Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-12
SALT LAKE CITY. AUG 70, 1901
THE MoMENToUs CONFLICT.

The statement made by Apostle Brig
ham Young In the Tabernacle on sun
day, that the influence Of the Latter"
day Saints was opposed to strikes ana
strife was true. Yet II may be said
that there have been members OF the
Church who associated with workmeh
engaged in strikes. II so, these
were exceptions. In the main the
mormon" people have abstained from
participating In those labor troubles,
that have done 50 much to disturb So
oiety and bring about conflicts with
capital. -
The spirit Of "Mormonlsm" is the
mirit OF peace. Yet It has disturbing
effect In some directions, 1t asserts
many truths which are not accepted by
the world at large. Because Of that,
Il acts upon many people today as did
the truths enunciated by the great
Nazarene, when He ministered on
earth about two thousand years ago.
He IL called 1.-THE Prince Of Peace"
Yet He had to declare; II come TO send
not peace on the earth, but sword.
The father will be against the son, the
mother against the daughter, and Il
mans greatest foes will be they of his
own household"
Why was thls2 Because the princi-
pies He proclaimed came in contact
with the errors Of centuries. They up
set the traditions OF the sects that were
hoary with age. They controverted the
theories of the scribes and lawyers ana
doctors Of divinity and so enraged the
chief priests and expounders Of re-
llglon that they cried out in their
wrath, Cruelty him, cruelty him"
Yet the tendency OF the teachings OF
Christ was In the direction Of peace on
earth, good will TO all men. The influ-
ence thereof was to harmonic and soft
en- mems hearts. and TO do away with
strife and contention and turmoil, and
hasten the time when weapons OF war
shall be turned into implements OF
peace, and every one shall seek the good
Of his neighbor.
The same may be said OF that which
IS now called "Mormonlsm. II Is the
same system brought anew to earth,
and II has the same present effects and
will have the same future results. Its
elimination will be the extension over
nll the earth Of the reign Of righteous
ness and peace, Then every man in
every place will meet a brother and
friend"
Coming down TO present conditions, II
u true that Latter-day Saints imbued
with the spirit Of the work to which
they are called, will refrain from en-
gaging in those combinations that are
hostile TO capital. and that are so de-
Btructive OF the interests that affect
both employers and employees Not that
II forbids proper defense OF human
rights, or that II promotes cowardly
submission to wrong, or that It causes
men 70 oringe before their fellows, how
ever wealthy or powerful. But that II
recognizes the rights OF all, seeks 20 es-
tablish justice and harmony and good
will.
That there are wrongs to be
righted which cannot be over
come without organization and a
settled and united purpose, must
be conceded by every candid and
thoughtful mind, But that labor must
OF necessity be right and capital must
certainly be wrong In every great dis.
pute that arises between them, is an
error that experience demonstrates 20
be palpable. The great difficulty In the
way OF settlement often Is, that working
people seem TO think that they are al
ways oppressed, and that capital is
their oppressor and natural enemy. to
be fought on every available occasion.
Working people have The right TO
combine for any lawful purpose. They
may determine that they win not work
more than a stated number OF hours
per day. or for less than a given
amount Of wages. But they may not
take forcible measures 10 prevent other
workmen from exercising their free
dom to accept what they themselves
refuse. Unions OF other associations
which endeavor to encroach upon the
liberties OF their fellows, are lawless
and public enemies. No Latter-day
Saint guided by the spirit Of his relg-
Ion. will DO anything 20 curtall the free
dom Of other people.
II worklngmon have the right 10 or.
ganize in their own interest. employers
have an equal right to combine Tor self
preservation and the protection OF their
property They usually have the nd
vantagcs which come from great
wealth. and can hold out longer usually
than the poorer classes. who strike for
what they believe 10 be right or think
they can achieve In a protracted
struggle, capital generally gains the
victory Therefore before any body Of
wohmen engage IN such a conflict.
their ability TO hold out as well as the
Justice Of their cause should en-
ter into their serious calculations.
The true solution nf ths prohlem
which perplexos the world. and wil.-c-
casion much SORROW and distress In fu-
ture. will be found in 'Mormonism"