Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-04-09
LAB O r

labor. We all know how the cry for the
means Of obtaining livelihood, has again
and again resounded through the marts of
European commerce, and reverberated even
among the Halls of Royalty. We have all
shuddered at the horrible pictures of pow
erty, restitution, and consequently of crime,
which have been portrayed by the hand of
genius, and displayed in the statistical re
ports Of the Statesman. Is this happy
land which is free from so many of the
evils that in other parts of the world often
make existence curse free from all the
causes which conduce to make one portion
of society very rich, and the other very
poor? For from that unequal distribution
of wealth, flows the lamentable results at
which We have glanced.
In the revolution by which this country
was severed from it's original government,
social evils were not the causes of that sep
aration.
The evils complained of were political,
and the remedy applied was political The
yoke of monarchial authority, and the rule
of aristocratic power were broken but the
social influences which were in existence,
were left undisturbed or, if touched, only
incidentally. Our separation from Euro
pean government then, was change of
political condition-Dot of social system.
1t will follow from this, that govern
ment may be changed from monarchical to
republican, from despotic to free, without
directly affecting the social principles that
exist in custom, and are embodied in legis-
lative enactment. The problem of the re-
enumeration of labor will be proof Of this.
Labor is commodity, and like all other
commodities, is bought and Sold Like
other mercantile articles also, its price is
regulated by supply and demand If FIVE
employers want ten men, and only eight can
be obtained, the employers will bid higher
price to gain what they lack. If only ten
men are wanted, and twelve men are seek
ing employment, they will take lower
price to gain their object. This principle
governs entirely what is called the relative
price of things. The absolute price may be
modified by other causes, as prices have
now risen in consequence of the increase of
gold. This alteration, however, is more ap-
parent than real.
Like everything else, de mand and supply
will regulate the price at which labor is
sold, but labor is under one disadvantage,
that very many other things have not to
submit to. If merchant has a stock of
silk handkerchiefs on hand, and the price
offered for them in the ket is low, he
may hold them back until the market i'm
proves. When the price Of labor is low,
the laborer must still offer his commodity
for sale; tor while the handkerchief can
lie uninjured on the shelf, the laborer must
eat and drink. While capital can wait for
favorable opportunity, the laborer must
sell, though at loss. Under the operation
of the law of supply and demand, then
there is a tendency in society to fall into
the extremes of very rich, and very poor.
This tendency is just as powerful under a
republican as monarchical government;
and, consequently, unless correcting prin-
ciple is in operation, to modify the action of
the great law of supply and demand the
scenes that have appeared so horrible in
Europe, will be witnessed On our own soil.
The resource our immense unoccupied ter
ritory furnishes, assist to postpone the evil
day; but the complaints and murmur-
ings that already resound amid the throng
OF artificers, is proof of the truth of our re-
marks. Those truly benevolent minds
that blend wisdom with their kindness, and
know how much better it is to prevent than
to relieve distress, will enter with interest
into the enquiry-how can our political in
stitutions be made instrument of social i'm
provement?
RSr BE SURE You ADvERT1sE.-Mer-