New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-10-19
RE. SATURDAY 71osNEsG. OCTOBER ls. 1914

iorrn eest calculated 10 promote the happiness enC
prosperity ofths People.
Rave thus briefly glanced at the nportan; indu-
ence Which the y orkingmen of Europe have e:er-
cised upon her social and political systems. The
next step IN the progress OF the inquiry which have
marked out 0r myself il, 70 show rhe position they
now occupy IL The O.d World, 10 contrast 1t "ith
the condition OF the WorkiDgnen Of America TO
trace the causes OF the difference; and to consider
how far the rights an6 duties Of the iIcus.a csses
o. our Country are affected BY the change.
Great az has been the sneloration OF the condiion
OF TIE Workingmeu of Europe, il is still fer nf-rio
u offhe spending classes II America they
have mad to contend win fearful enemies, and al
though much has been done, still more remains Tn
accomplished. They have BIZ enconpelled 10 encoun-
ter the united power OF The Grown. the Nosles and
the Church Every privilege has been wrestet from
the iron grasp OF Dsspoiism II should not therefore
be rnalIer Of surprise that they have not been able
t. achieve all thar might be Desired and that they are
sti!iin condition Of comparable dependence and
servitude-
am aware that this s strong language TO b. used
in regard 10 the most refined Nations of Europe But
let eny Impartial examine the rates OF wages IL
England and on the Continent which do not averaged
shilling CAV, md scan the official evidence in re-
gard 10 the condition OF the abcrlng classes in
OF the most populous districts OF England, taken
der the authority OF the British Parliament and he
will have melancholy evidence OF the truth OF what
have said let him take up their statutebooks,
and examine the provisions of the various factory
bills and he will fad in the fact that such egisla-
ton necessary, the the wretch
ed gta.e CT large portion Of the aborng population
OF that proud Empire.
Who can turn from the contemplation of such g
picture, and view the condition OF the Workingnen
OF America, without feelings of deep and heartfelt
satisfaction Here We see 10 class OF our popua-
lion subsistpg on wages Of sixpence shilling
day Here We have no necessity Tor factory bills
a system ofLegisstse Police TO guard the operative
against the exactions Of his employ, er. Here com
petency is within the reach every who is dis
posed to exercise ordinary industry and rugelity ;
and the i=borTg portion of the community is pros
porous and happy. And if any one were disposed
to question the correctness OF this statement, think
might venture with some degree OF confidence 10
appeal 10 you, the representatives. OF the Working
men OF America, here assembled, 10 bear me out in
the assertion.
This striking contrast in the condition of the pro-
ductive classes in the old and new world is the
suit Of variety of causes. The fact that our coun-
try is comparatively in its nfency, and that we pos
sess Territory of almost unlimited extent, and in
exhausuble fertility, contributes greatly TO mark
the disparity 10 which have adverted. But the
differences in the political systems, and structure
of society in Europe and America, have been no less
efficient.
All the Political Constitutions Of Europe are but
notifications Of the Feudal System. Its rgors
have been relaxed, and many OF its abuses have
been corrected, bur still its most important princi
pies remain, as the basis on which the modern
supcrstruciures are erected. Society there ia still
divided. as il was in Feuda times, by horlzonta
lines, into classes az distinct the geological
strata Of which the Earth is composed. BY the
rules of hereditary succession OF titles with estates
and the laws OF entail ard prmogeniture, the power
and property Of the country are secured IN the
{ Ax,e, ond fhn
people are LETT IN poverty and dependence.
In our happy couoiry the condition of things is
widely different When our ancestors threw Oh the
woke, und achieved our National independence,
thew were lift ut liberty 10 frame their institutions
according 10 those principles winch they thousn'
hest calculated 10 ensure the happiness OF Inc peo-
ole. There was no necessity for adapting them 20
snv preexisiing form Of government. Their purpose
y,s moi 10 patch ND an old mansion, but 10 construct
, new one They were embarrassed by 10 system
# iefs. or arbitrary cssslhcatons OF society lbef
Eel, no restraints except those which reason and tne
lessons OF experience, disclosed ey the pages oil MS
tory. imposed. The government was. therefore,
framed with reference to those great fundamental
principles Of poluca! philosophy which must a!
wavs command the appreciation OF every enlightened
mind.
Let US now look for a moment al the opposite ten
d.pc,es and results OF the two systems. The two
gr-a, subjects OF ell governments ere persons anc
!
iir1, are labor and capital. These subjects are
iorimaely connected. Capital is The product o.
Industr,-Labor is the agency by which capital /:
acquired. Capital gives employ ment 10 Lsbor, sno
Labor rrpays Capita. by its profits. They are nat
ur,l allies and mutually benehcial-Capitsi is thr
viyfyns principle which gives activity and ANNA
ZION 10 Label Without Capital there can De no ex
else upon an extended scale, Of TIE useful arts
nor can any public Improvements OF magnitude st
ACCOMPLISHED Without il, 4 grIculture must ian
suish, and Foreign Comuerc ae discontinued. VI
The other hand Labor is the INSTRUMENT by wmct
Captal achieves lis wonderful results 1hey are
inseparably associated and he VINO vars against lh'
one necessarily assaiis the other.
II is no uncommon device with demagogaes &c
contend that there is natural aniagonism between
labor and capital, and 10 endeayor 10 excite iee
me Of enmity between the poor md the Fich. bu
il mus; be obvious from the considerations Is which
have lust advorted, that the sentiment is as deSu
tu,e of truth those Who utter II are Of genuine
ns,riniism. The poor man who wars against c'pi
raj wars against his wages. BE seeks 10 strike
down The hand that feeds him, and 10 destroy The
very priucip,c which stimulates and lnvigoraes In;
ann OF industry.
these ara the true and natural relations between
labor and capital and such they will continue 10 Be
| in every well regulated country
But II sometimes happens that by alse legislation
or other disturbing causes. the equilibrium between
thsm is DESTROYED. and they are placed in an'ago
ms, positions This leads US 10 consider the cGnse
ouences which are likely 10 ensue from such STATE
II things. and the mode of avoiding the evil.
Iti is the ascendency Of the one or the other o.
these interests, which, in great measure, de,er
mines the character OF all governments. And II !:
the struggle or that ascendency which IL The most
| fruitful source OF revoiuiiops and civil wars
The violence OF the con,ulsion will always be u
nropor,ion to the previous arrangement OF the bal
snce between Them Whenever capital IS the con,
;rnlip, power, the government, by whichever name II
NAV he known or under whatever fern II ma, De
disguised, will be essentially an ohgarchy, because
capital is always in the hands OF lew. But when
| labor holds The rens, il invariably leaves lhe I'M
press of freedom and republcanisn on the lnstiiu-
mons OF the coqntry, because the lsborpg Elen are
always Inc msloriiy.
The careful consideration of this general pripci
ME. and of its application the political establish
tnen,s OF the Oid and the New World will explain
| many OF ths differences that exist between them.
In Europe the accumulaGous of industry through
long succession OF ages, have created an immense
csp;tal. and il hiss become the predominant interest
! Hence we md that the whole system OF European
esis!s lion is framed with reference 10 the PsrPetua
tom Of the dominion which wealth has acquired
There monsy is, emphaucally, power. Its the Pow.
=, beh;nd The throne greater than The throne itself