Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-03-13
The Greed of the Working Mems
Party.

There has been, for several years sprngng
up in all parts of the country, an organized par
ty calling themselves the WoRKINa MEMS
PARTY, which is yearly growing in numbers, and
may yet, we apprehend, become much more for
mdable than is now generally supposed, In
this view, and as their creed is imperfecty un-
derstood, we give the following from the .Nonpa-
rea, paper devoted to their interests, as en-
bracing the leading principles of their platform.
-ED.
1. All wealth is the product Of labor.
2. Those who perform all the labor should
have all the wealth.
3. There can never be more wealth in any
country than is sufficient to supply all the wants
of the people except when that country pos
sesses an unjust advantage over other nations.
4. Were the necessities of all supplied there
would be no surplus wealth.
s. 1t ie because many are in want that the
accumnlatlons of the rich man possess any val
ue-he who adds $4,000 per year to his estate,
adds so much for which his fellows suffer, be-
cause of the injustice that prevails.
6. Did the order of God and of Nature pre-
vail, none who labor could want; all would la
borand none would accumulate more than abun-
dance, which abundance all would have.
Z. 1t is because the many are made helpless
by unjust laws and evil circumstances, that the
few strong and energetic operators are enabled
to take advantage of the labor of the masses,
and at the expense of their toll and unsatsfed
wants, accumulate fortunes.
g. The man who neglects bis own advance
ment and devotes himself to money making,
profits by the evil state of things, he is enabled
to get that which he does not earn with his own
labor fairly rewarded-he gets what Others pro-
duce.
This is the only way in which all fortunes are
made.
Now what are the obligations which the rich
are under as to the use of all their wealth 1t
is to satisfy their own physical and mental wants
on scale of natural simplicity, and expend the
remainder of their income for the elevation of
the people. 1t is their duty TO estmare the
amount which they would haze to live upon, did
Justice prevail, and were the wants of all salts
fed. In other words, what amount can | use
which would also be within the reach of every
one else, did all mankind dwell together as breth
rem. This amount the rich man has right to
consume, but not cent more the remainder of
his income is taken from the labor Of others,
and he is bound to use it for the general good
Of man. 1t is not his to lavish in luxury and
extravaganza.
Let it not be said that some need more thar
others-that some can live on SlOO, while an
other will need $1,000. l will not allow you tC
judge how much can live upon,-your business
is to consider me and all other individuals equa
to yourself. One man may require more foot
than another; bat this difference is of SO smal
amount as not to demand any consideration r
the estimate.
The obligation of this rule must be enforced
upon the public mind before any great improve
ment can be made in society, This is the prin
ciple on which taxation for free schools is based
on which all that is called charity is founded
1t is not charity--it is partial restoration o.
that which has been taken away from the produ
cer--it is so much toward that ample Justice
which would be done were all the surplus wealth
of society devoted to the progress of human de-
velopement.
Let no man of fortune dream that this rule
will allow him to live in idleness mot so:-ht
that will not work ought not to eat-nO matteI
what his estate may be. He is as much bounC
to earn his own living-if able to do so-as i
he were not worth one cent.
By pressing this obligation upon the public
ample means will be obtained for every real in
strumentality of Progress. The rulers in soci
ETY. will not let go of the present laws, and es-
tablish system which will secure every one the
enjoyment of his natural rights, until they are
convinced of the truth of this great doctrine.
All who claim TO be Refcrmers and Philan
thropists, should be careful to observe this rule
of expenditure; for if they follow that avarice
which is the bane Of the times, they belle re-
form, and betray the Savior with kiss and fol
O. few pieces of silver They become the rea
Judasses in the apostical dispensations of the
Nineteenth Century.