The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1853-06-23


making war upon capital to the following
sensible article from the NeU York Dem
Ocrat, the organ Of that party in New
York city. There is good sense and
sound philosophy in it:
"EviIs of Capital"
There is such tendency in portion
of what is called the "reform press OF the
United States TO decry the "evils Of
capital" and to abuse "capitalsts," that
large class has really come 10 regard
all capitalist as necessarily the enemies
of all poor people. 1t is great mistake,
and great folly.
What is "capitall" There is no magic
or mystery about it. It is nothing but
boarded labor 1t is the result of all
preceding labor Of which the individual,
whethr honestly or not, has somehow or
other come in possession. 1t represents
past labor; and by that fact it becomes THE
remuneration Of Presen: toll. All money
is but a convenlionalism TO US that so
much toll has, by somembody or other,
been already expended; and the party
possessing money is recognized by soci'
ely as having a property in the fruits Of
the labor which was SO expended. Ac-
cordingly, from the very earliest times,
the need of such a medium as money has
been felt. The precious metals have no
particular intrinsic worth, yet have, on
various accounts. the recommendation Of
commerce for the purpose. As TO in.
lrinsic worth, il any one were lett, like
Robinson Crusoe, on a desolate island,
he would find Ratchet ol iron a much
more valuable tool than one of gold or
silver. But the proportion in which these
metals are found, and variety Of cir
cumstances, have, from all early age ol
the history of mankind, recommended
them for this purpose. They were used
even before governments coined them for
money, by weight, as a medium Of ex'
change.
Nor is this the only form of capital
1t exists also in the facilities for labor
formed directly by the agency of labor
itself-in buildings suitable for carrying
on different operations, the machinery
which is necessary in multiplying the
power Of those who toll, or in cheapening
the commodity they produce. The mo.
ment that labor realizes more Tor an in.
dividual than he deems neediul for pros.
ent consumption--the moment he begins
to put something by, and applies that to
tho production of other resuts-from
that time he has capital in the world; and
he would have it thought there wero but
one man upon earth. and he himself toll
ing day and night. Whatever he puts by
as surplus 10 facilitate future operations,
that, strictly and promptly, is capital,
The Indian who is disabled Tor the
chase, but who has q bow and arrows
which he lends to another in order that
he may bring him home a portion Of the
game he kills, is capitalist, The lar.
mer who may have no cash in his pocket
but vino has loaf and plow, end who
finds man willing TO drive that plow on
condition that he may eat The loaf, he is
the capitalist in the labor market, and the
plowman is his customer skill and
strength are capital; they are the result
of years OF exerton, which has kept the
muscular system in order. Bones and
brains are capital as truly as miles of
dock and warehouses, fleets of ships,
towering factories, or piles of gold. So
that, strictly speaking, there is no person
in the world but he is or may be cupi.
talist. although he may be a laborer at
the same time; and It is only in broad,
rough way that we draw the line of dis.
tinolion, leaving ono side of il the great
mass of those who toll, and on the other
side Of II those who, by their possession
Of sufficient means, take 10 themselves or
have bestowed upon them, in popular
way OF speaking,the title OF capitalist
The relation between them is constituted
by the payment Of wages. II is II bar.
gain between the one and the other, in
whatever form II may pass. whether
merely for food, slsllnng. and shelter, or
for the largest money remuneration,
We see, then, that this thing called
"capital" which the."progressiSe" jour.
mails Of the day would Rave Us believe is
such very wizard and devil, is nothing
but PRESCRIBED labor, without which there
could be no reward for present toll beyond
the immediate supply Of mans physical
wants. Like oil other great blessings il
is liable TO great abuse in the hands Of.
bad men; but to talk of destroying il on
that account would be like proposing to
cut off mans legs 10 rid his Of heavy
pair Of boots, What says our Socialist
neighbor of the Tribune 10 thatl-Na.
tioaai Democrat,