Cause and Cure [pp. 1-10]

CA USE AND CURE.
mediocrity" sung by the poet was the rule then. It is true we
had not yet reached the "age of progress." It can scarcely be
held that this state of things was changed by an increased immigration, since the development of the country's resources has
kept pace with the increase of population. The discovery of the
gold and oil fields, by bringing sudden and immense wealth to
people unused to the responsibilities the possession of riches
imposes, gave the first impulse to the extravagance and greed
that pervade society. The false science which denies whatever
it cannot explain did the rest.
It would be presumption on my part to think that I can solve
the problem of labor vs. capital, when great thinkers have tried
and failed. Yet this problem may be reduced from its confus 4i
ingly great proportions. The remedy is twofold. We must return to simpler ways, more becoming to a republican people, and
in which the present administration is giving the example: we
must enter upon an era of social reform. This is our duty as
citizens. There remains what we should do as Christians. We
need not consult learned treatises and read ponderous tomes to
find out what that is. Our catechism and prayer-book tell it
plainly enough. We may have forgotten, or we have not meditated sufficiently over, the simple words. They warn us against
avarice, against extravagance and covetousness; they tell us
that "oppression of the poor" and "defrauding laborers of their
wages" are "sins crying to Heaven for vengeance." The Catholic
Church is not satisfied with general maxims liable to various interpretations. She has carefully defined the duties of her chil-
dren towards God and his church, towards their neighbors and
themselves, in whatever station in life they may be. Catholics,
therefore, cannot set up the plea of ignorance. Let them bear
constantly in mind those precepts, and bring religion to bear on
their relations with their neighbor, be he the master or the
servant. The sweet spirit of charity alone can substitute har-
mony for the antagonism which exists between labor and capital;
each of us may help to this desired end. If our Protestant brethren know of another remedy let them apply it. We can rely on
ours.
[April,
IO