The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-09
AGITATORS DO IT.
Rev. Mr. BlakesIey Delivers a Sermon
the 81 rike-

Rev. Mr.. BlakesIey Delivers a Sermon
the strike.
At the First Congregational church
Sunday morning Rev. DR.. Blakesley
preached about the present Industrial
crisis He took the ground that Instead
Of agitators creating strife and bitterness
between the workman and his employer,
both labor and capital should be taught
the duality of their Interests and the gos-
pei Of fair treatment on the part of both.
DIR. Blakesley took bis text from Acts
xxvii:22, s'and now 1 extort you to be of
good cheer the words of Paul on his
stormy passage from Alexandria to Rome
when the dangers of the storm were
doubled by the rioting Of the crew. In the
course Of his sermon DR.. Blakesley said:
MANY Of us are familiar with the
career of AeOlus Of mythology. His home
Was by the blue waves and there he sat
in q cave with all the winds and storms
shut up in a bag and intrusted to his
keeping. Whenever he willed he poured
them forth with greater or less violence,
sometimes sweeping the seas with de-
EtructiOn.
"Eis successor in these days appears to
have materialized in flesh and blood. He
is no longer al imaginary parsonage.
He holds the stormy winds in supreme
control at his headquarters by Lake
Michigan. He Yields them at his pleas
ure. They are nothing but harmless
wind but IN their concentrated form they
are terribly dangerous. And as long as
political demagogues and agltatOrs are
abroad in the land the supply which they
furnish him is likely to be inexhaustible.
Just now he is pouring them forth in
horrible tempest upon the country. Prop
erty is wrecked, material interests are
damaged, violence is rife, and law and
order and all the safeguards Of society
are trampled under foot Men are be-
coming wearied of riot and devastation.
They cannot see the wisdom of his mai
cfr II 1rnr Fttfr hi,
winds and bringing disaster TO the few
industries that remain 10 US, and adding
hunger and des pair to the sum Of woe
and poverty that already prevailed. May
not the message Of Paul be a timely one
this morning, Be of good cheer Omi-
nous though the clouds seem, the storm
is not going to last forever Clear skies
and smooth seas are awaiting US in the
not distant future. This country is not
going to be laid waste by the hand of
rIOt and anarchy.
"a so-called sympathetic strike shows
that 1t has no sympathy for anybody. No
sympathy for the rights of employers:
no sympathy for the multitudes Of inno- |
cent men, women and children who are |
impoverished by its acts: no sympathy
for the public welfare. The Issue is no /
longer between labor and capital. be- /
tween employees and employers. but be-
tween anarchy and the authority of the /
law. The power which throttled
mighty reDelllOn IN arms Will be able to
cope with the outburst, though wide in
extent
May we not believe after this mad
conflict the thought Of sober and reason
bic men will be directed toward the
duties which capital owes to labor,
and labor owes to capital? Let
emphasis be laid hereafter upon the fact
that capital owes to labor just compensa-
ton, generosity, consideration, recogni-
ton of manhood And that labor owes
Is it not time TO preach unity of interests
instead of discussions and strife? If the
mouths of professional agitators could be
closed, men who make their living out
Of these troubles, believe there could
be speedily brought about q reconcilia-
ton that would be permanent, and an
arrangement whereby a repetition Of the
events of the past week would be rem
dered impossible
"A majority of laboring men, and most
OF ua belong TO that class, if let alone,
only ask for a fair chance, a just com
pensation- This being SO what is to him
der the coming in Of era of peace and
good will, when differences shall be ad-
listed not by strikes but by arbitration;
when duties shall have as much stress
laid upon them as rig hts; when mischief
makers and damagogues shall be per-
retired?r
In conclusion Or. BIakesIey said that
Christians should be peacemakers and (
not croakers Ia this fight; prompt to re- i
leve the innocent victims of the strike,
and ready if Iced be to give personal ,
aid IN the suppression Of laWlessness.