Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-03-29


In fact, we will say that without an Indus
trial Reform, no great and truly valuable
reforms are possible in any other sphere of
Society. Labor is the foundation of the
social structure, and SO long as the iounda-
ton is false and rotten, we cannot have
true and beautiful superstructure.
Let US point out afew reforms, which
cannot be, effected so long as Labor remains
in its present repugnant and degrading
state; it will serve to call attention to the
necessity of a rational Industrial Reform.
wifi be Impossible 70 dorsawny+effse.s
tually with Servitude: we may break the
chains ofthe slave and give him nominal
freedom, but he must come under the yoke
ola new servitude-the servitude to Capi-
tai. We have only to observe the condi-
ton Of the poor slaves of Capital, in all na-
tions, where u thick population exists, to
be convinced that frightful bondage
crushes the poor toiler, although nominally
free, and that the liberty he possesses is
hollow thing. He possesses, for example,
the liberty to toll for sixteen hours O day
at repuls!ve and monotonous round Of la-
Dor, receiving just enough wages to keep
body and soul together, harassed by killing
anxieties, for fear that he shall lose even
this poor toll, and be left to die, in sickness
or old age, in poor-house or hospital In
demanding liberty for the Laborer, should
we not demand a higher liberty than this?
There can be no elevation Of the Slave,
the Serf, the HireIing to condition OF true
freedom and independence, to condition
worthy of rational beings, without an In
dus,rial Reform, and the Organization Of
Labor upon true and natural basis.
1t will be found impossible to establish
q pure religion on earth; to clear the exist
ing systems Of the many imperfections and
absurdities that characterize them; 10 free
the minds Of men from the bondage Of su-
pers.ition, Or groveling beliefs, SO long as
poverty and ignorance degrade mankind
physically and morally. How can pure
and elevated religious sentiment ho devel-
oped in the mHds Of miserable and degra-
ded laborers on the one hand, who are seek
ing only for crust Of bread, and whose
whole thought is upon it; Or in the minds
of men, on the other hand. who are intent
only on delrauding, cheating, and plum
dering the producing classes by the thous-
and vile tricks of commerce., finance, mo-
nopoly, usury, &c, in order to obtain the
products Of labor without the trouble and
the dishonor Of engaging in it? ......
1t will be impossible to. correct the op-
pressions Of Monopoly, the tricks and
frauds of Trade, the extortions Of Capital,
the injustice of EMPLOYERS and Masters,
so long as a repugnant and dishonorable
systems ofLabor induces, and even forces,
men to resort to all those means TO obtain
wealth, and escape, at the same time, the
burthen of producing it. Labor must be
digni6ed and rendered attractive, in order
to induce all men to engage voluntarily in
its pursuits, and thus: create honestly by
their own efforts the objects necessary to
their wants and comforts. .-.s
1t will be found impossible to elevate
the condition Of Woman, to render her pc
cuniarily independent, the mistress Of her
genial sphere of action is opened to her in
the great field Of Industry, so long as she
cannot earn honorably her oaon livelihood
by her Darn efforts, and thus free herself
from all pecuniary dependence on man.
Fhe question of woman's independence
and elevation-on which depends the, puri-
ty of the love relations in society, and con-
sequently purity in the whole family sphere
can only be met and solved by an in
dustrial reform, which shall secure 10 her
congenial and noble spheres Of activity,
pecuniary independence, and, as q conse-
quence, an entire enfranchisement from the
dictation and laws Of the male sex-which
should govern him in politics Snd industry,
but not in marriage and the family.
1t is useless to multiply examples; these
few are sufficient to show US that the sab
ject of Labor lies at the foundation of oil
social questions, and that this Reform must
be undertaken and achieved to secure the
triumph of all other reforms.
1t will be asked: how is this reform to
be commenced and carried out? We will
not enter upon this important subject at
present. Let the reader reflect upon the
necessary of the Reform; let him see and
feel that 1t as the Fundamental condition
of all Social Progress; and improvement in
the condition OF mankind, and when he is
convinced of the grandeur and importance
of what now appears SO humble meas
ure, he will seek earnestly for solution,
and be fully prepared to receive and up
preciate it. -- . s-.s