The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-05-07
Labor Organizations Have Nothing to Gain,
But Much to Lose, by Espousing
This So-Called Reform.
Such Doctrine, With its Denial of God and
Hatred Of the Church, Cannot Solve
Social Problem.

The following thoughtful and timely
pastoral upon the relation Of Socialism
to Christianity was recently given to
the diocese of Denver by the Very Rev.
Bishop Matz, of that city. The rela-
ton of Socialism to the labor question
is clearly pointed out and labor organi-
Zations abiured from following the
siren voice of the new propaganda. In
no state of the union will the words of
the bishop be more fully appreciated
than in Colorado, where the peace and
order Of the state is in constant turmoil
from the clash of class interests. Bisll-
op Matz said:
All men know to-day that Christ con-
sccrated labor by the touch of his d.
vine hands; that the blessings He be-
slowed upon 1t conjured the curse of
paradise aggravated by mans eXploita-
tions: that the words of the Apostle:
''Therc is mow) neither bond nor free,
for you arc all one in Jesus Christ"
caused the chains to fall from the
hands of the laboring classes and that
labor owes to Christianity not only its
liberty, but it's present state Of pros
perity. However, notwithstanding all
this, and against the evidence of facts,
socialism, urged on by it's satanic
hatred of Christianity, points to the
Church rs the pronounced enemy Of
labor; the staunch friend of capitalism,
and the strongest supporter of the gov
ernment with it's henclmen, the mill
tia. Wherefore, it has declared war
Of determination against the Church,
and will not dcsist from it's purpose
though it perish in the attempt.
For the accomplishment Of this end,
socialism poses as the chivalrous cham
pion of the laborer, whose cause it ap.
pears to espouse, and offers to defend
with the last drop Of it's blood. The
basenoss and hypocricy Of this assump-
ton we shall expose presently. Social
ism knows the power of numbers and
|
knows that it can never accomplish
it's purpose-the social revolution it is
contemplating-wit without the arm Of the
laborer, whose pride It flatters, and
whose covetousness it aims to arouse
by pointing to the wealth Of capitalism.
Wherefore, it is harping constantly
upon his misery, which, by the most
iniquitous means, it endeavors to ag-
gravate by fomenting strikes and re-
ducing the laborer to starvation. All
our recent strikes furnish the most
striking illustrations Of the truth Of
these statements.
Still more to the point are the fol-
lowing facts, elected by the commits
sion Of inquiry instituted in France, re-
gardlng the causes Of the insurrection
of March 1S, 1871. Here is the cynic
and formal avowal repeatedly made by
the leaders of the International ian
association formed in London in 1864,
with view to unionizing all the work.
AlS CIuSScS lulOUHuOuL lAC WOllu 1OI
the purpose Of promoting social and in.
dustrial reform by political means).
The initiators Of this movement (whc
were all pronounced socialists) said
openly and repeatedly to those who
worked honestly for the betterment of
the laborer: eve would like to see
the laborers ten times more miserable
than they are"; adding: "When you
will have given the laborer all he
wants, he will not be disposed to leave
his home" This is significant. Social.
ism wishes to keep this army of dis.
satisfied laborers for the emergency.
"At heart" the report continues, "they
hoped for this misery to last, because
it kept the proletariat fhe INDECENT
classes) ready for the revolution, even
as hunger makes the dogs filter for
the chase. To the Socialists the pro.
letariat was but pack Of hounds,
which they trained to be turned loose
upon society,"" Deposition of A. He.
ligon, one of the founders Of the Inter.
national, before the commission of in.
quiry at Paris.)
This statement is corroborated by
! Fribourg, sincere labor leader, in hi