St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-08-02
Abstract From ais Encyclical OH
the Labor Question.

Abstract From ais fncyclical OH
the Labor Question.
NEW YORK, Aug. 1.-The World this
morning publishes a recent cable dis
patch from Rome containing transla-
ton Of Pope Leo's forthcoming encycIi-
cal upon the labor question, of which
the following Is an abstract: "Consti-
buttons and laws have their foundation
III the character and the traditions of
nations and peoples. They are the
work of God through the centuries, as
the history of every country shows.
But no law which wanders from reli-
gi0h or tendS 10 SnDvert it can DE other
wise than defective. and in time must
cone TO naught. Society is not human
invention, but divine Inspiration. for
the real social contract is not merely
right between man and God. Where
the man fultillS his duty to God he
cannot fal! to Perform his duty to
society. Property is an essential ele-
inent 10 social order for the Dreserya-
ton and development of human life,
and the divine law has declared proper
" inviOiable: Cursed be he who re-
mOveth his neIghbOr's landmark" But
the poor have nevertheless a right to be
assisted by the rich by preparing such
I'll d man will not work, neither shall
he eat" But if he have no work 1t is
plainly the duty of those who can do so
to provide for hun. This legitimatIzes
property. No social right has any sane
non II not sanctioned by God, and no
usurpation Of others rights can expect
the blessing of heaven. Atheism and
departure from the Christian faith are
anarchy and socialism. The Christian
faith alone is the bulwark of
social order. Where Christian in
situations and customs are not
maintained in state there must
be disorder. bewilderment and
decay. This moment England is In the
throes of an immense upheaval Of So
rlety in which one violent struggle sue
ceedS another increasingly. In MANY
cases the reason is to be found in the
fact that legislation has not been duly
enacted, for every person has his legiti-
mate part in the benefits of society ac-
cording to the order of Providence. This
state OF unrest is not confined to the
working classes, properly SO called. 1t
has taken root and is bearing nefariOuS
fruit in the more cultivated part of So
cletY. The masses, who do not per
celve the niceties of light and shade,
seeing those moving in Il superior con-
ditlOn OF life, adherents of the people
and OF society, allow themselves to be
blinded by aglLator5 who have no real
interest in the cause they so loudly up
hold beyond selfish one.
And this is why strikes are so unpro-
ductive of beneficial results. Placed on
basis more social than economic; be-
ing more of a struggle than pacifical
one; more of aggression that defense,
the strike loses its natural aspect and
hides its essence. a strike can be justi-
fled only as means of defense when
an individuals rights at stake. Never
can 1t be justified as a collective arm of
aggression. Mans natural right Is to
live and do work. AS means of pro-
curing living he has right to remove
every obstacle to his work to get the
value of his labor. And, therefore,
when his labor is neither productive
nor remunerative, be has right to re-
right cannot be transferred into
a collective right, nor can an
arm of defense be changed
into an arm of aggression to
cause means OF good to degenerate
into a source of harm. An aggressive
strike is not reciprocal between operator
and operative, but an instrument of
attack upon the proprietor and pIop-
erly. The operative on strike is q pas
SlYe and dominated instrument. not an
intelligent and free being. While his
action lessons the capital of the en-
plOyeT, it puts no money into his own
pocket. The right of protecting the
operative, whether in the factory or in
the field, should be admitted. And for
this purpose the maximum of labor as
we'll as the minimum of slavery should
be fixed. The hours of labor should be
arranged, giving due attention to days
of rest