The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1902-11-29
BISHOP SPALDING
ON SOCIALISM
continued from Page IL

-o5. that what constitutes the nro-
W ,,alue Of individuals and of nations
sniritual and not material: that
ll,ore is eternal wrath in store for all
,bo trample upon moral and intellec-
.,,ai good that they may add to their
S.ossessions. These truths are accepted
r. the public opinion of the civilized
I'D and hence there is a general
,.,,,pathv with laborers in their efforts
- obtain Justice and to improve their
,D5ifion All-who observe and reflect
,.ocorlfZe the fact that their lot is
ir5 that they bear an undue share of
ne burdens of life, that they are often
sorred to do work which is destructive
or health and happiness, and that they
are exposed to greater Vicissitudes of
fortune than others.
An this. however, would accomplish
u.tIe for their improvement if they
themselves remained Indifferent, if they
Aid not organize, if they did not dis
russ and come to a fuller conscious
moss OF their grievances, if they did
nat by strikes and other lawful menas
make strenuous efforts to increase
their wages or to prevent them from
falling. if they did not agitate for few
or hours of work, or whatever else
may give them leisure and opportunity
IN cultivate their spiritual natures and
finn. 40 make themselves apable of en-
loving life in a rational and Christian
way. Economic laws, which are inn
mutable. make it impossible that
WAGES should rise beyond a given
noirt. or that wealth should be so dis
trfhuted as to make all men rich The
multitude are poor and can never be
rich. Tt is indeed fortunate that it is
imp0ssible that the masses of mankind
should ever be able to lead an idle
and luxurious life. 1t is a law of hui
man nature that man shall work and
abstain If it is to be we'll with him:
that to do nothing and enjoy much is
impossible. Political economy, like
government, rests on a basis of NOR
alitv Moral character alone can give
man self-respect, courage, hope,
cheerfulness and power of endurance.
Hence the laborers, and all who identi-
fv themselves with their cause. should
have a care first of all that they be
true men-prOvident, self-restrained,
kindly. sober frugal and helpful: and
that this may be possible, also relig-
ious. The foe of labor is not capital
but ignorance and vice. In the whole
English-speaking world, at least, it's
worst enemy is drink. More than a
combination of employers, the saloon
has power to impOverish and degrade
workingmen. In their own ranks the
traitors are those who preach ire
ligion and anarchy. The influence of
Christianity has been and is the chief
power which has brought the world to
recognize the rights of the enslaved,
the poor. the weak, of all who are
heavy-laden and over burdened. 1t
aroused and it alone can sustain en-
thusiasm for humanity. If this faith
could die out, what would remain but
the law of the survival of the fittest,
that is. of the strongest, the most I'M
scrupulous, the most reckless of the
sufferings and sorrows of their fell
low men? ? These are the men who
prosper among savages, in barbarous
states, and in periods of anarchy.
But il is not conceivable that the
civilized world should turn from the
principles which Christ proclaimed,
whose development and diffusion must
i'm the end substitute for universal
competition-the war of all upon all
the cooperation Of all with all, not
merely or chiefly for the winning of
the bread that nourishes the body but
above all for tho spread of the higher.
life of truth and love, of purity and
goodness. In America, assuredly, we
have good reason to take a hopeful
view Of the future. No foreign power
can offer hindrance to our progress in
the fulfIlment of our Cod given rights,
which are not only to secure equal
rights. liberties, and opportunities to
all the people, but so to educate and
inspire all the inhabitants of this great
continent that they nay all work to-
gether to shape here a nobler man
hood and womanhood than the world
has ever seen