The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-07
CAPITAL AND LABOR.
REV. w. A. INSECT ON THE PENDING
SOCIOLOGICAL PROBLEM.

of Those Particularly Interested
! Were in Attendance-Compro
and Mutual Concessions Make Up
the Plan of His Solution of the
Question-The Interdependence of
Those Who Are Now Fighting
Each Other-The Problem From
the Standpoint of the Public-"Bear
Ye One Another's Burdens"
Rev. w. A. Nisbet preached at the
Lawton Memorial last night on 1.-THE
Strife Between Capital aud Labor and It's
Solution" The sermon was listened to by
a large congregation, which gave 1t the
closest attention.
| Rev. Mr.. Nisbet's remarks were inspired
by the strike now in progress in Savannah
and by the dissensions that are keeping
capital and labor apart Ii was sermon
! of moderation and mutual concessions
and, it would seem, ought to produce
good effect on the pending situation. Mr..
Nisbet's text was taken from Galatians
| 81: Bear we one another's burdens and
so fulfill the law of Christ" He said:
There are three special reasons which
| have influence me to speak on this SUBJ
ject this evening.
Because I am not a partisan in any
sense in the subject which Z have select
ed for consideration. If I were prejudiced
for, or against any of the parties 20 this
| discussion that fact would incapacitate
me for speaking upon 1t; so, however,
short in other directions may fall, feel
that can conscientiously assure you that
my hearts desire and prayer is that the
richest of earth's and heavens blessings
may be showered into each of your lives.
But my second reason is, feel per-
sonal interest in each of you, regardless
| of whatever different views may divide
you. Eighteen years of my life were spent
| on the farm-the next four years behind
the counter. 1 have tasted therefore, of
the labors that tire the muscle, draw the
| sweat from the face, and try mems souls.
l have been in the position of the EN-
ployer also; claim, therefore, that can
not be partisan, but that l have the kind
| Hest feeling and a tender sympathy for
all classes and conditions of mankind.
MY third reason is that the question
has Bible and spiritual side to 1t, and
If this were not true l do not think /
| should venture upon its discussion from
my pulpit. have no censure OF sugges-
ton for others who deem it proper to
| speak upon political issues from their
pulpits. l allow them to do as / claim the
! right myself to do-decide that question
for themselves. But, l do not look upon
! this question as a Political one, but rath-
er domestic and spiritual, for 1t involves
the peace, comfort, and we'll being of your
homes and Of your souls; so, l believe,
that in speaking upon this subject am
not straying from my proper path.
Now, after the preceding remarks
think 1 need hardly affirm that shall
| speak as a friend to all parties who are
concerned in this thoroughly live question
| But while 1 speak as a friend, l shall
speak candidly, and what believe to be
| the truth. Remember what Solomon says
Faithful are the wounds of friend"
But that we may come impartially and
| fairly to this subject, let us recognize the
fact that 1t has more than one side. If
there were but one side to the subject
there would be little use in discussing It,
for that one side would triumph so quick
ly that there would be neither time nor
place for agitation. Then we are in this,
as in other things, to look every man
not only upon his own things, but also
| upon the things of another. Let us now
| briefly notice the parties and some of
their claims and difficulties who find
themselves confronted with this intricate
question.
The employe is one of the most import
ant factors of the situation Without
him the wheels of activity and progress
| practically cease. We must not overlook
the fact that the whole machinery of in
dustrial life is moved by the muscle or
| brain of the laboring man, and when this
hand and brain are withdrawn the whole
body, the industrial, the commercial, the
social and spiritual must suffer. We are
| not TO forget that the laboring man has
his anxieties and his ambitions, and all
nonor 10 the man, it matters not what
| sphere in life he moves, whose heart
beats in anxious throb for the well being
| of those whom Providence has made him
| responsible for; and all honor to the man.
1t matters not how humble are his walks
of life, who aspires with noble and hon
est ambition 20 lift himself and loved
| ones to the highest possible position in
home comforts; also to the highest plane,
socially, educationally and spiritually
| Such ennobling ambitions have brought
| from the humblest walks of life many
rough diamonds, which, when polished,
have become like morning stars In infiu-
| ence and blessing, and their lights have
gone out through all the earth. Then,
| in all your struggles for promotion, let
| your motto be truth, honesty upright
ness upward and onward for the glory Of
| God and the salvation and ameiioration
of man, and thus you will fulfill the law
| of Christ and bear one another's burdens
sides than one to this subject. Natural
| ly, We turn from the employee to the en-
| ployer, and let me say in this connection
that many of these men have once tried
the employees place, and are, therefore,
in a position to sympathize most definite
| ly with those whose obligations, anxieties
| and ambitions they have felt The en-
ployer's position is not always that of
the fowery bed of case. He often rolls
| upon his pillow only to get off of one
thorn and drop onto another. To ex-
press 1t differently, he is frequently be-
tween two fires. If he remains an en-
| ployer, he must get contracts He also
has a family to feed and educate. In
figuring on his contract he must figure a
margin but he must figure to the closest
| possible cent for others are figuring on
the same contract, and II somebody comes
SO below him on a $4,000 or $40, 900 con-
tract he loses, and with it loses all the
time and work making his estimates.
| When he gets one contract il may be
months before he gets another, so he must
save something above expenses, else he