The Irish standard., 1920-02-28

1oieeth not In tniQutty, but ro3oaceth
with the truth Il Cor: XIII, 4-s).
For Puhite's Rights First.
The disturbances from which cur
Industries are suffering bring home to
all the people. In direct and practical
form. the need OF thorough readjast.
ment," the letter continues. 'In part,
the present situation b due to the
var; but its real causes Ito farther
hack in our industrial history. It is
not merely that unvisa policies have
been adopted, but rather that these
have been framed upon wrong prin-
ciples and baseless assumptions.
1T is an error to assume that the
issues involved the purely economic.
They are. ut bottom. moral and relig-
fous. Their settlement calls for clear
perception of the obligations which
justice and charity impose.
I'm urging their respective claims,
the parties. apparently, disregard the
fact that the people as whole have
prior claim. The first step. there.
fore. toward correcting the evil is to
insist that the rights of the commu.
nifty shall prevail, that law and order
shall be preserved and that the public
shall not be made to suffer while the
contention goes on from one mistake
to another.
fo IN
is due, in large measure, to the sup
position that class is naturally hostile
to class. In truth, each needs the
other. Capital cannot do without la
bor; nor labor without capital. This
is obvious; but the more important
point is that capital and labor are
bound by mutual obligations, not
simply by mutual needs or interests.
''In this whole question, the moral
value of man and the dignity of hui
man labor are cardinal points. By
treating the laborer as a man, not as
a machine, the employer will make
him better workingman. By respect
ing his own moral dignity as man,
the laborer will compel the respect OF
his employer and of the community.
"The right of labor to living wage,
with decent maintenance for the pres.
ent and provision for the future, is
generally recognized. The right of cap.
ital to fair days work for fair days
pay is equally plain. To secure the
practical recognition and exercise of
both rights, good will, no less than
adherence to justice, Is required. Ami
mostly and mistrust should first be
cleared away. When this is done, when
the parties meet in a friendly, rather
than a militant, spirit, it will be pos.
sible to effect conciliation.
Confident Of Remedy.
"We are confident that the good
sense Of our people will find way
out Of the present situation. As the
confusion occasioned by war subsidies.
calmer judgment will prevail. Man
will see that internal peace and the
cooperation OF all classes must be So
cured, IL our country is to enjoy pros
perity at home and respect abroad.
Americas great opportunity must not
be sacrificed to selfish aims or partisan
interests. We made war upon greed
and selfish ambition. We shall not
let them triumph within our own bor-
ders."
The Divorce Evil.
In dealing with the divorce evil, tho
letter says the marriage bond, (which
ought to be most sacred, is regarded
by too many as q trivial circumstance.
as something Of less importance than
an ordinary business agreement. SO
far as this idea prevails, it removes
the one safeguard Of decency and
purity in the sex relation. In . per.
manent union that relation possesses
q human character; In q temporary
arrangement, It falls to the level Of
animal impulse.
"This degradation Of marriage leads
to more intense selfishness by max.
ing individual pleasure or whim the
one decisive factor. It consequently
tends to deaden the spirit Of charity
just where, naturally, love should be
strongest.
"The sense Of justice also will be
dulled. II the obligations assumed
through marriage can be so lightly
Cancelled, 1t is hard to see what value
shall attach to other covenants, when
these are not enforcible by law"
LENTEN SERVICES At THE PRO.
CATHEDRAL OF ST. MARY.