The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-09-29
SCORES TIE HEAR1LEss MoNoPoLls1
1t is Not the Occupation that
Dignifles the Man.
THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF LABOR
An Active Life is an Unfailinp
Source of Gladness.

The following excellent article on
'',rhe Rights and Duties of Labor"
! was recently contributed to the New
York Journal by His Eminence, Car,
dinal Gibbons:
l say labor contributes to the pros
perity of the country, and whatever
conduces to nations welfare is most
worthy of commentator. 1t is not
the office or occupation that dignifies
the man, but it is the man that digni-
| ties the office.
Honor and shame from no condition
rise;
Act well your part-there all the
honor lies.
Cincinnatus lent dignity to agricul-
ture, by working ut the plow! Cali
gula, by an Infamous life. degraded
his crown and imperial purple.
De Tocqueville could not pay a
juster and more beautiful tribute of
praise to the genius of our country
than when he wrote in 1885, that
every honest occupation in the limited
States was honorable.
The honest, Industrious man is hon
ored among us, whether he work with
his hands or with his brains, because
he is an Indispensable factor in the
nations progress He is the bee In
the social hive; he is the benefactor
of his race. because he is always pro-
ducing something for the common
| wealth.
Our sympathies for those in our
employ. whether in the household, the
mines or the factory, are wonderfully
quickened by putting ourselves in
their place and asking ourselves how
we would wish to be treated under
similar circumstances.
We should remember that they are
our fellow-beings, that they have feel
ings like ourselves, that they are
stung by sense of injustice, repealed
by an overbearing spirit and softened
by kindness, and that it largely rests
with us whether their hearts and
homes are to be clouded with sorrow
or radiant with JOY,
Surely men do not amass wealth for
the sole pleasure of counting their
bonds, and Of contemplating their
gold in secret. No. they acquire 1t IN
the hope that it will contribute to
their rational comfort and happiness
Now, there is no enjoyment in life sc
pure and so substantial as that which
springs from the reflection that others
are made, content and happy by ou
benevolencc. And am speaking
here not of the benevolence of gratuit
GUS bounty. but of fair dealing. tenn
pcred with benignity. Considcratt
Kindness is like her sister Mercy:
1t droppcth as the gentle rain from
heaven,
Upon the place beneath; it is twice
| blcssd; .D
1t blesscth him that gives and him
that takes,
'Tis mighticst in the might}est; It be
comes ,r..e,,.s.
The throncd monarch better than his
crown.
While applauding the tender feel
ings and magnanimity of many capi
talists, am constrained in; the inter
ests Of truth, humanity and religion
to protest against the heartless con
duct Of others, whose number, for the
honor Of our country, is, hope, com
parativcly small.
No friend Of his. race can contem.
plate without painful emotions, those
heartless monopolists exhibiting q
grasping avarice which has dried up
every sentiment Of sympathy, and n
sordid selfishness which Is deaf to the
cries of distress. Their sole aim, is to
realize large dividends without re,
gard to the paramount claims of JUS.
tice and Christian charity. These
trusts and monopolies, like the car OF
Juggernaut, crush every obstacle
that stands in their way. They en-
deavor, not always, It is alleged, with
out success, to corrupt our nati0na
and state legislatures and municipal
cousr Ills. They are SO intolerant OF
honest rivalry as to use unlawful