The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-25


On Sunday last Father Ducey preached
a sermon in New York. in which he plead
ed for the Church to lead in the emanci-
patton Of the people from the present so
cial and economic slavery And this was
his statement Of the case:
"The present condition of the poor in
the United States cannot 90 ON.
Congress must make laws TO protect the
peoples right and TO abrogate the laws
which have been passed by bribery in the
interest of fraud. Wrong, inJus-
tice and oppression cannot prevail against
the laws of God and the rights of human
ity. . The problem before the world
to-day IS the relief of man from unjust
burdens heaped upon the great mass Of
the people by the concentrated power Of
wrong, the combinations of ill-gotten
wealth and unjust privileged legislation in
favor Of a class against the God-given
rights of the great masses
The New York Journal, remarking that
this sermon was considered "sensa-
tional," expresses great surprise at that
fact. "He spoke truths" says that paper
"IIe outlined conditions which every one
then it adds Of what the priest said:
The picture is as true as it is graphic
Political liberty and religious liberty our
forefathers won for us. shall we not
win our economic liberty and shall 1t not
lie won with the aid Of those who by
education. conscience ana honor are best
fitted to win it nonorably and peacefully?
In what does "the present social and
economic slavery of the people consist?
What are the evidences Of it? Is not
every man free TO sell his labor for what
will, be paid for it. and is not every other
man free to buy il If he has need for it?
In what respect can the people have more
"social and economic" freedom? 1 is true
all men who have Accommodations of pro-
perty could surrender that property for
equal division amongst the whole OF 4 an
kind. or, indeed, it might be taken from
them and divided out by the superior
physical power of those who have little
or none. We don't SEQ how it would add
to the social and economic freedom
Of the people to do this, since they are
already absolutely free SOCIALLY and
economically." It might increase their
power Of enjoyment, however, and the
Journal no doubt. thinks that would be
an increase Of social and economic free
dom. We can imagine nothing else that
II has in mind
Now If the Journal is really sincere
in its sermons that the present wealth Of
some is our injury to all the rest. why
does It not lead of with an offer to sur
render all It has for the common pool?
The Journal flies at its head the an
Iiouncement that it is owned by w. r.
Hearst. and he is the son Of the late
Senator Hearst, Of California, who was
credited at his death with many millions.
whoever has watched the career Of the
Journal knows that its owner has spent
vast sums in developing it to its present
state. and it is. no doubt. worth to-day
a large sum of money if converted into
cash? why does not Mr. Hearst offer
to contribute his share in his fathers
prlncely estate and the value Of the jour
nal also 10 that common fund which IS
necessary for the social and economic
freedom 10 which the people arc en-
titled? He does not do It because he
knows there is neither reason nor justice
in the demand that IL should be done. and
the Journal is, in our opinion, playing
hypocrtical part for a purpose in preach
ing the sophistical doctrines it puts out.
The parties interested in circulating the
works Of Henry George are now sending
broadcast over the country leaflet which
contains what purports to be an extract
from the first edition of Herbert Spencer's
Social States though 1t is represented
20 have been omitted from the later edi-
tions. In Il Mr.. Spencer contended that
no man was entitled to property in land,
because. II the principle were admitted.
the whole face Of the globe might come
| 10 be owned by certain part of the
human race, who would then have the