Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-04-14

children Of the world. Wherever there
exists competition for the purchase of
labor, there the laborer has his choice
among employers, and the latter are not
only required to pay higher wages but
they are also required to treat their work
men and workwomen with the consider
alton that is due to fellow beings equal
in rights with themselves: but wherever
there is not competition for the purchase
of labor the laborer is a slave. compelled
to work for any who are willing to en-
ploy him. ard To receive at the hands OF
his employer low wages and the treat
ment of a slave, for slave he IS Here
is PLAIN and simple proposition, the
truth of which each of our r aders can
test for himself. II he lives in neigh
borhood in which there exists compcf
hon for the purchase n labor, he knows
that he can act as becOmcsa freeman in
determining for whom he Will work. and
the price he is willing TO receive for his
services but if he hives in one IN which
there is competition for the safe Of Ia
Dor, he knows well that 1t does not rest
with him TO determine either where he
will work or what shall be his wages.
Where all are farmers, there ram be
no competition for he purchase Of IT,
Dor, except Tor a few days IN harvest, but
there must be competition for the sale Of
labor during the rest Of the year OF
course, where all are farmers or planters,
the man who has labor to sell is at the
mercy of the few who desire TO buy it.
as is seen il our Southern States, where
the laborer is slave and IN Ireland,
where his condition is far worse than
that of the slaves OF the South and in
India, where men sell themselves for
long terms of years TO labor IN the West
Indies and in Portugal, where competl-
ton for the purchase of labor has no ex-
istence. Where, on the contrary, there
is a dlversllicalion OF employments, there
is steady improvement IN the condition
OF men, as they more and more acquire
the power 10 determine for themselves
Tor whom they will work aud what shall
be their reward. as is seen IN the rapid
improvement of the condition of the
pepole OF France, Belgium, and Ger
many, and especial, OF those of Russia.
where competition for the purchase of
labor Is increasing with wonderful rapid-
ity. DIverslhcaiIon Of employment is
absolutely necessary to produce compe-
tition for the purchase of labor. The
shoemaker does not need TO aurch,se
shoes, nor does the miner need to buy
coal, any more than tie farmer needs to
buy wheat or potatoes. Bring them to-
gether, aud combine with them the hat
ter, the tanner, the cotton-spinner the
maker of wollen cloth, and The smelter
and roller OF iron, and each Of them be-
comes competitor for the purchase of
the labor, or the products OF the labor.
OF all the others, and the wares of an
rise with the increase OF competition.
In order that labor may be productive.
1t must be aided 10y machinery. The
farmer could do Ilile with his lands bu,
when aided by the pillow, and the harrow
he may RAISE much wheat and corn
He could carry little on his shoulders.
but he may transport much when aided
by horse and wagon, aud sull more
when aided by locomotive engine or
ship. He could convert httle gram into
flour when provided only with a peslle
and mortar, but he may do much when
provided with mill. His wife could
convert little cotton into cloth when pro-
vided with a spinning wheel and hand
loom, but her labor becomes highly pro-
ducIive when aided by the splnning-len-
ny and the power-loom The more her
labors and those of her husband are
thus aided the larger will be the quanrl-
ty OF grain produced, the more readily
will II be converted into flour. the more
readily will 1t be carried To market. the
larger will be the quantity Of cloth for
which il will exchange. the greater will
be the quantity of food and of cloth to
be divided among the laborers. and the
greater will be the facility on the part OF
the laborer 10 acquire machinery of his
own, and TO become his own employer.
and 10 increase that dlfersifcation in the
employment of labor which tends to in
crease the competition for its purchase.
1t Will next, we think, be quite clear
TO our readers THAI me nearer the arisl-
mill is to the farm, the less will be the
labor required for converting tie wheat
INTO flour, the more will be the labor that
may be gwen TO the Improvement of the
farm, and the greater will be the power
oil the farmer 10 purchase shoes, hats,
coats, piows, or harrows, and thus ere
ate a demand for labor Equally clear
will II be that the nearer he can bring
the halter, the shoemaker. and the tailor.
the maker of plows and harrows, the less
Will be the loss of labor in exchanging
his wheat for their commodities, aud the
greater will be his power to purchase
books and newspapers, 10 educate lis
children, aud thus to introduce new var
ieues IN the demand for labor; aud each
such new variety in the demand for that
commodity tends 10 raise the wages of