The Irish standard., 1919-09-27
BY Rev. J. N. cleary, Minneapolis

The religion of Christ, the Savior
of mankind is the best, the wisest and
the most practical friend that the
cause of labor has ever known in the
history of the world. The mastery
analysis of the rights, of the dignity
and of the duty of labor, published for
the enlightenment of the world, by
Pope Leo XIII in the year 1891, will
continue to be regarded for centuries
to come, by all honest and serious
men, as reliable guide for labor and
capital, alike. The illustrious Pontiff
defines with lucid precision the rigths
of labor, the duties of labor, the dig
nifty of labor. Pope Leo, however, as
the head of the church universal, as
we'll as wise and honest friend of all
classes of human society, also defines
very clearly the duties and RESPONSE
bilities of wealth. The rich mans
wealth is entitled to the protection OF
the law, just as we'll as the working
mans wages. The man who has his
labor to offer i'll the market of indus
try is in conscience bound to give
honest value for the reward that he
demands, just as we'll as the man who
employs him is bound in conscience,
before God and man to give him hon.
est money for the service he may rem
der The rights of labor do not de-
pend on the strength that powerful
combinations of men may be able to
form. The rights of capital do not de-
pend upon the power that comblna-
tions of wealth may be able to WELD.
Human rights are sacred. They are
not dependent upon force, and they
do not emanate from the advantages
that organized labor or organized
wealth may enjoy. mo man." said
ity that human dignity which God
Himself treats with reverence, nor
stand in the way of that higher life,
which is the preparation for the eter
nal life Of heaven" Labor has a sa-
cred right to freedom. Involuntary
labor is servitude. Labor has sa-
cred right to protect it's own inde-
pendence and liberty. Hence, labor
unions are lawful and have enjoyed
the protection and sanction of the
Church, ever since the Christian reli-
gion lifted up fallen world. Labor,
however, should not forget that it's
power is to be used for it's own pro-
lection, not for the purpose of invad-
ing the rights of others. "Thou shalt
not steal," and "Thou shalt not covet
they neighbours goods" are divine pre-
cepts, binding upon rich and poor
alike Religion appeals to the justice
of God for the protection of the work
ing mans wages. Religion also in
sists upon the sacredness of vested
rights. Lawful possession of prop
erty must be defended by every inf1u-
ence at the command of society, or
we fall back very speedily into the
disorders of barbarism.
The first great task that confronted
the Christian religion at it's birth,
after revealing to despairing men the
hope of Immortality, and the spiritual
dignity of man, was some solution OF
the sad condition of the children
OF toll The laboring classes, who
formed the majority in pagan society
were helpless and hopeless slaves in
bondage to harsh, disdainful and
cruel minority. The bold declaration
to heartless world of the spiritual
equality of man was the first ray OF
hope that came to gladden. the soul
of the slave. Pagan philosophers
who had taught and believed In the
immortality of the SOUL rejected with
scorn the assumption that bonded
slave, an inferior being, could be en-
dowed with an immortal spirit. The
religion of Christ proclaimed at once
to startled world that human dig
nifty and human worth before the Gre
ator of heaven and earth, did not de
pend upon social environment, but
upon the fact that every human being
rich or poor, high or low, powerful OF
dependent, was made in the image ant
likeness of God, the eternal. The di
vine religion of Jesus of Nazareth ha:
improved the social condition Of mel
by intoxicating the doctrine of man!
supernatural destiny, and of man''
spiritual value.