ENCYCLICAL LETTER OF POPE LEO XIH. 145
are in the hands of invisible leaders, and are managed on principles far from compatible with Christianity and the public well-being ; and that they do their best to get into their hands the whole field of labor and to force workmen either to join them or to starve. Under these circum- stances Christian workmen must do one of two things : either join Associations in which their religion will be exposed to peril, or form associations among themselves unite their forces and courageously shake off the yoke of an unjust and intolerable oppression. No one who does not wish to expose man's chief good to extreme danger will hesitate to say that the second alternative must by all means be adopted.
59. Those Catholics are worthy of all praise and there are not a few who, understanding what the times require, have, by various enterprises and experiments, endeavored to better the condition of the working-people without any sacrifice of principle. They have taken up the cause of the working-man, and have striven to make both families and individuals better off; to infuse the spirit of justice into the mutual relations of employer and employed; to keep before the eyes of both classes the precepts of duty and the laws of the Gospel that Gospel which, by inculcating self-restraint, keeps men within the bounds of moderation, and tends to establish harmony among the divergent interests and various classes which compose the State. It is with such ends in view that We see men of eminence meeting together for discussion, for the promotion of united action, and for practical work. Others, again, strive to unite work- ing-people of various kinds into associations, help them with their advice and their means, and enable them to obtain honest and profitable work. The Bishops, on their part, bestow their ready good will and support; and with their approval and guidance many members of
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