The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-16
THE STRIKE LESSON.
Archbishop Ireland on the Err
rors of Labor Unions
meolLL AGREES WITH BISMARCK
Hs wouid Pensfen Werkingmsn-kev.
Thomas DIXON Advocates Govern
nsat ownership OF Railroads.

CHICAGO. July 15.-A-ehbsshop Ireland,
Of ST. PAU, being asked today what be
had to say on the railway strike, spoke a.
follows:
II dislike TO speak OF the strike, because
in 50 doing / shall blame labor, while,
because of my deep sympathy with IL L
should wish 70 have never said but words
Of praise for IL. But In . moment OF social
crisis. such as the one through which we
are passing il Is duty 10 speak loud ana
To make ayoEal Of the truths and primer
pies which will save society and JUS
tice I am glad Of the opportunity
which 4 representative OF the Associated
Press affords nae. The fatal mistake
which has been made in connection With
this strike Is that property has been de
stroyed, the liberty Of business interfefed
with. human lives endangered. social order
menaced, the institutions and freedom OF
the country put in most serious jeopardy.
The moment such things happen all pos
sible questions ss TO the rights and griey-
anees of labor mast be dropped out OF
sight and eli efforts Of lawabiding citizens
and of public officials made 70 serve IN
maintaining the public order and guard
Ing At ali costs the public welfare.
Labor must learn that, however sacred
its rights be. there is something above
them and absolutely supreme-sociai order
and the laws OF public justice. There Is
no civil crime as hideous, as pregnant OF
evil results, as resistance to law and the
constitutional authority OF the country.
This resistance Is revolution; IL begets
chaos; il is anarchy; II disrupts the whole
social fabric. Labor, too, must learn the
lesson that the liberty OF the citizen Is TO
be respected. One man has the right to
cease from work, but be has no right to
drive another man from work. he who
respects not the liberty OF others shows
himself unworthy o. his own liberty and
incapable of citizenship in q free country.
Riots and mob rule, such as has oc-
Cured in Chicago, do immense harm 10
the cause OF labor. and set back its advance
for whole decades of years. Labor thereby
loses the earnest sympathy OF thousands
of friends and gives courage aud triumph
TO It's enemies. Worse yet, the principle
of popular government suffers. IL is no
wonder that, reading Of the occurrences in
America, Europe announces that the re-
public is failure and that a strong mon
archy only can hold society together.
II am tar from saying that labor has not
had its grievance in America, nor that
redress must not be sought | would not
respect the laborer who seeks not 10 de-
fend his rights and TO improve his condi-
ton. But all this must be done within
the lines of social order and law. The
remedy for these ills is q healthy public
opinion and fair public legislation, and all
legitimate efforts In these directions.
whether by single or united force, are
laadable. For my own part. believe the
large number OF men who join strikes are
more 90 be pitied than TO be blamed. They
are led irresponsible and tyrranous chiefs.
Labor unions have one marked evil in
them, that they put the liberties OF thou
sands In The hands Of one man or few,
who become their absolute masters, their
despoiic ezars.
"A solution of the differences between
| capital and labor Is necessarily complex,
and no one precise formula has peen or
can be found. A generous sense of JUS
| tice toward all, deep love of ones fell
| lows, and attentive listening TO the teach
| ings of Christ will lead on all sides to q
better understanding and 10 happier mu-
tuai relations. Certain it is that so far as
| IL Is possible the laborer should not lack
support for himself aud family. He should
not be oyerburdened either IN weight or
time of labor; he should be treated as a
rational and moral being, with all the re-
| spect due his human dignity. His remu-
| neratlon, IL dim nished in periods of de-
preston. should increase in periods of
| prosperity.
II approve highly of President Cleve-
lands course in the strike. HIS prompt
action brought state and city officials, citi-
Eens and strikers. 10 their senses, and GER
tainly. insofar as ne went, he had the
| legal right with him. Mr.. Cleveland de-
serves well OF the nation, and Of the peo-
/ pie OF Chicago in particular"