Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 49:193 (Jan 1892)
Article: Socialism In Its Bearings On Capital, Labor, And Poverty
Author: James MacGregor

BSac 49:193 (Jan 1892) p. 30

Socialism In Its Bearings On Capital, Labor, And Poverty

Rev. James MacGregor

Christianity, as it does not make believers to be judges or dividers over men in temporal things, confers no special qualification for judging in them. And if in such matters we take it upon us to lay down the law in the name of Christianity, the antichristian arrogation may bring discredit on the usurped name. The present matter is one of science: which reminds us of the case of Galileo’s judges, condemning science to be silent, and the earth to stand still. They had no Joshua’s power: the earth moved on; and ever since then there has been a perpetual motion of the tongue of infidelity, jeering at Christianity on account of that old stumble of men who took it on them to judge in the name of religion where it has not authorized them. Still, there are aspects of the received economic order which Christianity is specially called upon to consider for its own guidance. And, not assuming to be judges authorized to lay down the law, we will look at matters with a view to seeing what may be the duty of Christians in relation to them, as compared with what socialism prescribes in relation to them.

AS TO CAPITAL. Socialism proposes to abolish private capital as “a grinding tyrant.” And some who are not socialist yet blame the existing system of capitalist employment of labor as bring-

BSac 49:193 (Jan 1892) p. 31

ing woes upon the working-classes, through making selfishness, at the impulse of competition, to be the mainspring of business life. We will begin at the beginning, and look at the things, and allow them to explain themselves. As a matter of fact, under the existing regime of capital, the working-classes have earnings as large as they are prepared to make a good use of. It is also a matter of fact, that it is impossible for a capitalist, or for any one else, to prevent that happy condition, so long as working-men are not made slaves, as socialism would make them. For if they be free, the capitalist cannot obtain the labor he wants unless they be satisfied with the wages-price he offers for it. But now, in a straightforward, simple way, let us go into the A B C of the matter.

What is “Capital”?—It is commodity available for production because not required for consumption. It is money that can be applied to employment of labor. It is ten shillings which a frugal Frenchman in London wishes to invest in a pair of shoes, hoping to sell them next week at Paris for eleven shillings. An English workman wishes to obtain employment, that his children may have food. The two men enter into a free contract of labor. Consequently, a young Parisian dances to school more gaily in the elation of new shoes, the London children...