to him that hath-第54章
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over which the shadow of death hangs low。 There a father and
mother lie prostrate with sorrow； agonising for the life of their
child。 But a deeper shadow lies there； a shadow of sin； for the
sting of death is sin。 A brother torn with self…condemnation； his
heart broken with grief for his sister； who loved him better than
her own life； lies under that shadow of sin。 But； gentlemen； can
any of us escape from that shadow？ Do we not all share in that
sin？ For we all have a part in the determining of our environment。
Can we not； by God's grace； lift that shadow at least from our
lives？ Let us turn our faces from the path of strife toward the
path of peace； for the pathway of right doing and of brotherly
kindness is the only path to peace in this world。〃
The Chairman then called upon the Reverend Murdo Matheson to
express his mind。 But at this point； the whole audience were
galvanised into an intensity of confused emotion by the entrance of
the Executive of the Allied Unions； led by McNish himself。 Simmons
alone was absent； being at that moment； with some half dozen
others； in the care of the police。 Silently the Executive
Committee walked to the front and found seats； McNish alone
remaining standing。 Grey； gaunt； hollow…eyed； he met with steady
gaze the eyes of the audience； some of them aflame with hostile
wrath； for in him they recognised the responsible head of the
labour movement that had wrought such disaster and grief in the
community。
Without apology or preface McNish began： 〃I am here seeking
peace；〃 he said； in his hoarse； hard； guttural voice。 〃I have made
mistakes。 Would I could suffer for them alone； but no； others must
suffer with me。 I have only condemnation for the outrages of last
night。 We repudiate them； we lament them。 We tried to prevent
them； but human passion and circumstances were too strong for us。
We would undo the illwould to God could undo the ill。 How gladly
would I suffer all that has come to others。〃 His deep； harsh voice
shook under the stress of his emotion。 He lifted his head： 〃I
cannot deny my cause；〃 he continued； his voice ringing out clear。
〃Our cause was right； but the spirit was wrong。〃 He paused a few
moments； evidently gathering strength to hold his voice steady。
〃Yes； the spirit was wrong and this day is a black day to me。 We
come to ask for peace。 God knows I have no heart for war。〃
Again he paused； his strong stern face working strangely under the
stress of the emotions which he was fighting to subdue。 〃We
suggest a committee of three； with powers to arbitrate； and we name
as our man one who till recently was one of our Union； a man of
fair and honest mind； a man without fear and with a heart for his
comrades。 Our man is Captain Maitland。〃
His words； and especially the name of the representative of the
labour unions produced an overwhelming effect upon the audience。
No sooner had he finished than the Reverend Murdo Matheson took the
floor。 He spoke no economics。 He offered no elaborate argument
for peace。 In plain； simple words he told of experiences through
which he had recently passed：
〃Like one whom I feel it an honour to call my father；〃 he began；
bowing toward Dr。 Templeton； 〃I； too； have made a visit this
morning。 Not to a home； but to a place the most unlike a home of
any spot in this sad world； a jail。 Seven of our fellow…citizens
are confined there； six of them boys； mere boys； dazed and
penetrated with sorrow for their follythey meant no crimeI am
not relieving them of the blamethe other； a man； embittered with
a long； hard fight against poverty； injustice and cruel
circumstance in another land； with distorted views of life； crazed
by drink； committed a crime which this morning fills him with
horror and grief。 Late last night I was sent to the home of one of
my people。 There I found an aged lady； carrying with a brave heart
the sorrows and burdens of nearly seventy years； waiting in anxiety
and grief and fear for her son； who was keeping vigil at what may
well be the deathbed of the girl he loves。 You have just heard his
plea for peace。 Some of you are inclined to lay the blame for the
ills that have fallen upon us upon certain classes and individuals
in this community。 They have their blame and they must bear the
responsibility。 But； gentlemen； a juster estimate of the causes of
these ills will convince us that they are the product of our
civilisation and for these things we must all accept our share of
responsibility。 More； we must seek to remove them from among us。
They are an affront to our intelligence； an insult to our holy
religion； an outrage upon the love of our brother man and our
Father； God。 Let us humbly； resolutely seek the better way； the
way we have set before us this morning； the way of right doing； of
brotherly kindness and of brotherly love which is the way of
peace。〃
It was a subdued company of men that listened to his appeal。 In
silence they sat looking straight before them with faces grave and
frowning； as is the way with men of our race when deeply stirred。
It was a morning of dramatic surprises； but none were so startling；
none so dramatic as the speech of McGinnis that followed。
〃This is a day for confessions；〃 he said； 〃and I am here to make
one for myself。 I have been a fighter； too much of a fighter； all
my life； and I have often suffered for it。 I suffered a heavy loss
last night and to…day I am sick of fighting。 But I have found
this： that you can't fight men in this world without fighting women
and children； too。 God knows I have no war with the old； grey…
haired lady the Padre has just told us about。 I have no war with
that broken…hearted father and mother。 And I have no war with
Annette Perrotte； dear girl； God preserve her。〃 At this point；
McGinnis's command quite forsook him。 His voice utterly broke
down； while the tears ran down his rugged fighting face。 〃I am
done with fighting；〃 he cried。 〃They have named Captain Maitland。
We know him for a straight man and a white man。 Let me talk with
Captain Jack Maitland； and let us get together with the Padre
there；〃 pointing to the Reverend Murdo Matheson； 〃and in an hour we
will settle this matter。〃
In a tumult of approval the suggestion was accepted。 It was
considered a perfectly fitting thing； though afterwards men spoke
of it with something of wonder； that the Mayor should have called
upon the Reverend Doctor to close the meeting with prayer； and that
he should do so without making a speech。
That same afternoon the three men met to consider the matter
submitted to them。 Captain Jack Maitland laid before the committee
his figures and his charts setting forth the facts in regard to the
cost of living and the wage scale during the past five years。 In
less than an hour they had agreed upon a settlement。 There was to
be an increase of wages in keeping with the rise of the cost of
living； with the pledge that the wage scale should follow the curb
of the cost of living should any change occur within the year。 The
hours of labour were shortened from ten to nine for a day's work；
with the pledge that they should be governed by the effect of the
change upon production and general conditions。 And further； that a
Committee of Reference should be appointed for each shop and craft；
to which all differences should be submitted。 To this committee
also were referred the other demands by the Allied Unions。
It was a simple solution of the difficulty and upon its submission
to the public meeting called for its consideration； it was felt
that the comment of the irrepressible Victor Forsythe was not
entirely unfitting：
〃Of course！〃 said Victor； cheerfully。 〃It is the only thing。 Why
didn't the Johnnies think of it before； or why didn't they ask me？〃
The committee； however； did more than settle the dispute immediately
before them。 They laid before the public meeting and obtained its
approval for the creation of a General Board of Industry； under
whose guidance the whole question of the industrial life of the
community should be submitted to intelligent study and control。
CHAPTER XVII
SHALL BE GIVEN
For
