Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-10-06
BISHOP THOMPSON.
An Extract from the Labor Day Sermon
of the Noted Divine.

An Extract from the Labor Day Sermon
of the Noted Divine.
Labor Day services We're held on Sun
day evening, Sept. 4, in old Trinity
church, New York, and an audience
that filled every seat listened to the SER
mon by the Rev. Hugh Miller Thomp-
son, bishop of Mississippi. The services
were conducted by the Church Associa-
ton for the Advancement of the Inter
ests of Labor. The sermon has since
been rather rudely criticised by some of
the newspaper organs of capitalism, and
two or three of the infamous sheets have
misquoted and distorted it so that they
might pounce upon the reverend gentle
man who had the presumption to say
good word for honest labor His crit
icisms of our sham society and bogus
republican institutions were what
aroused the minions of Mammon.
Among other excellent things, Bishop
Thompson said:
Man owns the earth, and has absolute
sovereignty of all there is in 1t. The
real story of the world from the begin
ming has not been that of great battles
and the achievements of few noted
men, but one of toll for bread for the
wife and children. 1t is the story of
everyday work. By it this country has
become richer than most, and the people
are more intelligent, yet the question of
labor and capital here is one that is pc
culiar and impressive. Strikes are be-
coming more and more frequent, and
the recent situations at Homestead, Buff
falo and Coal Creek were a satire on
political government.
The whole world may soon be dis
turbed by general strife between labor
and capital. Strikes in this country are
frequent, and the greatest uneasiness ex-
lists because of the intelligence of the la
boring people who are striving for their
rights. The laborers in this country are
30 intelligent that many of them would
be capable of managing the business of
their employers. l can pick from the
locomotive engineers men as intelligent
and reliable and who will stand to their
posts in case of danger as long as any
millionaire. There is no difference be-
tween the employer and the employee so
ldl lultlllBtllIt 10 COHCtIuttl.
The best men do not care for riches.
Those who have subdued, conquered and
led most of the great enterprises have
not been rich men, but worked because
they loved to labor at their chosen call
ings. To do this and have room in the
world to make an honest living is the
only right any one has, and it is all that
can be guaranteed by any government.
The best government is that which
governs least, and that which protects
its subjects in life, liberty and person.
The one we have falls far short of this,
especially in the protection of the per-
son. No community has ever been able
to have police duty that will entirely
prevent murder, criminal accidents, ar
son, etc.
The Idea of national protection has
been carried so far with US that every
thing we eat, wear or have is taxed, and
in Germany each peasant owns his prop
erty with soldier on his back. Gov
ernment is the last thing to appeal to to
take the side of labor when some of the
states hire out their convicted thieves
and murderers in opposition to honest
labor.
There is no case on record where
republic ever took the side of labor, for
it is not the province of republic to DO
so. 1t expects every business to loo,
out for itself. That is the remedy for
all evils. Look to yourself and God
Almighty.
So far as l know there is no difference
between employer and employee. The
trouble and misfortune of one are those
of the other, and the greatest source of
labor troubles is the failure to recognize
this. 1t was at one time the same way
with nations. People thought that If
famine or misfortune should visit Europe
it would benefit this country by enabling
us to sell to Europe what she had failed
to produce herself, not thinking of the
fact that failure of production in
Europe lessened that which they could
pay us for our products.
The great trouble is the failure to
recognize brotherhood between men
who all suffer together. If Baxter
street has the cholera, she will give it to
Fifth avenue, and the tramp who is I'M
fortunate enough to catch the smallpox
will give it to the millionaire, for that
is likely all that he has to give. His
misfortune results in the misfortune of
the millionaire.
1 have strong faith, however, in the
love of justice of the American people
and in Jesus Christ, and one of these
days 1t will be that the trades unions
will elect the capitalist an honorary
member and invite him to their coun-
sells, and the capitalist will invite the
laborer to meet with him and consider
what is best for them both Then in
deed it will be common brotherhood.