The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-12-12

worn out and unable to perform the mental work
prescribed for him. he was disposed of like any use
less implement of labor. "A wise husbandman,"
said Cato the Roman censor, 'must get rid OF all
implements no longer in use-worn-out ploughs, old
horses, aged slaves" They we're treated as mere
chattels with no legal protection. A slave had no
right. His destiny was to work. The difference
between him and other implements of labor IS
summed up in these words by pagan writer:
"I'here is, however, difference: Oxen below
slaves speak and the plough is silent" When they
became too numerous. so that there not suf-
ficent demand for the supply, was the case
during the reign of the third emperor of Rome
Caligula-by his order, they were given as food to
the animals which reserved for the clrcuSes
This cruel order was to expense to the en-
pire All this, through the influence of the eX-
ample and teaching of Jesus, has long since been
CHANGED.
Nor was slavery the greatest evil of pagan rule.
To please the nobles and amuse the rich and pow
erfll human lives were sacrificed IN the various
games of the circus Their theatrical amusements
meant deadly combats for the gladiators, or to go
into the arena 10 be devoured by wild beasts. View
ing the change brought about under the light of
DoA4S'
thoughtful minds cannot fail to perceive that the
cause of this great change belongs to higher
order than the natural order. Human nature. NOV
ing in the plane of the natural order, is about the
same in all men and at all times. Intelligence, dl-
vorced from all moral restraint, does not effect a
change of the heart On the contrary when backed
by power and opulence, its tendency is to harden
the heart against the woes of humanity and take
advantage of its weakness weld more tightly the
chains of slavery and despotism. Realizing that a
change has taken place. and seeking Tor Its cause,
there can be but verdict, namely, 1t was due
to the influence OF Christian teaching. The lntiu-
ence of Christian civilization. whilst its teaching
is practically ignored still hovers the human
heart and sways mems thoughts and actions. So
it is no longer possible to recede descend into
the depth of the abyss of degradation from which
Jesus elevated humanity Liberty and equality are
the inheritance Of Christian civilization, whilst in
telligence and progress are the rights of freemen,
be they workmcn master workmen. Manual la
Dor. which the old pagans regarded with contempt,
has, since the dawn of Christianity, assumed new
dignity Aristotle taught that labor and freedom
were incompatible, whilst the Greeks thought work
men unworthy of the name of citizen. Terence the
Roman comic poet and ex-slave, wrote, that "to be
respected one must lead an idle life, and not be
obliged to work for livelihood" The birth of
Christianity introduced order. 1t brought all
back to creation. when the Father of all decreed
that AL men were 10 earn their bread by the sweat
of their brow. What pagan teaching condemned
and despised was elevated and glorifed. The poor
were blessed Today. through the evolutions
brought about by the little mustard seed planted
twenty centuries ago. and the intelligence of the
age. in which the representatives Of labor share,
new problems regarding the relations between cap
ital and labor are coming up every year. Demands
which would be considered semi-revoutonary a
quarter of a century ago, are discussed and tested.
WHY Because the individual who feels that he
has a grievance no longer crouches and piteously
Graves redress, but, being member of corporate
body his cause i pleaded by that body, which feels
his wounds This gives independence and redress
if the cause be Just. The cause of this independ-
ence must be attributed to him. who, III age when
men were ruled by fear and the masses of the peo-
pie were slaves fearlessly declared that all
we're equal and that oppression was one of the
great evils Of society. There is effect without
a cause, and tracing the present changes in mems
thoughts and the changed condition of the aborer
and mechanic. back to its fountain head, we come
TO Jesus who laid the foundation for real progress
and from which the present improved condition of
the human race has been developed.