The Washington herald., 1907-02-25
REMEDY TOO RADICAL
Socialism Worse than the
Disease, Says DR.. Stafford.
SECOND SERMON IN SERIES
Rational, Conservative Measures for
Alienation of Present Evils Must
BE FOund-IntOIerabIe Conditions
Still Exist for INCARCERATION Is
One of Prevention, Not Charity.

Or. Stafford preached the second in his
/ series Of sermons on Socialism" at St
Patrick's Church yesterday morning. He
/ took for his subject that phase of the
question on social reform, and said in
part:
| IAN social theories, whether we con-
/ slider them from the economic, philosophi-
CAL or religious side hinge upon the
question Of social reform; that is the
all-important consideration. And in TAX
/ ing it up, we, too, must consider this
/ question; that is TO say, the actual state
Of affairs and the value of the remedies
/ offered. whether by the conservative
thinkers or the extremists. What pity
( IL Is that the extremists, who border on
anarchy. would not put away hatred OF
class and hatred of society, and meet
upon a common platform those who, in
! deed, consider the socialist remedy for
the social sickness worse than the dis
ease. but who yet desire to find rem
edy for the evils which affect many
members Of society.
This might, this ought to be done;
for there is no one who believes in Jesus
Christ who does not love his neighbor
and desire TO better his condition, and, if
he suffer, to find whatever legitimate re-
lief there may be for him. This recogni-
ton Of a common spirit IN a common
humanity would be a potent factor; if not
a complete solution, at least a great bet
teTment of the social condition.
Views Are Extreme.
Two views always result from the con-
sideration Of a question into which human
sentiment enters; and these two views
are extreme, one right. one left; between
them every phase and shade Of opinion.
So il is with the social question. One view
declares the whole scheme wrong and
hates society, as it is constituted; the
other does not find things so bad and far
from hopeless, complex as the question
nevertheless is.
There are two kinds Of evil-One rene
diable. one irremediable. Society is in
the state Of sin, OF mortal sin, and there
results therefrom a necessary evil Men
may dream OF a condition whence all
evil, suffering misery, poverty will be
banished; but that is a dream; a beauti-
ful dream. If you will but only a dream.
II is heaven, not earth. The poor you
viii always have with you No alchemy
can change ali the woes Of life into hap
piness.
But there is another kind Of evil. which
results from accidental conditions. which
shocks the Christian conscience, which
could, and therefore ought to be, rene
died.
Condition IntOIerabIe.
Man born into this world was to enjoy
every reasonable pleasure and happiness.
And If there are those who. on account
of social conditions, do not thus live. in
asmuch as that condition may be at
tributed 10 society It is a crime for So
ciety TO tolerate f. And Notwithstanding
the progress made by the working class
in the last hundred year-a progress
truly astonishing-that condition exists
for large numbers.
Every man should receive for his labor
a living wage; enough compensation to
enable him 20 live in frugal comfort, 10
meet the demands Of his state. 20 see
his family grow, and 70 protect him
against old age. Il should not De neces-
sary for the wife and the mother, as well
as the father, 10 leave home and work.
in order 10 supplement that too small
gain Of the husband and father.
And civilization cries out against the
added iniquity Of young boys and girls Of
tender age being obliged 90 work in fac
tories TO supplement both. Their eyes
become bleared. their bodies bent, they
live in a fetid atmosphere, both physical
and moral. and never reach full develop
ment. Some OF these conditions are
within the possibility of remedy, and
ought 10 he remedied.
Remedy Must Be Found.
1T is. therefore the duty Of society
of every one who writes, thinks, feels,
that this matter be taken into con-
sideration. and rational conseTva-
tive remedy found; and If this be not
done. then history viii repeat itself, and