The herald., 1897-10-04
ST. JOHNS EPISCOPAL
The Rector Considers the Problem of
Labor and Capital

Johns, preached last evening from the
parable of the laborers in the vineyard:
"Didst thou not agree with me for
penny?" St. Matthew XX13. Were this
parable studied more, said the preacher,
it would go far towards settling the
great question of labor versus capital.
This parable lays down the principle
that wages is a matter of contract be-
tween employer and employe, and its
equity is based upon the agreement
made between the two parties. A man
possesses the inviolable right and hu-
man liberty of rejecting an offer of
wages; but after he has accepted it, it is
dishonest and immoral to demand as
right more than the contract price.
1t is equally dishonest and immoral to
leave the work undone when he has un-
dertaken for a certain remuneration to
do it Conversely, no employer has
any moral right to discharge an en-
pIoye until his contracted term expires,
unless he is not giving satisfaction in his
work
There is no doubt that the rights of
labor are tangible, we'll defined
rights, but it is we'll sometimes to call
attention to other rights, viz: the
are twin giants, born of the lawful weG-
lock between energy and enterprise.
The man who works with his hands is
not the only laborer. The scientist un-
raveling the secrets of nature is a labor
ing man. The physician, out among his
patients at all hours of the night, is pre-
eminently the laboring man of the CEN
tury. The clergyman is a laboring man,
,,o1
hour than the skilled mechanic. The
clerk, who has to stand behind the coun-
ter from ten to twelve hours a day, is a
laboring man. Every one who is not an
idle Ioiterer on life's wayside, like the
spendthrift son of the millionaire or the
lazy tramp who shuns the woodward, is
a laboring man. And to every one of
these laboring men there lies the broad
opportunity of reaching up to greater en-
deavor and greater success.
Industry, thrift and perseverance will
crown with success any sphere of work
and labor, and it is an idle cry that cap
ital and labor represent antagonistic
classes. They are only antagonistic
when they have been made mutually dis
trustful of each other, and the distrust
is caused not by the real laboring men
themselves, but by the loud mouthed
demagogue whose sole occupation is the
development of those flexible muscles
which lie at the roots Of their organs of
volubility.
It is true that there are rich men who,
in the enjoyment of their riches, pay lit
tie heed to the cries of the poor and who
oppress the hireling in his wages. We
recognize this and denounce it because
it is in violation of the principles Of
Christianity. But is that any reason
why they should be threatened with the
confiscation or destruction of their
property? Is it not their own? Have
they not right to do as they will with
their own? However much we may ad-
vocate and preach philanthropy
and Christian generosity, we have
no right to compel a man to give
cent for purposes which are matters
for his own judgment and discretion to
determine.
That principle holds good with regard
to his employment of la Dor. No one has
the right to dictate to an employer as
to whom he should employ or discharge.
He pays the wages and he has the right
to select his men. He cannot compel
any one to agree to his terms, but he
has the right to specify them. He as
sumes all the risk of loss. 1t is his cap
ital which is invested and involved.
In these days when the laboring man
is 50 rich in the sympathes of the public
let US remember the poor capitalist.
Many of them are the worlds philan-
thropists. The principles which our Sa-
vior enunciated in this parable are prin-
ciples for all time, and are not meant to
be superseded by novel and untried codes
of socialistic propaganda. When the
employer of labor or the publisher of
newspaper, or the proprietor of a busi-
ness is dictated to by outsiders it is
piece of arrogant and impertinent pre-
sumption. 1t is foreign to the spirit and
genius Of American liberty. 1t is for
eign to the teachings of Jesus Christ.