The record-union., 1894-07-16
THE BAD RESULTS OF STRIKES.
immortality and UnreasonabIeness OF
the Method Used.
sixty Million Dollars in Wages sacri-
feed in This Country In the
Last six Years.

near Pittsburg. Pa, the greatest storm
center of strikes in America outside OF
Chicago. His convictions are the result
of the observations of the principles and
methods of many strikes, including the
great Homestead strike of two years ago.
during which he was in Pittsburg.
In his sermon at Unity Hall yesterday
Mr.. Horner said that both observation
and study had thoroughly convinced him
that the strike, as a method OF bring
ing about Justice among men, was morally
wrong. 81 am convinced. he said. that
the principle back of the strike, though
stoutly denied, inevitably leads to in
Justice, lawlessness, treason and finally
anarchy.
''As much was acknowledged to me the
other evening, by one who stands high In
this community among intellectual peo-
pie when he said, Mr.. Horner, in this
matter l am not in sympathy with law
and order. Humanity Is above law and
order as at present constituted
HE did not agree with me that the
wrecking of the train last Wednesday was
dastardly deed. He might as well have
said that the end justified the deed,
which is the argument of anarchy.
Now, while many of the strikers, and
many of their sympathiZers would be
horitied at the idea of being looked
upon as sympathiZers with anarchy,
that is the inevetible result of the
strike method of obtaining justice.
and the fact that no great strike
ever occurs without such results
goes far toward proving that many people
do see it that way. and justify themselves
in carrying the thing itself to such an
end. The leaders of the strike may dis
claim responsibility for all lawless acts
done by individuals, but / cannot see
how they can escape the guilt when they
have set the machinery in motion which
produces the treason and murder at the
other end.
st is folly to plead the op-
preston of capital back of the strike.
The free choice of the individual
lies between, unless we accept ,he
automaton theory that man is but the
creature of circumstances, which, so far,
the world has not accepted. If we under
take to argue back from cause and effect
there is no limit and no end, nor is there
place for law in the affairs of men.
Everything can be justified in that way,
and human responsibility amounts to
zero.
''Do not understand, friends, that I am
justifying corporations In their heartlesS
methods because / denounce the method
of the strike; not at all, that is another
tion: If the kingdom of God is ever to
come among men; if justice is to be done,
it has got to come through faith in the
inherent integrity and goodness of
human nature, through the exercise of
the spirit of the Golden Rule. The king
dom of Heaven is not to be taken by
force.
1.-THE SPIRIT OF THE STRIKE,
On the other hand, is the spirit of COM
Instead
doing as one would be done by, it is doing
Just what one would not have done by
him when his own interests are at stake.
Instead of suffering injustice for time
until it can be exposed and adjusted by
the ballot the object of the strike is to
inflict penalty, TO take the law into ones
own hands, and return evil for evil.
From the standpoint of a Unitarian, be-
lieving that character is the chief thing in
life. if a man injures me l can afford to
bear the injury if he can afford to do that
sort of thing. His injury may hurt me
financially or in the estimation of the
world, but it cannot affect my character
unless l stoop to return evil for evil.
Like the boomerang his act returns upon
himself and his character is the one that
is really injured. 1t takes the world a
long time to learn and apply the law of
love.
kt"Again the strike is based on the idea
that a man has right to quit work
when not satisfied with the conditions
under which he works.
''This principle is loudly proclaimed at
the present time by both labor and capi-
tai. Labor being the capital of tne
laboring man, it is said, shall not the
owner do as he wills with his own?
Certainly, as long az it does not interfere
with another exercising the same
privilege. But, interdependent as we
are that is almost an impossibility.
IF the railroads Of this country should
suddenly suspend operations owing to
the hard times land it is a fact that many
of them are not making the interest
necessary TO keep their bonds above par
how long do you suppose it would take
the people to annul their charters. and in
the name of the people confiscate and
operate them for the people.
Now, suppose switch tender Whose
ability to tend a switch is his capital) To-
Gated at desert point grows tired of his
Job and decides that he is not doing as
well as he might, suddenly quits work
and telegraphs the company to that ef-
feet. Suppose man who could do his
work cannot be found, or cannot
reach his station for a week, how many
people are there in the world who would
justify his working or not, as it pleased
his own fancy, or his own notion of his
duty to himself?
THE RIGHT OF THATMAN
To work or not might mean the suspen-
sion of the work of hundreds. The law
may allow it, but think there is point
in morality there which the law does not
cover.
1.-The principle of the strike not only
stops the work of thousands purposely,
but refuses the right of others TO take the
places of the strikers, because it is said
M afoyf HI fla
they are fighting for principle. In the
meantime hundreds OF thousands of peo-
pie must suffer. and while suffering must
sympathize with the strike.
This reminds me Of the story of the
boy with young bulldog. In order TO
help the boy train the dog the boys father
got down on his hands and knees and
pretended to be another dog. The hoy
urged on the dog. which Immediately took
strong grip on the old gentleman's arm.
Sic him, Bull ~ cried the boy. Bear it,
father bear it it will be the making
of the pup
sIn the case of the strike the public
poses as the father: the paralysis of busi-
ness not only on the railroad but in the
country at large is asked to be borne for
the sake of the pup, which is the strike
method of getting justice in this land of
the free. The claim is to get justice-the
method is to infiict as much injury on
the pubic at large as possible, In the
hope that it will reach the party or parties
who are at fault.
.'In other words, in order to punish
John Smith, who has wronged me,
] injure Brown, Green and Jones,
my peaceful neighbors, IN order
to get in blow at Smith, who lives just
beyond them on the same street. And,
to make matters worse, injure them and
him. too. by destroying the very thing 1
fsrrbfi nd x1-hf f1ta
ing him to be forced to give me-namely.