The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-29
Socialists on the Philosophy of Labor.


thicker every day, as they founder about on the
shaking and quaking quagmire of socialism. They
now cry out, with insulting contumely, about shire
ling wages" and would make the whole world
believe that, Instead of standing upon shifting
and dangerous bog that they on the only terra
fr5ad of politics The experience Of ages-the
history of labor for many centuries, has not sim
gle truth, in their opinion in favor of the establish
ed order of things. They cry aloud about the
hardships to which labor rs subjected, without pro-
posing any remedy that has not been tried, in vain,
and over again-a remedy which this repub-
lican country does not need and which ii never
will swallow. What is this remedy Why, no.
thing more than neutrality-suspicious.. Now,
who does not know that, in France and England,
this principle of association has been practically
proved 10 be baseless and futile illusion, during
the progress of which the managers of every assoc
citation have become enriched at the expense of the
laboreTs In not one instance has there been
known a broad beneficial result. The chartist
associations of England have all been one COM
mon history of one common fact, namely, that the
aeitators, in the shape of secretaries, treasurers
and presidents, have lived upon the credulous VIC
Tins, who have entertained their plausible but yet
absurd doctrines. There are some of these very
tIeasurers, who have absconded with the funds of
the English laborers, among us now, and what
part they may take in these sociastic movements,
for chance of repeating their criminal conduct
the future will fully disclose.
1t is the common experience of man that any
partnerships are dangerous They are always
troubesOme-require intense watchfulness-are
seldom productive individual skill, practically
applied-cause many deferred hopes, upon which
poor families cannot very satisfactorily feed-are
liable TO be involved in debt-are always separated
from at a severe loss, and are never advocated as
beneficial, upon any broad and general principle,
except by designing and scheming men. So bane-
full have partnerships become-so liable are they
TO mischsnce and misfortune, that the State has
been applied 10 for charters, in order 10 make
them subject to special privileges. Hence it is
that these associations have been looked upon with
suspicion, detrimental TO the interests of labor.
Had railroad corporations been restricted to the
Of American iron, instead of being supplied,
by their charters with facilities for its Importation
We should not hear a single complaint with respect
to the failure of the private iron establishments Of
the country These partnerships have done mis-
chief to labor by absorbing the spare capital of the
farmer TO feed the English laborer, who works for
two shillings per day, and the money thus taken
from agriculture, in spite of all theories to the con-
trary, cannot come back as it would, if circulated
among our swn people. Yet we are asked to null
tply, not only these privileged partnerships, but
associations Of every name and nature.
However, we doubt very seriously, il the attempt
Of Ignorant Missionaries to produce any permanent
socialistic movement, will prevail. Our laborers-
and We are all laborers, either with the head, the
he's he he
render their intelligence to these political mounte-
banks, these imitators Of Fanny Wright, of Robert
Owen, Mary Wollstonecraft, Goodwin, and Fourier
The history Of all our great men-of even the pre-
sent incumbent of the Presidential charts prac-
teal illustration Of the soundness of our labor
system. "Where there is a will there is way"
in this country, above ell others. Men can arise,
by the application of labor and talent to any station
even the most exalted. The pursuit of wealth
is the easiest Of all occupations independence
can always be secured by any one who devotes his
mind TO the mere acquisition Of money. Such a
result invariably crowns ordinary application, COM
bined with economy, prudence, and practical
adaptation of means to end, IL this is not
enough TO satisfy any man, who Is not infected
with the madness Of foreign discomfort, 1t will be
in vain to find any consolation, even from the
boosted associations, whose fate is as easily
predicted as that Of the appearance Of the rising
sun, or the ebbng Of the tide But one termination
has characterized visionary labor schemes in Eu-
rope and the United States. Here there are more
reasons for their failure than exist in foreign
tries. Or rather, here does not exist single rea-
son for the establishment Of any combination, be-
yond that which may be necessary for the inter-
change Of thought on topics interesting to the
cause OF labor generally. Maiured views on the
subject abousd to such an extent, that We should
do injustice TO the practical sagacy Of the citizens
Of this country, by an attempt at a close argument
upon points 30 obvious TO the intuition Of msn Our
duty lies in another path. Il is bounded by other
considerations. We are 10 seek the cause Of the
present attempt TO array folly and prejudice against
the capitalist or employer. Believing that labor
moves capital, and not the old saw that capital
moves labor. We have faith in tie power Of diff
cultes, in this country, to right themselves. There
may be causes why any given trade may suffer
from n depression Of prices, beyond the forced cure
Of men. Ten thousand taiors suddenly landed in
this metropolis anxious for their daily bread, may
glui the labor market The remedy for this would
he in time and change, and not in any forced appli-
cation to prevent the result OF so unpleasant an
arrival. The boundless continent is open TO enter
prize. Scarcely village Is without its wants
many towns ere wholly destitute Of laborers in
many branches Of trade, the tailor's included and
the country must be sought, to reduce the glui on
the Atlantic board. There are shutting politi-
cians. in loose boots and dsordered trousers who,
Of course viii take advantage of any dscontentand
uneasiness. TO apply plasiers 10 the wounds in
fctsd. such plasters, however, may prove 20 be
h.tsiers-pohtiCal hlisiers, 10 draw out little in
hamnatory matter az the TALL elections.
TIM EMIGRATION TO CALIFORNIA. -According TO
present appearances, there will be a tremendous
emigration from the Atlantic States TO California
during the present year. Up to the seventeenth %
June last, We are automatically informed that some
thirty thousand adventsrers passed Fort Laramie,
on the overland route to the modern III Dorado;