Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1897-12-18
Daily Capital journal.
sv HosHE HEorHEEs.



Tacoma News: Rev. Mr.. Bliss. an
Eplscopallan clergyman, delivered q
lecture 10 this city IN Monday Digbt
in the interest Of socialism. He spoke
at the parish house, presumably un-
der church auspices. He described
cooperation a. the higher law OF
progress. His theory is thus stated:
@Tjoder socialism there would he a
ci1ance for all. Democratic socialism
where the people are the government
aud work and manage for themselves,
would develop character. Nay, u
would be the very open sesame oi
character. Each man would then
bsye 10 work BY simply doing Few
.;a;f.s of honest work each DAY Tor
few years Of his life. each man choos
ing his own kind Of work. (tbe more
disagreeabIe kinds OF work being IA
yOYed by less hours being demanded in
them. 50 that men would be found 70
choose even them,) every man would
be sure Of an honest competence"
These are the words Of dreamer.
Their utterance, however, will do no
more harm than 10 encourage the
dissatisfaction Of the class whose
quarrel Is with work Of any sort. IL
the fact that a churchman occasion
ally calls attention 10 the seventies
OF life should awaken conscience 10
the breast Of one Of the INSCRIPTIONS
corrnpters OF politics and dcbauchers
OF voters and legislators, Mr. Bliss
deliyerances will be Of service. I
Rev. Thomas Ducey, a Catholic
priest OF New York, has been deliver
ing series OF vehement discOurses on
social conditions. lie, 100, defends
socialism. He declares: "The present
social, economic and religious con
dlilons Of the world are all wrong.
and exist in criminal contradiction
10 the teachings Of Jesus Christ" +"
ra.ti.4rs "Onf present disordered
social sstem, so unjust and wron g,
must be wiped out, and the justice OF
heaven must control society in the
interest Of the happiness Of all men,"
This Is rbapsodical. Still, IL shows
that here and there cburchman secs
the injustice OF much Of the existing
system and cries out, even in an in
coherent way, against IT,.
The statements Of Father Ducey
were shown 10 Papal Delegate Mar
tiDelli, who said there was nothing 10
them chat the Catholic church would
condemn. He thus explained the at
titude OF that organization:
"The churrh recognizes the right Of
property. Every man Is entitled 70
the right 10 make his own living.
The more talented man will acquire
more than his less fortunate fellJw,
but he cannot carry that right OF ac-
qnlsitiOn 90 the extent Of depriying
his poor neighbOr Of the right 70
make a living. He cannot compel
him ~ be dishonest. Charity and
justice must dictate laws That viii
regulate this condition. i believe
that the present question Is as much
anetbical one as anything else. a
proper remedy OF the present evils can
only be brought aboLt through the
state. Let me Illustrate. During the
recent great strike Of coal miners 10
Pennsylvania was told that certain
employers compelled their work.
men % deal at their stores and live
IN houses rented from the compan-
les. such condition Is wrong and
the state authnrlties are charged With
the duty Of remedying 10 No man
should be allowed such pOYer over his
empioyes The state Should regulate
these lGings N Is the duty Of the
state don't think II would be pos.
slble in Europe ~ 50 deprive man
OF the rieht ~ dispcsiBg OF his earn
lngs. But this " matter 0f COM
mon Justice rather than Of religion,
and The good sense Of the community
win finally regulate IT,"
The church sees that socialism Is
making headway 10 various lands ow-
ing 10 the corrupliye and oppressive
tendencies Of aristeeraey and wealth
Widespread education II creating gen.
eral dissatisfaction with the Old con
dition Of thnlldOm OF ore Ort or
another under which men at one time
were humLly paiieut The church
therefore seeks Ia lead The sDclalistlc
mOyeAcnt u Is probably hopeless
task. Tie church Itself would have
10 return 70 the primitive conditions
ti0ns before the sOciallstic laymen
would recognize the full sincerity Of
It's pretensions. Jesus and his apos-
ties we're doubtless socialists IN senes
and as 70 their personal possessions
and conditions they were much like
tramps. That which they preached
they strictly practiced. They wore
neither tlaras nor surpllces nor Whit
ch0kers nor plug hats, and they die
NOT preach 10 calbedrals, churches o.
parish houses for comfortable salaries
The Chustian church Of today Is the
orelIcally the church they begani bul
wsisic u has done much for hu
manity, II il not and win not be 10
condition 20 svc,esstully lead social
lana.
what Is needed ~ renledy the evil
Of society Is general awakening 4
the necessity Of hhfOrelng the com
mand: "ThopShalt Rol Steal, ''elthe
directly or lndlfectiy. ~ tllat wer'
dooe, all would spou 20 sell
1920
CHANGE or nopNphRY There 4
an effort on foot ~ clnnee tbe n0rtl
boundary line 0f Prospect preclnc
from AeQlum Avenue 10 State street