The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-05-07
From the Harbinger.
& FOR WAGESt

Those writer's who laud civilization and
dwell with rNp:ures on its future extension,
have, il must be confessed, but litIe idea
what it really is. They imagine il 10 be
a high and indefinitely perfeclible state OF
existence; they have never inquired and
d. not know what are lis distinguishing
features, and accordingly the very vague
ness otlheir notions only gives their words
a bigger initiation and a more srnse!ess
glitter. Bat the truth is, that civilization
is as distinct a socia! safe as the savage,
the bIrblrous, or The patliarchal; its traits
are as marked and almost as deformed &
hateful, and like its predecessors, il is only
the transition into q moie elevated phase
of social life.
Oac Of The leading AID invariabIe char,
acterislics Of civilization is, that its work
is done for wages hired labor is a per-
manent institution as closely inter woven
with all the structure OF civilized society,
as chauel slavery is with barbarlsm.- -
They stand or fall together the abolition
OF slavery conducts US out Of barbarism,
aad the abolition oflabor .or wages out OF
civilization ; a radical change in the sys-
TEN of labor which now prevails in so
called free countries, would at once raise
The whole OF society from the civilized
chaos, into a state Of comparative order s.
happiness and lead The way 10 rapid and
extensive progress.
The fret thing which strikes us ia the
system othjred labor. is the conflict Of in-
terests between the laborer and his en-
ployer. 1t is perhaps in this relation that
the incohe, ence and duplicity which pre-.
walls in existing relations, mos! plala.y APP
pear. The interest Of the laborer is 10
get The largest possible amount of pay for
the smallcs' possible amount of work.
The interest Of the employer, is to gel the
largest possible amount of work for the
smallest possible amount Of pay What
frigh,lul facts are described by these few
words! Blu. let US look a lille at the
practical operation Of the system. In this
conflict Of iut rests, i. is manjfeat that tAe
advantages Of the parties are by no means
equal. Il is not at al. fair battle. TIE
employer has all the power in his hands;
10 him it is q matter OF comparatively liltle
consequence, whether such an operative
works for him or not, but TO The workman
& his family ills a matter of life and death.
Capital commands, and labor is its impo
tent victim. TIE first thing is to reduce
the wages OF labor 10 as low a rate as pos.
sibie, so that the cheapness Of the produc
may ensure a large market, and 50 tha'
The largest amour. Of profs may go into
the pockel of the capitalist. Does the Ia.
borer resis2 In vain 1! Even the benev
o.ence OF the employer is Intellectual, 70
he also is the slave OF competition, and hi
neighbours wares are already in the mark
ct compelling him TO furnish his own a
the lowest price, 80 that he canno pa,
high wages ifho would. Thea comes tn
falal competition between IAtorsrs, under
bidding each other and literally %storviu:
Themselves for a ljvingl Here is The con
~clusion Of That civilization of which phi
losophers and PhiIonshEogis's are DOT "