The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-07-25
ARCHBISHOP IRELAND ON THE
STRIKE,

Archbishop Ireland, of st. Paul, being
asked what he had TO say upon the rail
way strike, spoke as follows
al dislike to speak OF the Chicago
strikes, because in doing so l shall blame
labor, while because of my deep sympa-
thy with il should wish to have never
but words OF praise for it. Yet 10 mo-
mentous social crisis, such as the ones
through which we are passing. II is duty
to speak aloud aud to make avowal OF the
truths and principles which will save So
ciety and uphold justice.
"The fatal mistake which has been
made In connection with this strike is
that property has been destroyed, the
liberty OF citizens interfered with,
endangered, social order menaced, aud the
institutions and freedom of the country
| put 10 most eerieae jeopardy. Tho mo
ment such things happen all possible
questions as to the rights aud grievances
of labor must be dropped out of sight
and all efforts of law abiding citizens aud
OF public officials made 10 serve 10 main
tainng public order and guarding at all
costs the public veal. Labor must learn
that however sacred its rights be, there Is
something above them and absolutely gu
preme--soclal order.
"Tbere is no civil crime as hideous and
as pregnant OF evil results as resistance to
law and the Constitutional authorities OF
tho country. This lie revolution; It be-
gets chaos it is anarchy; 1t disrupts the
whole social fabric, which insures life
and safety to the poor as well as to the
rich, to the employee as well as to the
employer.
.tThere can be no hesitation TO bring In
the help OF the powers OF society when
property is menace1. Oaly sayiges or
men who for the time being are turned
into savages, will burn or distroy proper
iy, whether 1t be the factory OF the rich
man or the poor man'a cottage; railroad
car or national building. More criminal
and more inexcusable yet Is the act of
numbering human beings or OF endanger-
ing their lives.
Labor, too, must learn the lesson that
the liberty OF the citizen lie to be respected.
One man has the right to cease from work,
but he has no right TO drive another man
from work. He who respects not the
liberty OF others shows himself unworthy
his own liberty and incapable OF ctl-
zenship 10 q free country. Never can
riots and mob rule and lawless depreda-
lion be tolerated. Tue country that per-
mits them signs its death warrant.
"I7iots and mob rule, such as have oc-
Cured in Chicago, do immense harm to
the cause OF labor and sets back its ad-
vance for who'd decades OF years. Labor
thereby loses the earnest sympathy OF
thousands OF friends and gives courage
a ii. A. (.
the principle OF popular government suf-
fers. II is no wonder that reading OF the
occurrences 10 America, Europeans an
noHnce that the republic is failure and
that strong monarchy only can hold socie
ty together. Nowhere on earth has the
poor man liberty, civil, social and indus
trial, as that which he enjoys in America.
Is this liberty tn he used in tearing down
the public which besses and protects
them2
~ am far from saying that labor has
not had It's grievances In America nor
that re lress must not be sought. / would
not respect the laborer who seeks not TO
enjoy all his rights and to improve his
condition. But all this must be done
within the lines OF social order and law.
The remedy for these ills is a healthy
public opinion and fair public legislation
and all legitimate efforts Ia these direc-
tions, whether by single act or united
force, are laudabe. Labor has made
great progress In the recent past; II must
not be too hasiy. Time and patience are
requisites TO final su cess.
'.As to strikes, l repeat the words OF u
labor leader, Mr.. T. v. Powderly, they
are nearly always failures aud should
scarcely ever be resorted to, even when
most securely guarded from wrong dong.
, The workman, even when he apparently
gains his purpose, finds on computation
that he has suffered severe financial lose
and has weakened bis chances for future
employment. Besides, strikes affect the
great public of America as well as the
employer, and workmen should consider
the rights OF this pubic whose moral sup
port. moreover, the c suse OF labor sorely
, needs.
"For my own part, believe u Q large
number OF men who join the strikes are
more to be pitied than TO he blamed
They are led on by irresponsible and ~
, ranuous chiefs. Labor unions have grea
value, but one marked evil In them Il
that they will put the liberties OF tens o
thousands 10 the hands Of one nal
"The solution to the difference between
| capital aud labor 10 necessarily complex
and no one precise formula has been, o
can be found. A generous sense OF jus
tice toward all, deep love OF ones fel