The independent., 1903-04-30

him afraid. In word, that beyond
having home of his own, and op-
portunities for his family, and fuel
and clothes and food sufficient for
them, man should have a bank ac-
count, so that a temporary sickness
would not throw him into debt, and
so that the thought of old age or loss
of employment would not hang over
him like pail
This was Isaiah's notion of liv-
ing wage. In words that have rung
with hope through all the centuries,
Isaiah has proclaimed the day OF la
bor's emancipation, and of the work
ers in that day he has declared:
They shall build houses and in
habit them; they shall plant vine
yards and eat the fruit of them. They
shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat.
they shall not labor in vain, nor
bring forth for trouble
Eve maintain that there is some
thing radically wrong with our So
cial order, If it is not possible for ev-
cry able-bodied man, who is in his
right mind, and who is sober and
faithful, to command for his labor a
living wage, such as we have de-
scribed. If a man cannot work he
ought to be fed. To those who are
MANNED in body or feeble in mind.
society ought in all charity, nay, as
matter of justice, to secure a whole
Sole living To those who will not
work, if there be such, society owes
nothing. Moreover, if a man is neg
ligent, or indolent or Incorporate, it
is right that society should let him
reap the fruite of his own folly. There
is no better way for him to learn.
But If man is normal in mind and
body, and if he is willing to work, II
he is sober and provident, and If he
is unable to get for his labor living
wage, then we have right to con-
clude that the fault is with society
and not with him, and then it be-
comes our duty to inquire, What have
we done to keep this man from get
ting living wage, or what may we do
to make it possible for him to live
as every American citizen ought to
liver
There are literally millions of Nor
in these United States who, by the
laws and institutions of our society,
are deprived of living wage. Their
lives are nade miserable by want or
fear of want. They can never hope
to own the roof over their heads.
They are obliged to take take their
children out of school and put them
in the factory. Their earnings, COM
bincd with the earnings of their chill
dren. do not permit them to have
fresh air, and wholesome surround
ings, nor even enough food and cloth
ing for the comfort of those they love.
Thy are exposed, by their poverty, to
nnatural temptations Their condi-
ti':ns almost inevitably lead to low
tone of moral life, from which many
sink into vice and crime.
'Can we hold God responsible for
these things? Is nature at fault?
Men were once deceived by that
kind of defense, but we know better
now. The fault lies with society. A
better society is possible. If men are
not able to earn living wage it is
because human laws interfere with
them. Realizing this, how can we es-
cape our duty to study the science of
political economy and learn how to
make men free? Shall we plead with
Cain that We are not our brothers
keeper? Can we expect the good God
to answer our prayer for blessings
when. we are not willing to hear our
brothers prayer for justice?"
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