The record-union., 1893-08-05
THE POPE AND THE LABOR
QUESTION.

The Pope is about to issue an encyclical
patches give to the world an intimation
of what the letter will be. and some of it
in what is purported to be full text. Con-
corning the references to the labor ques-
ton and the rights of men, aud passing
the Pope's Interpretation of the birth of
constitutions and rights, and the puraly
religious questions he discusses, it is
scarcely possible to cross the declarations
of the Pope on this subject at right angles
and be just, since he has simply laid
down principles that are accepted by Just
men as sound.
But not one of these is new; not one
possesses novelty in the manner of pre-
sentation; not one is stated with which
all men having an ounce of brain are not
familiar. 1t is not the fault of the head
of the Church of Rome, however, that
truth is old and never new; but if his
holiness has so long been conscious of the
truth, why did he not long ago arm it
with the thunderbolts of the church. and
launch it in times when, by virtue of the
power of the religious organization he
leads, it might have saved human life and
blood, have stayed some uplifted hands.
and have brought to reason some hot
souls ravaged by error and led by false
teachers?
Perhaps the Pope has said as much be-
fore; perhaps he has at odd times told the
world of his followers how the church
interprets the labor question. But while
we do not wish to misjudge, we are forced
to the conclusion that at no other time
has he so dignitied the subject, or by the
power of his high office so invested it
with weight. Nevertheless the letter as
now given is disappointing, in that it
lacks frequently in clearness, and it no.
where suggests remedies for existing
evils. excepting only the advice that the
Offices of religion will prove equal to the
task.
He, however, is to be congratulated, on
the better late than never'' idea, with
what he now proposes to illuminate. We
have no idea that the Pope believes that
his encyclical letter is going to be cure
all. He Is too shrewd politician and too
wise a man not to know that men care
less for and less fear Papal DEGREES and
advice in these days. Nevertheless the
letter is important as placing the church
anew on the side of order. against insane
agitation, and as opposed to radical So
cialism in its activities in labor ranks.
Reduced to briefest statement and
passing those expressions relating to
faiths. creeds and unbelief, the Pope pro-
poses to say to the millions of his church
that these are truths all men are bound to
recognize. That property is an essential
element to social order and the develop
ment and preservation of human life.
The poor have right to expect from the
rich such use of their wealth as will give
to the former needful employment, since
wealth is in a large measure a trust.
That all men must work If they will
eat, and those having the ability are by
human duty bound to provide work
for those willing to do it. Reform to be
useful and lasting must be opportune.
matured, and progress with time. Each
man is of right free in the execution of
his detail of work, and they who govern
are bound to so administer as to conserve
the welfare of all who legitimately toll.
At this point the Pope dwells upon the
doctrine that the Christian faith is alone
the bulwark of social order, and without
Christian institutions and customs the
State will fall into disorder and decay.
Reason alone, he declares, must not con q.
troll, because each has reason to his own
prejudice; therefore, the church and the
church only must lay out the lines Of
human action in moral concerns. But
not pausing to discuss this dogma with