper such an institution
as Labor day, providing the enjoyment of
the institution be in no way limited to
classes or cliques.
There is upon humanity q constant de-
mand for toll of various kinds, and it is
true reason for rejoicing that we are able
to furnish that toll in manner which, to
some extent at least, meets the requirements
of the case.
The reason for the demand lies in the
nature of our life. The more highly de-
veloped life is the less it finds done for it
and the more it has to do for itself.
Our development and culture has cost
labor to purchase it and it costs more labor
to maintain it, but we enjoy it so much
that we count the labor well spent.
The barbarian can live on roots and
barks and nuts and fish with but little
labor, but we need the untold appliances
of civilization which only labor can fur
nish.
We believe that this development is in
the right direction, and therefore we see
the necessity of labor.
When the world was felt to be under
law only, then labor was understood to be
the penalty for violated law. 1t came
after sin and degradation and the fall in
the logical order.
But under the reign of grace the process
is seen in reverse order. Holiness is the
goal and not the starting point.
Labor Is seen to be the means which
grace provides for attaining the goal, and
not the penalty which law provides for
departing from it.
We have to work out our salvation with
fear and trembling, God working with US
and in US.
But when the hand that has toiled all
may also thrill with gladness if it is only
conscious that the days toll has brought it
little nearer the goal of holiness offered
by grace and achieved only by labor.
1t is good sign that labor is exultant,
for it shows that people are coming to
understand themselves and their mission
better, and If there is seen now and then an
element of pride or antagonism in the ex-
ultation, it is only what we should expect,
but the fact that labor is exultant will
sooner or later find for itself the right
reason, and preserve the right motive.
Labor has not always been exultant. It
has rather hid itself and apologized for it's
existence. It is too much so still.
This has been partly because the idle
who have so often been allowed to lead the
fashions have despised it and fastened
| upon it the stigma of lower order OF
being.
But this reason is being gradually re-
moved, for those who labor are learning to
choose their own fashions, and not to &C.
| cept the banss and stigmas OF an alien
race.
1t is no wonder that the indolent do moi
love labor, but that is no reason why the
laborer should be ashamed of it.
| And labor has not always been exultant
partly also because the wear and tear of ii
is sometimes painful. And it is not natural
for people to exult in pain.
But the best judgment sees that the pair
is only incidental and occasional, and that
the main result of wisely directed labor il
| joyful, and not painful. And when this il
seen the little frictions and WEAKNESS Of
labor becomes but as the sacrifice of the
seed for the sake of the harvest.
The day of truth has dawned upon The
world, and its sun is still rising. Let III
rejoice if the hearts Of those who labor are
learning to find joy in their labor.
Labor is necessity of life, as we know
life in this world. In another world life
may be different, but here it is necessity
It is the only way of getting things done
which need to be done.
Trees and animals find the necessities O.
| %hoir o,,I e.,
them, but mans varied requirements car
b satisfied only by incessant and varied
toll. Since it is a necessity, it is therefor,
not thing of honor or Of dishonor.
has been said that eating is shameful
necessity which we are all under, but it il
not generally regarded as dishonorable
The necessity of labor is the same 80 far al
honor or dishonor goes. This necessity
for toll ia true, not merely for his food ant
shelter, and of the endless appliances TO-
his comfort and convenience in commerc'
and society, but it is also tree of his cul
ture and growth of mind and soul as al
individual and as q race.
And therefore 1t appears that there ar,
different kinds of labor for different need
and conditions.
For the purposes of our thought to-da,
at least we shall not distinguish between
the labor of hand and brain-between tn,
manual toll of the tradesman and tn.
mental toll of the banker or author O.
teacher.
fail to see why we should make sucl
distinctions as this at all 80 long at least q
We are applying general principles to labor
for they all come alike under any true def
milton of labor.
present fewer perplexities if they wer,
made to cover everything that is truly la
Dor instead of leaving out, as they SO Otter
do, one kind or another of human activit,
which is as truly labor as anything else.
1t is the vast variety of human need
and conditions that call for all the differ
emit kinds of labor.
And when difficult problems arise it il
because the different kinds of labor which
people are able or willing to do is no
properly adjusted to the varied condition.
and needs which call for it.
It may be that a so-called owner of vas
estate is using his augmented power O.
labor to still acquire greater estate, accord
ing to his inordinate passion, rather thar
to use or to distribute what he has accord
ing to the needs and conditions which &C
tually exist. He will meet with Difficult
ties and distractions as he ought in sucl
q course.
It may be that set of employees thinl
| 6noy 0eeu ana OUT 10 nave ninety Pc
cent. of the profits of the es
tablishment, when as matter O.
fact their just and needful share would b.
only rs per cent. or so per cent. Or per
haps the kind of work is not suited to som,
of them, and they should cultivate othe,
skill and work in other fields.
The saying is not trite OF insignifoan,
that there ts always room at the top
What might be called the higher needs Of
humanity are always increasing, and the way
of escape for those who are laboring il
cramped places is to push on to some
larger or higher field of human necessity,
It is on the lower planes where the tu-
multi is, and 1t is there where the labor i,
out of proportion to the needs. But there
is always a way opening up before the man
who is growing and who is able to do
something better now than he was last
year. And there is always a brighter day
coming sooner OF later for the man who is
adjusting his labor to actual needs and not
to his own passions and desires.
"Unto the upright in heart there aYiseth
light in the darkness"
| 1tis here where the problems arise in