Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-07-29
From the Ohio Press.
Canital and Tab0r.

We call the attention of our readers par
ticularly to the following able and interest
ing article ponsassociated wealth." 1t ex-
hibits in its true light the inroads which as
sociated capital is making upon labor. I he
over grown, wealthy interpretations of the
east, and in fact Of the west, are progressing
so rapidly by the aid of special legislation,
that the individual man in his employment
is almost entirely swallowed up in them.
The individual mechanic who for years
has been permitted to follow his calling
without molestation, except from his fellow
mechanic who pursues the same business
and upon the same means; is now by the
force Of incorporated companies, obliged to
close his shop and enter into the employ
ment ofthose who have combination Of
wealth, at just such wages as they may see
fit to give him. Thus he, and hundreds of
his fellow mechanics are compelled to a.
bandon their business, and become part OF
the machinery Of these companies. Incor-
porated and associated wealth tends TO en-
! rich the few at the expense Of the many; il
ttends 90 d6sfrUJ 0f asaaai3,
land make him the unwilling slave to the
soulless corporations; it tends to enslave the
laboring millions and make them the
shewers of wood and drawers of water" to
the wealthy and more fortunate.
To the following article we call particu-
lar attention; it is worthy of consideration.
From the Northampton Democrat. I'D
a ASSOCIATED CAPITAL. r
Force is not now the weapon of aristoc-
racy, or its aliases, federalism and whigge-
ry. The time for that is passed away; ar
tifce and cunning have assumed its place.
Money is one of the great means by which
the whig party sustains itself. TO favor
wealth at the expense oflabor is the great,
we had almost said, the sole object Of the
party. The struggle is now, more than at
any other time, between MAN and MONEY.
The giant enemy we have to oppose is
ASSOCIATED CAPITAL. That is the
foe which threatens to overwhelm our lib
critics, to seize our government, and to re-
duce labor to utter degradation, depend
ence and misery. The sight is alarming,
the evil progressive and increasing. Eve
ry. year are gigantic corporations springing
up in every direction, monopolizing every
species Of business which is profitable, and
involving industry inextricably in their
tolls. Our large cities are the emporiums
Of capital and from them these .incorpora-
tons are launched out in every direction.
In all these incorporated bodies the city
capitalists are the chief stockholders, and by
means of their investments obtain the chief
control. The small shareholders in them
from the country, seduced by fattering
representations, throw in, their contributions
sufficiently to be interested in the success
of the concerns, without being able to infiu-
ence their direction. In this way capital is
every day increasing its operations, ac-
quiring fresh accessions of power and sub
iugating every energy and resource Of the
country. Labor is fast becoming the mere
tool and slave of capital. The immense
! capitalist, like spider, weaves web for
industry, which he spreads in every direc.
ton, and labor like poor file entangled in
the meshes, is tied hand foot, and is sucked
dry by the power which. holds it in thrall.
| It is time, then, that the working men were
awake, that they were sensible Of their true
situation, and that they set Immediately
about taking propermeasures for their own
protection. e,s tas,ss l,s,,..s e,s ,...,,
In following the evil back we see it arises
| from the whig. principle Of legislating for
the rich. Riches We know have always
the advantage over poverty. In all con-
ficts wealth has vastly the pre-eEainence Of
labor, and it would be supposed, that the Z.
law making power, if it interferred at all,
would come to the aid Of industry rather
than opulence.. In whig hands however,
such has not been the case. Despising and
distrusting the working men, they have leg
lislated for property rather than the people,
and 70 the natural and inherent advantages