The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-11-06
Bisllts Of the Laborer.

sset1 tsstta tiC tlluu WHO IuuOTS SuOuiu
I liye1by his labor. And if he does no,
realize enough by his labor to procure
hima living, he is defrauded by some.
body. He is systematically robbed
by sore means, Of just the deficiency.
The system ofthings that thus de.
Privas him ola portion of his unques
tinnable rights, and snatches the crust
Of bread from the hungry lips of his
: wife and children, is undoubtedly a
banefu one. i! is 5aneiul TO him and
10 all who, like him, toll ior IL living.
But then it is advantageous to those
who live without labor! 1t is disheart-
ening MS well as luinous to honest in
dustry. But then it is profitable to
speculation and to capital! And as the
latter continue TO rule, no matter how
the poor man may struggle and com
plain at this inlraction OF his rights. the
system of injustice goes on without in
terruption.
1--WE do not get living wages" cries
the laborer.
sit is the effect ofthe operation ol
the law OF supply and demand--and
we can refer you to volume so and so,
page so and so, OF any work on Politi-
cal Economy as Demonstration" re-
plies the organ of the party that "pro-
tects" capital, and pre!ends that capi-
tai will always, like good christian,
"protect labor
"We want for bread!" groans the
hard working toiler.
"Say that foreign paupers, ser:s, and
convictS come here and eat lt!'' sug-
gests the humane reformer.
And this is all the consolation tha,
patriots who look at interest, rather
than at principle, can furnish to those
who are actually The noblemen OF ma
ture! This is all The comfort that those
worshipers of political expcdiency
ratherthan ofpoIlicaI rights, can afford
for the million whose industry and
whose skill have made our country
what it is, and who are that country's
real sovereigns!
What is the natural result Of such II
state of things?
awe will protect ourselves and de-
mand living wages for our Iabor!' ex-
claim the oppressed and down-trodden
working.men.
And so they should! And so they
must, if they desire to be independent;
If they desire TO think, live AID act, not
like the slaves Of corporations or CAPT
tai, but like men conscious of their nat
ural and social rights, and determined
to maintain them. Let them "prolect
themselves!'' If they look elsewhere
for "protec,ion" what can they expect?
What must follow? A debasing pros
titution of their faculties and abilities
to the use of those who value them
only as they subserve their immediate
interests. Instead Of fixing their own
value to the product of their own la.
Dor, the toilers for the "protected'
must consent TO receive, as if in chari
ty, whatever the "protec'ed" may
think proper to dole out TO them.
Away with such false doctrines 0
political economy? Away with the
political juggling that, with the deceit
ful plea OF "protec,lon," actually Y ask:
the majority; the people Of our country
(for the working men constitute both
to sell their bir,hright. ior il paItrl
'mess Of pottage!' that modestIy ask
the rulers of this republic, Qor the mas!
Of our laboring population are, through
the ballot-box, the rulers,) to surrende
their heritage of freedom, and become
the servile and suppiant tools of ,h'
privileged apostles of the money-God
And what is all this hollow and false
hearted sophistry about foreign laboI
and American labor? There can b'
no such ridiculous distinction known
and he who makes it, does it to delib
eraIely deceive the tolIing millions tc
their own destruction. 1t is hun,a'
labor that we desire to see elevated
and respected. 1t is not the work o
this or of that mans hands that we in
sist is en.nled to its full equivalent il
the exchange Of every days existence
but the work Of every man, in proper
ton to the industry, and skill maniles
ted in its deveIopement. lift be tru'
that the ''laborer is worthy of his hire;
if it be true that The man who toll
should realize subsistence from hi
daily exer:ions, by what species OF alb
surd metaphysics can we make it righ
TO institute distinction between mel
founded not upon any assumption o
their unequal capacity to produce al
equivalent for their living, but uPol
some caprice ofiheir parents- for sure
ly no man can be accused of selectin!
his own birth-p lace! Out with such an
ti-republican and dishonest suggestions
In this land of liberal enliuhtenmnnt M