The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-02-03

moral oh,,yatlon resting upon him 10
treat the fellow-man in his employ W"
humane consideration, as somet"i"e 80
than the machine he buys TO get al.
profit possible with the least ouuas
himself, is worse than an inildei' h' 20
hypocrite.
The writer OF this Is not a proiesshs
christian. but is an a1mlrer OF ''e 49,
character and pure teachings Oh inc
founder OF Christianity. and has sincere
respect and admiration for those VINO
profess and practice the teachings OF ms
religion. and believes that all law shouiu
be modelled after and made 10 cohIoin
TO the laws OF His teaching. III christian
men cannot find some rehet oy "hiCn
labor can be saved from the cruel ext c-
tions and expressions OF the eHipioycI
the devil will find a remedy, ana IL WIZ
be a woeful one TO those who refuse 10
hear the plea of the Christly men,
The Star Is entirely right in It's estima-
ton OF the man who ignores mis- oplga-
ton TO treat his fellow-man in his employ
with humane consideration. but the star
in this very position comedies our Claims
Where human law IS made by nara ana
fast legislation to fix absolutely the re-
Iationship betw eer employer ana empIoye
there is no room for that Christian re-
lationship between them which our savior
taught. and which is the very bond OF
peace
Not only is 1t entirely impractical 10 nx
wages by law, but II It were not so, IL
would be most disastrous to every kindly
instinct and Christian principle OF the
heart.
Where human law supplents the law o.
Christ, brutality and the shertn take the
place of kindness and mutual commence
For this reason Socialists-certainly the
foreign branch of that faith-are almost
universally anti-Christian; indeed, are In
fdels. They are not willing that the
preacher shall inculcatc the doctrines OF
Christ as the remedies for social troubles
though they are the true and only per-
manent remedies-they wish the hand or
the law TO force men TO do that when
majority Of men say they should 60
II there Is in the teachings OF the Savior
anything which says that the relationship
OF employer and employe or master and
servant is 10 be fixed By the law OF the
land. We do not recall it. There IS, on the
other hand much to show that that re-
lationship was to be regulated by power
above all. "Be ye therefore mercitul, as
your Father. also, Is merciful."
But. nevertheless, the value OF wages rs
II cir market value. This SOUNDS harsn,
pnd so it is, but it is absolutely true.
when the Locomotive Works had an
abundance of orders snd work was plenty
and the workmen were receiving fun
wages, we have known mer 10 receive
from $3.50 to s. 80 day who. since the
work fell off and there was rothins tor
them to do there. have worked Tor Ill or
sl15 a day, and they considered them
selves fortunate to get the job.
What legislation could have fixed these
wages? You could not con pei mon to en-
ploy. at their old wages, these mechanics
who were. per force, adrift, ana wnere
they could lind an opening out OF their
own line they had 10 take It. hard as 1t
vas, at the prices paid other men FOR
similar service.
1t may be said that u was unchristian
in tie man who employed these skilled
mechanics at such small wages, but the
fact was it was all he could pay. lie was
poor himself, for the work he was doing
could not afford to pay more, and he nad
a close Craze 20 get out whole at that.
There IS no Inconsistency in Gods laws,
and the law of supply and demand Is
as much Gods law as that OF gravitatlon
or the law 10 his people to deal justly,
love mercy and walk humbly."