The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-07-26
ABUSES OF CAPITAL
Pastor MCGOWAN, of Grace
M. E. Church Attacks
the Rich Employers.
WORKING MASSES ARE SLAVES
Pauperism on the Increase and
Landed Glasses Are Striving
for Absolute Control.
WORKING MASSES ARE SLAVES


A large congregation in Grace M. E.
Church last night listened to a forceful
sermon preached by the Rev. Or. Nc
cowan. His subject was Capital and
Labor He said:-"Every man has the
disposing of himself and what he has.
Jesus Christ, though He was rich, yet
for u sakes became poor. A man can.
not give what he has not, but what he
has he can give, and in this he Is ac-
cepted.
This Christian law of service, taught
and exempliied by Christ. is Inc only
means tha will settle the difficulties be-
tween capital and labor. This law as
applied to the rich is that their money
is to be used to help humanity by pro-
viding means whereby others may gam
a livelihood. This principle is not
recognized in business, and men are
treated as mere machines, not as mem
not as to what they need to live, but as
to how much can be got OIL them
for the least money. This is the real
secret of the increasing antagonism be-
tween the rich and the poor.
That these difficulties must be settled
sooner or later, no one who reads the
of the times or is in touch with
public sentiment can deny. Property
rights should be respected, but back OF
this are the rights of humanity. If the
rights of humanity are not respected,
property rights will soone or later be
put in jeopardy.
In 1891 Prof. Ely estimated that over
three millions of the people of the United
States were paupers. Last year three
millions of men were seeking in vain for
a chance to work in the United States,
with its three millions of square miles Of
scarcely touched lands. The census OF
1890 revealed the fact that more than two
thirds of the families living in the cities
and one-third living in the rural districts
are already reduced to tenancy. The
homes OF o~ne-fourth the remainder are
mortgaged beyond redemption. Only l6
per cent. of the homes of our land are
held clear of debt. 1t is estimated that
during our financial depression a million
homes will have passed from their oc-
cupants to the ownership of the landed
classes. We are fast going into a state
of Industrial slavery worse than thai of
the negro.
Many ways are suggested to remedy
the existing strife etwee capital n
labor. There is the Malthusian theory of
limitation of offspring, with fewer mouths
to feed. There is the theory of 'pater-
nalism,' that the government should con-
troll and operate the railroads, coal and
oil supplies, fix by law a scale of wages
and price of the necessaries of life n
pension all who have been a certain num-
Der of years in its employ. There is the
.single-tax, plan, advocated by Henry
-. -rL;ol t. ro,,n1ad f, pn11itU md
which. if adopted. would greatly improve
though not entirely relieve existing evils
.sThere is also the cooperative plan,
in which employees are made sharers IN
profits of a concern and pensioned after
years Of service. There Is the plan OF
Some tell US, n it is true, we need
righteous laws bearing equally upon Inc
corporation and the individual. The
our infant industries, is today a trust
deal and an economic delusion. Inc
Christian law of service, becoming poor
er that others may be richer, Is the only
listing difficulties between capital and
labor that will bring abiding prosperity
to US as a nation:
until we have understood the declaration
zone is you master and all We are
brethern," and another declaration, THE
life Is more tnan meat ana The Douy tiian
raiment," will we come to understand in
one word such a declaration, DO unto
others as ye would nave others do unto
you" Not until then will we have
worked them into the fabric of our
homes, our factories, u railroads, u
mercantile transactions, u whole So
ciety; not until then shall we have a per
manent, enduring peace, become a really
divine order. Sooner or later these trou-
bles will be adjusted by law, the spirit of
the Gospel or bloody revolution!
AS it is now, the people are not in 1t,
except on election days"