The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-20

narrowing range till II disappears. Com
petition is not the life OF trade. It's value
lies simply In stimulating TO exertion.
Compared with equal energy In combi-
nation II means fearful waste and
loss. Moreover. II Ia unChristian. Com
petition is the law OF Cain; combination
Is the law OF Christ!
is ONLY PARTIAL.
Secondly. the strike indicates how
much further we have TO go in applying
the principle To the claim that combina-
ton is Christian one might object. MOI
See what loss and sufferings IL has In
yolved In this strike! Yes because the
combination is only partial. Both sides
forget that neither capital nor labor
liveth unto itself; each lives unto the
other, and both live unto the public.
mo capitalist may truly say: This Is
my business 10 manage as / pleasev IL
IL is his business because he has invested
his money IL Is equally his employees
business, because they have invested their
lives, and the public's business because
on II, just In proportion to Its Importance.
the public depends.
The remedy is not less combination.
but more. Not return 10 competition. but
advance to a combination representing all
interests. The only possible agent 10
form such a combination is the state.
This strike has been settled only when
the offcial representatives OF the people.
President Roosevelt and Governor Odell.
took the hrm stand expressed in the
latters reply TO Mr.. Baer's sneer about
politicians: Understand that l am the
governor Of New York. the chosen repre-
sentative Of 100000 people. and i will
use every power at my command to re-
lieve an intolerable situation Yet how
little power was at the command OF our
executivesl
I'VE must arm them with new laws;
that Is the lesson of the strike. Many
object to compulsory arbitration. but no
individual would be permitted to settle
his quarrel by a fight on the street We
have compulsory arbitration then. Why
should combinations OF capital and labor
be permitted to fight out their disputes?
The powerlessness of our officials is due
to our traditional distrust OF government.
We have tied its hands lest II violate in
dividual liberty.
INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY.
But today individual liberty Is In no
danger from the civil authorities. Its
sole danger is from the combinations OF
capital and labor We must increase the
powers OF government! The corruption
of politics is no valid objection to such
Increase. For all such objections mean
simply this: We are not good enough to
use government for the interests of all.
Ihen We must become good enough!
The way to purify government Is to make
las functions so important that none
will dare TO neglect his duties as a
citizen The present situation is anarchy,
lack OF government. as the word literally
means. The capitalist or laborer who
insists upon taking the law into his own
hands Is an anarchist.
Strikes and lockouts are both wrong.
There are legal remedies-the ballot
legislature. executive and judiciary. These
alone impartially represent all interests.
Exalt the law! The law is our only king
rs not this precisely Paul's meaning?
He says None liveth unto himself -
we live unto the Lord Christ is the
Lord. 1. e., the supreme authority: the
source Of all law in a Christian COM
munity The lesson OF the strike is this
We must all serve one another in love,
and so fulfill the law of Christi" 4"