The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-11 00:00:00

CA!' ITA - LABOUR - COMPE-

TITION—CO-O PERATION.
(From the Struggle)
I know nothing so fatal to the interests of the
working class as the various attempts to set capital
against labour, and to represent their interests at va-
riance with each other. There are certain agitators
who seem to study nothing else ; and though they
cannot point to any good they have ever accomplished,
yet such is their combative propensities, that they
seem to feel happy in pursuing no other course.
Capital is simply accumulated labour. The legal p°s
sessors of it cannot enjoy a single particle without
conferring part upon others. Manufacturing in this
country requires large capital in order to compete
with other countries, and produce those cheap articles
which are an advantage to all consumers. The legal
proprietor is but a trustee ; while he lives he gets his
food, clothing, attendance, and indulgences for his
superintendence. All the rest goes, in one shape or
other, to pay labour, and when he dies, those who
succeed him must resume it upon the same terror,
otherwise it will be useless to them. Wealth sunk in
a mill can never be carried away, and can never be
made productive without labour, and without the
payment of labour.
This hostility of labour to capital is a branch of
the community system, which, though it has bin
tried in various forms, has always proved abortive.
There is no question that, if the co-operative plan could
take the place of the competitive (as it is called), th.
end would be gained, for very soon there would
be no capital to fall out with. Co-operation,
doing away with individuality of interest, woull
produce an inactive, slothful, and jealous race °
people. Few exert themselves except prompted bf
necessity. None work for the pleasure of working,
when others, who work less, are to reap equal benefit'
If we lived in a world where food and clothing were
as amply supplied as atmospheric air, we might then
co-operate, and enjoy ourselves in communities ;
it is impracticable when every man's living depellr
upon exertion. The beggar works none wilbe
he can live with begging. The weaver works hardest
at the latter end of the week, because he is forced;
and the parson seldom makes his sermon till Friday
or Saturday. It is, in fact, necessity that impels t°
action. Man's invention and energies would be stsir
nant, and the flood of labour in a state of backwater'
if deprived of the stimulant of individual interest.
The evils of competition are not such, nor ro
rous, as are often represented. There may occasion.:
ally be two tea-shops, or two drapers' shops, exhihi't
ing the bitter feelings of opposition to each other, it.
it is not common. So far irom-this invalidating th...
individuality of interest, the greater number work 0P
amicably, and with far less suspicion and jesloul
than generally obtains among the co-orrator •
With the exception of the time when a farm is take!)
the farmers never seem to have the least feeling :r
opposition to each other. It is the same with by Isis
the greatest number of operatives ; and though t",.
feeling is most manifest among shopkeepers, yet two
greatest number of them, am confident, have 1310
feeling of hostility towards each other. The system
of individual interests cannot, in itself, produce 02121
great degree of hostility. It is only when, by
laws, the scope for a living or for profit becomes
circumscribed, that these conflicts ensue. When
pigs have plenty of potatoes, they enjoy and let etlitle;
but if food for twenty be thrown among forty, t"

the severest competition follows.
The remedies for the evils incident to the ect,
petitive principle are not to be found ill 1.74
introduction of a system which, having been till
in a variety of provision establishments, has
ways broke down, and often left the co-,or;
rators greater enemies than other people.
might live on the community principle while
tb
stock lasted ; but finding little or nothing prodos3
when supplies began to run short, the social
would soon snap asunder, and, like retreating solb?t
from the field of battle, or like the members of 0;i
Out, just broken up, every man, under an unnsttloo
excitement of individual interest, would care for DOD
but himself.
The true remedies for the evils of competition
these. First, to neutralise the feeling by provitiLli
plenty. I have seen lads, when nutting, alninst„r,tie
each other's eyes out when they met with rfn'ait
bush well stored with nuts; but when each 1110,,F0r
with a bush, they were too much engaged with Pwise
their pockets to annoy each other. When the 111/Pso,
pie at the table is large enough to allow plenty t°,,
iG
every boy is satisfied with his own plate, thong it
may contain a less portion than others ; but of
is clear that some must come short, the symptn° •
a competitive &piing are not to be restrained.
vela
t 0
Another preventative is the influence of benevele toThis is a part of our nature, and may be prol to
i and matured by various influences. It is gio. of,
counteract and modify our conduct in the purl'
what might be considered strictly just. An cif
proportion as bad laws deprive the people of hoe
fair share of enjoyments, for the time we. itifg
nothing else to rely upon. Whilst the :legator
feelings prompt us to acquire for ourselves, the ";citb
volent feelings lead us to share our substAnc!oticg
the poor. The same feeling tells us to ternfer•la
with mercy, to avoid oppressing the ?max and
defenceless. e 1,1 011
Let these two remedies be adopted, and 11 acid
have 'many of the evils of a competing I thole
modified or removed, without destroying
springs of action which are essential to the Al
merits of society.

