The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-09-05
THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH
REV. THOMAS DIXON RESUMES HIS
SERVICES AT ASSOCIATION HALL.

History of One Revelation.
New York, Sept. Rev. Thomas
Dixon, Jr., returned to his pulpit in As
sociation hall this morning and began
the work of a new year. His church is
stronger in membership, in spiritual
power, in financial support and in en-
thusiasm than ever before in many
years. Mr.. Dixon comes back from
his summer vacation much refreshed
and strengthened, and declares he has
taken new lease on life. Rev. Z. H.
Sherwin, who for 1--WE years has been
associated with the work of the Taber-
nacle, corner Second avenue and Tenth
street, was today installed as pastors
associate. Mr.. Dixon's review of cur
rent events, which preceded the sermon
OF the day, was devoted to the subject
of the recent labor disturbances. He
said:
The past summer will be a landmark
in the history of the new nation which
the generation now coming upon the
scene of action in America is going to
build. Labor disputes have passed from
the field of argument into the field Of
battle. Instead Of words we have war.
We are approaching a crisis in the in
dustrial history Of our people.
STEP FROM HELL.
In four states-Idaho, Tennessee, Penn
sylyania and New York-the bayonet
and cannon alone were equal to the oc-
casion. Almost the entire military force
OF these states was under arms at the
same time. Some of us have congratu-
lated ourselves upon the discipline and
efficiency of our militia. Such man is
easily assured. He is soothed by the
moonshine of FOOLS paradise
To call out the militia is to acknowl-
edge the collapse of civic order Civil
lization has yielded to barbarism, and So
ciety is but a single step from hell War
is helli
The church and the nation have trifled
with this labor problem long enough. 1t
is time now for action. 1t means too
much for men to be called upon TO shoot
their brethren. There is a screw loose
somewhere in our industrial machinery.
Somebody is responsible. That respon-
sibilty must be fixed and the damage
repaired or crash is inevitable. am
not a pessimist. | believe in man. l
believe in God his Father. believe in
the destiny of the race. l believe in the
destiny of my nation. But facts are
facts. They must be faced as they are.
1t is useless to cry ''Peacel peace!" when
there is no peace.
What are some of the lessons the Chris
tian citizen should learn from these con-
fiicts? 1t seems to me that several things
have been made clear to the public by
the flash of muslrcts and the electric
search lights OF fortified works during
the past summer.
..-. LESSONS. ...
efrst-That organized capital as at
present managed is making des-
perAte effort in certain centers of in
dustry to crush organized labor. 1t is
useless for such managers as Mr.. II.
Walter Webb, Of the New York Central
railroad, and Mr.. Frick, Of Homestead.
to deny this. Actions speak louder than
words. 1t is time the Christian public
called halt. Labor has as much right
to combine as capital. 1t is time some
things were settled, and this is one of
them. In the name of Jesus Christ |
protest against the brutality that here
or anywhere proclaims might to be
right
Second-That there is painful need
OF little common sense among the men
who have led the labor movements of
late. We have upon us a revolution
without leader. 1t is the hour for the
assassin. There seems TO have been no
serious effort made on the part of ag-
priaVal I'M in ta
to settle their difficulties by arbitration
They answered force with force, and, it
must be said. somewhat eagerly. They
say tlIeir case was desperate-that they
We're fighting for their right to organize,
which meant the right to live. All the
moro reason, then, for exhausting every
possible resource before answering the
Carnegie company's challenge to war
by a, rifle yolley. The Carnegie com
pany virtually declared war and were
guilty of murder when they fortified
their works and secured an army of
mereenaries to defend them. But this
did not justify violence without at least
an effort for peaceful adjustment.
Third-That these lockouts, strikes
and movement of troops, besides the
blood spilled, have cost millions of dol
lars, for which the public will have to
pay. Somebody is in the wrong. But
no matter who is right or wrong the
public pays for it, Thousands of kindred
industries are suspended or paralyzed.
The damage indiroctis is thus incalculable
and those outside suffer irreparable loss,
while the direct combatants may be lit
tie affected. Such occasions are the op-
portunity of anarchy and crime and are
a threat against the very life of the state.
wANTED-A NEW SUPREME COURT.
Fourth-That the community at large
has rights higher and more sacred than
those of any class or union or corpora
ton within the community, and that
these higher rights are trampled on with
reckless impunity. It is time therefore
for the public to interfere-not only to
protect the weak against the strong, but
to protect its own life.
Arbitration is the only possible solu-
tion Of such problems at present. Busi-
ness principles dictate it. Christianity
commands it. The time has come when
ehe public can no longer afford to leave
to the choice of either capital or labor
the question of arbitration. Such tre-
mendous issues cannot be left to the
whim of Il walking delegate or the stupid
arrogance of manager who imagiues
himself a ezar. We must have a new
supreme court of national jurisdiction
the supreme court Of arbitration. The
settlementof such disputes speedily in
this court should be made compulsory,
and the penalty of failure not less than
the revocation Of the charter of the cor
poration refusing or the dissolution as
an unlawful assembly of the labor union
refusing such settlement. This may be
distinct advance in government, as DIR.
Shaw points out in his recent able re-
view of the situation, but it is inevitable