The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-26
Better Than We Were.

i Mf.t CdTioH y: Wrlgnt, UnlteQ STATES
commissioner OF labor statistics, made 5arri
address before. the National Unitarian
Conference at Atlantic City this week,
in which he declared his dissent from
those who hold that there is a 4decadence'
of the religious spirit, taking the country;
as a whole. He contended that the public
conscience is to-day more sensitive, more
active than at any time in the history
of mankind. He found evidence Of this
in various relations of life. aa- ~ ~:
Mr.. Wright is perhaps the most en-
lightened student of the labor problem in
this country. It Is his speciality, and he
testifes that the principles ! of labor
unionism, while not always affectuated in
their action, embody the spirit Of concil-t
iatory consideration-the recognition of
the right of agreement so that the details
relating to employment may be fixed
by contract the recognition of the
fact that a contract Is a sacred obliga-.'
ton and its fulfil1ment is to be accom-
pHshed as a manifestation of the ethics
OF industry. While the labor situation
involves many difficulties, hesbelieves that
this principle is pervasive and that the
outlook is hopeful.
Arbitration, however, is serving broad
er and wider purpose than mere adjust
ment Of labor troubles. The growth of
the religious spirit has brought it into
operation in the settlement of internation-
al affairs and has evidenced the fact that
the public conscience has been stimulated
from some source, both to a recognition Of
international rights and duties and obfi-
cations, and a reasonable and Christian
method of settling them. That source, he
contends, is the religious spirit which be-
longs to our times.
"A remarkable indication of the presence
of the religious spirit in world affairs is
afforded by the introduction Of plain
speaking and truth telling in diplomatic
intercourse. It has ceased, to be. a mark
Of supremacy in international negotiations
which is essentially false, and to conceal
by systematic deception the real intents Of
a. governmental policy. In this our mar
tyred president, Mckinley, a man Of deep
ly religious sense and feeling, took the
lead, and SO Influenced American diplo-
macy, that, tho sometimes spoken Of as Of
the shirt sleeve" variety, it commands
the respect Of the world and dominates in
it's councils.
A common Illustration of the rise of the
religious spirit is afforded by the kindly
liberation, and even cooperation, among
religious denominations not long since at
war, and not only is this seen in their
relation toward each other, but in their
Judgment and consideration of men. En-
erson Is no longer utterly condemned by
all who failed to sympa thize fully with
his system Of philosophy. and Charming
has come to be recognized in the same
quarter as a, messenger with "a divine
ss
But Mr.. Wright did not pass over per-
haps the most striking, as well as the
most recent illustration Of the PROPOSE
ton for which he contends, namely, the
attitude Of the Protestant world toward
the late illustrious head of the Roman
church It is certainly significant in the
highest degree of the prevalence Of the
spirit Of liberation, 1.-The religious spirit,
in the Christian world, that not an acri-
monious word has been said by Protest
ants, but only praise has been uttered
OF that gentle character and deyout spirit,
Leo XIII: This would not have been pos
sible hundred years, or even fifty years
ago; but to-day the religious spirit finds