------ -------- -- -
THE COMIC MISCELLANY FOR 1845.—We are;
quested to state that Mr. Colburn, of Great MVarlborood-
f WI
street, has this day published " The Comic isc,
for 1845," by John Poole, Esq., author of ohoto
Pry," &c., in small Bvo., with a Portrait of the emotlf
and an Illustration by Phiz, price 10s. 6d., e„leFijoolf'
bound, gilt edges, which can now be had of e" 01011_,'
sellers. Mr. Colburn has also just published the oatg
ing new novels :-1. Hillingdon Hall, a Tale of v 9.1411
Lif?, by the author of " Handley Cross," 3 vole she ea
Palais Royal, an Historical Romance, by the xe if,..-.7
Henri Quatre ; or, The Days of the Leggue," 3 vf°l,llllini
Young Love, by Mrs. Trollope, 3 vols.-4. Arthttaor "a i
del, a Tale of the English Revolution. by t/2! t,"ns_.°lll
" Brambletye House," &c., 3 vols.-5. rstr-40'110j'
Widows, by the author of " Peter Priggine," P".
6. Whitefriars ; or, The Days of Charles IL. --
torical Romance. Third Edition, 3 vols.
''
BITHS% egellslo,
On the sth inst., at Victori R
a-villas, Avenue-road,ll of
park, Mrs. Edward George Cuff, of a daughter. -jag . '
On the 9th inst., in Great Marlborough-street, the
Charles Marshall, Esq., of a daughter. of s f°2;:
cl cOl
On the 9th inst., the lady of H. Barnett, Es" -:.,atev
On the 9th inst., in King Edward-street, Westin.—
Mrs. James Richard Hance, of a son.
MARRIED. nal Cho
On the 12th of September, at the British Episee. to ioa•
Buenos Ayres, Alfred Barber, Esq., of that piste:o,oPo,
Turner, second daughter of the late Mr. Schrolderbboles Of
On the 28th nit., at Brussels, Monsieur Louie r' dOO
mule Ippersiel, of Brussels, to Mary Keith, wide
William Love rove, E., surgeon, London. s ofs
pari‘
.N
On the 3d inst., at (a brook, Frederick It. . tt, goer
KB, of Harpenden, Herb:, to Caroline lierrireorlie
daughter of the Rev. R. H. Joh.:ason, M.A., Recto e,
worth, and Vicar of Claybrook. Uicestershirc
c,, the P"
On the sth inst., at St. Mary MagdalenChur u 1016
Samuel Childs Clarke, 8.A., to Ame.lit", M,.4.1%, : Off°
daughter of the late W. Law, Esq., of Kialinb'w
1
—..----------" Atii
DIED.
On the 23d ult., at Rome, Frances Mary'°°)Pe°*
of the late George Lowther Thompson, Esq' 'clad _.. Olt'
On the 2d inst., at Brighton, John Jacksont:4o IP.-
.
On the 6th inst„ at Brentford, Juliana Lydia', at 01
viviug daughter of the late Mrs. Trimmer. ~,,._ 9114
On the 6th inst., at Torquay, Henry Dully!: A.A10,,
residence of his brother, Major-General Ducht`l.oo, hi"
On the 6th inst., in Chapel-street, Bedfnion.
to
the
the youngest son of T. Penfold, Esq., of Crcl sevrher:flalw
On the 7th inst., at Clapham, Surrey, Mrt iitujoe•
On the 7th inst., Edward Wood, Esq., of Poll— #l4'
Bronswicx,s4o .
street, Strand.
On the 7th inst., in Henrietta-street. stageeth
_.
Charlotte Gent, youngest daughter of Sem" „nat.,'
ick '''
of Clare, Suffolk. t Brell/5°- ~,_frk
On the Bth inst., in Great Coram-stres ,
Mr. George William Davis. Wand's°Ow' 1
On the Bth inst., at Molinere House, liter
04
a° ale
On the Bth inst., at Uxbri g ,
Ham Williams, Esq., aged 82.'d e Eleillt int. g 171.1.00
Ann .41,
Thomas Man Lake, bookseller. giss berg
On the Bth inst., at Norwood, Surrey'', cos
On the 9th inst., at Grove-hill-terrace,
infant son of Alfred Sadlow, Esq. --- _ _
D-- O
11) 1:09.,,,,
'-- - -.--. - ------- ---- gl.lO. Pe(
)111 Ace" W
Loation :.'raked anu rublished TI
5.0, OP- 000
No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Tke 0 in
the
Strand, in the Precinct of theme 0.1,..,A
bilddlgesc, Wedulticlay, Deciaa A , Iv--
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