The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-01-22

y
christianity. freedom HAthe final fruit
Of christian civilization" said the
orator Now. freedom In its applica-
ton 10 the institutions and lives of men
bore no more substantial or significant
result than the substitution Of free labor
for slave labor. That reform worked TO
humanity's advantage In the social and
economic conditions of the world. Free
labor has stimulated invention, 1t has
extended immeasurably the scope of its
knowledge. heightened sensibly the span
of It's existence and improved every con-
dition OF mans life. but the industrial
system based upon freedom, marvellous
as it's fruits and beneficent results have
been, contains in itself elements which
threaten its existence.
THE magnitude of this problem and
it's importance has been recognized by
the two men who stand conspicuous
among all their fellows by the length OF
their years and the illustrous character
OF their lives. A few years ago Pope
Leo XIII. in an encyclical address 10 the
bishops OF the christian world, called
attention to the pressing necessity of de-
vsing means OF equitably adjusting
conditions among all the elements Of the
Industrial system. and on last sunday
the papers contained extracts from a
letter OF Mr. Gladstone in which that
veteran statesman declared that he
viewed with little apprehension the
threats OF war which filled the press OF
the world. but that he regarded with deep
anxiety the industrial disputes which in
his opinion threatened the peace and
progress OF christian government. Now
in that we see the statesman, Mr.. Glad
stone. stating a problem with all his
habitual clearness OF expression. lie
measures a danger In the light OF lum-
inous intellect. The pontiff not only
states the danger. but suggests the
remedy in the application to this prob
lem OF that christian virtue Of charity
which has already accomplished the po-
utical regenc ration of humanity.
THAT Mr.. Gladstone does not exag-
gerate the gravity OF this problem. that
the pope has not overstated il can be
found in the experience of every civil
lzed community. These Industrial dis
putes are products not OF want or de-
generacy, but OF progress and abun-
dance. They are most hab!tual In the
cities where the conditions OF comfort
are greatest They present the most
ruzzling question that has ever con-
fronted the human race. The possibility
OF the strike has never yet been meas
ured, although Ii has been indicated by
some past experiences. We have seen IL
tie up the food supply OF a great city, we
have seen Il affect the Industry Of over
100000 900; we have seen il spread over
this country and other countries. and we
have never yet seen IL carried TO the ex-
tent that IL may be further carried by
further organizations and union for its
use I'm disputes. IL is more deadly than
any form OF civil war or than any foreign
invasion A foreign invasion may de.
stroy cities and may lay waste prop
erty. but IL has its compensations be-
cause these very disasters induce the
vanquished TO come closer together
and to share their dangers Civil war
may divide a country. II is true. into
warning districts. but within their divis-
ions men can still exercise brotherly co.
operation But the strike relaxes the
whole occupation OF men paralyzes In
dustry. arrests production.
Preachers politicians. agitators have
been declaring I'm shril but discordant
choruses that ;he rich arc growing richer
and that the poor are growing poorer:
that capital tends TO undue advantage
under the laws and is using its power 10
grind the face Of the poor: that our
financial legislation has been sold by
corrupt legislative bodies 10 the control
Of foreign money lenders. and that
revolution is impending not against tn.
political, but against the Industrial sys-
tenn. Intoxicated by these high sound
Ing and mellifuous but often meaning
less and empty phrases a number ct
Feeble s4ntclleCts have undertaken &c
amend and change the economic laws
that govern the universe. aud they have
succeeded la making themselves apostles
oi disorder and fOmeuters Ut discomfort
Mr.. Cochran discussed the statement
which o. made by some that there H.
chasm that cannot be bridged between
the Interests of the labOrer and his em
ployer and be- denied the proposition,
arguing at length % prove~ihat the in.
forests ~ employer and onirlovo are iden
ticsl and when love and charity obtain
they viii be 80 recognized. The cause -
the d!seonisnt which has cAistcd N1~