The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-09-16
The AfleImath OF One strIkes.

more or less virulently between labor
and capital during the past year reflects
no credit on the Christianity of this
nineteenth century. 1t assuredly must
not be assumed that there is no remedy
for the present embitterment of feeling,
and that these contests must continue
to arise from time to time. Such a view
is as unworthy as it is deplorable.
While the relations between employers
and employed must not be allowed to
degenerate to one of oppressor and OPP
pressed, there is every evidence that
the fomentors of strikes are laboring
sedulously to disseminate the doctrine
that such a point has been already
reached. When such competent au-
thority of Henry Geoage boldly asserts
that strike at once peaceable and sue
cessful is an impossibility, it makes us
pause to think what is to be the out
come both to the striker and to the
public of line of conduct which almost
inevitably precipitates us into a state
of affairs akin to instruction. 1t COM
pels us to inquire whether the Golden
Rule has become obsolete; to ask what
has become of the new school of philos-
ophers who, as Christian Socialists,
were to ring out the old order of things
and ring in the new. Have their labors
been dissipated into thin air? Has any
one heard of their presenting any prac-
tical panacea for existing labor
troubles?
Leaving for the moment the consid-
Grafton of the line of conduct which
employers should follow towards those
in their employ, it is worth while to
consider what is to be the effect on
men, as in the case of strikers, who have
been defeated in the battle which they
waged for their alleged rights, who
have found their self-denial and the
suffering of their families are of no avail,
and that at the last the very opportuni-
ty to labor has been forbidden to them.
Under these conditions it is natural
for them to attribute all their misfor-
tuOes to a maladjusted world, where
every mans hand is seemingly raised
against them. The bitterness of spirit
that is generated becomes transferred
TO the family circle, while the sense of
fancied wrong rankles and terminates
until these men are swept gradually and
almost insensibly into the maelstrom of
anarchism.
The growing disregard of life and
property, too, which are more and more
the predominant features of the vast
strikes throughout the land, is another
sad element of the whole business. 1t
is but short step from the wanton
recklessness INDUCED by a mob of
strikers to the practice of individual
murder and repine. The tie that sacred
ly binds the striker to his brother man
is weakened, and, with the influence of
strong drink so often feature in these
great strikes, he is borne steadily down
the stream to sorrowful and disgrace
full end. The general righteousness, to
use no stronger term, which pervades
these labor uprisings is patent to the
most superficial observer. Did any one
ever hear of a strike preceded with pray
er for its success? 1t is rather a defiance
of everything sacred, and oftener a sea
son of dissipation than otherwise. For
these, and for many more reasons Which
might be readily adduced, the result of
labor strikes, even where they are tenn
porarily successful, can but be attended
with the greatest consequences.
The thought will naturally arise, what |
are Christian men and women and the |
Church of which they are part doing to |
avert these impending dangersp Has any
one heard of Christian missionaries going |
among the strikers in the recent troubles |
aud preaching forbearance and gentleness
under wrongs? Or have the employers |
themselves been approached and implor-
ed as representatives of Christian COM |
to remember that they were deal |
ing with brother-men, and to stretch any |
rights they might possess to the utmost |
limit of forbearance in an effort to do the |
fullest justice to the men in their en-
ploy? If the Christian Chuch has not ex-
hausted every resource in its power in
the way of Cancellation and arbitration,
then it has not done its duty. Without |
for moment considering the direct issue
involved in the recent colossal strikes, no
Christian man or woman should fail to
have the tenderest sympathy and most
earnest solicitude for the misguided and
too often ignorant men who, bound down
Oy the iron rules of organized labor, obey
often unwillingly, the arbitrary behests
IF leaders who have ambitious ends of
heir own to serve.
There are two propulsive forces which
end to a solution of the labor problem:
These are education and true religion;
md the growth of both is the precursor of
! brighter and better day, when the re-
atoms of employer and employed shall
20 harmonious and of mutual benefit.
70 these may be added stronger sense
If justice in the American people, to
which, as court of final appeal, the
aboring man can confidently present his
'ause, and where, without the disruption
# society, he may be assured that his
grievances will find prompt and dis
PASSIONATE adjustment Organized labor
must cease TO be the tyranny which it
las become; and capital must be willing
o concede reasonable participation in
he profits which labor has help to create.
Notwithstanding the recent terrible
there are not lacking signs
hat we are tending, slowly perhaps but
urley, toward this contamination de-
outly to be wished; and that the pre-
epts of the Sermon on the Mount are to
nd larger place than heretofore in the
uture business relations of the world
-Zion's Herald.