The Catholic bulletin., 1919-07-26
NATIONAL STORM SIGNALS.

1He history Oh great wars QlS-
closes the fact that years Of mil
itary upheaval usually are fol
lowed by period of civil and eco
nomic unrest. Even in our coun-
try our three greatest wars wit
messed a subsequent panic in in
dustrial and civil life. Hence it
is but reasonable to expect that
after a world war there should
follow a period of world unrest.
Even before the armistice was
signed Eastern Europe was in the
throes of national and CONNER
cial disruption. Since that mo-
mentous occasion the waves have
surged farther and farther until
the sound thereof can be heard
far and wide as they dash over
our own people.
Today the American Republic
is a prey to manifold disturb
ances. The government has ex-
erted itself to maintain poise and
balance in the relations that eX-
ist between capital and labor. 1t
is notorious that so-called prof.
teering has been conducted on a
vast and systematic scale; it is
going on at this very moment.
Large corporations entrenched
behind immense resources are
reaching out in every direction
and seeking unlimited control Of
the necessaries of life. The sys-
tenn of cold storage, for example,
a great benefit when used prop
erly, has become in the hands of
unscrupulous captains OF indus
try a prolific source Of economic
distress. In some cases the gov
ernment has been forced to act
in order to restrain the rapacity
Of those who have needlessly kept
the prices of commodities beyond
the reach Of the average con-
sumer. The result has been only
what could be expected; the labor
classes have revolted at the in
justice, have resorted to strikes
and, in some cases, to violence,
and are even now banded to-
gether in an effort to obtain an
equal and fair distribution of
products. On several occasions
the unions have gone to other eX-
tremes and have made eXorbitant
demands upon the corporations,
thus giving the latter a taste of
their own metal.
1t is true that Europe, devas-
tated and impoverished, is clam
oring for assistance from this
country. In order to meet the
needs Of the war-scarred coun-
tries beyond the seas, help must
come from some quarter. AT the
same time it is small compensa-
ton to the consumers here at
home to realize that the prices of
commodities are getting beyond
the reach of our own citizens.
Thus we are told that next year
the already high price of clothing
will be increased from fifty to one
hundred percent; that shoes are
to cost $25.00 a pair; that the
packing industries are reaching
out for absolute control over the
coffee market; that fruits and
vegetables are being swept into
the canneries Of the country to
be sold at great profits next year
In the face of the economic
problems that confront the ma
ton today there is but one remedy
that can offset the danger Of pos
sible revolution: absolute justice
in the production and especially
in the distribution Of all commodi-
ties and materials. Socialism
clamors for government owner
ship of everything in sight; Boil.
shevism would seize upon the
whole country as its legitimate
prey. Christianity demands that
the golden rule be applied to all
alike.
While there is apparently little
danger of financial panic in this
country as a result Of the war
there is on the other hand immi
nent peril of industrial upheaval
The unions, which are the great
est safeguards Of the working
classes, may be urged on by un
scrupulous leaders to unreason
able lengths. Unless a spirit OF
fairness and Of justice takes hol6
Of the big financial powers Of the
country we may soon witness {
repetition Of what happened in
Rome, in France and Russia, anC
of what brought England herself
to the verge Of revolution in the
spring of 1914.