Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-09-26
Labor, the basin OF National Wealth


Day export scott county Tuesday a.
Labor, the basis OF National Wealth.
The secret OF American prosperity,
lie found IN the tact, that AN immense
majority OF the people of this country
belong to the laboring classes. This
lsboring class IS 10y no means confined
at so much per dav, ior their employ
ers, but il includes large class Of
those who are independent IN wealth
who own farms, estates, and property
Of their own, aud labor, like their en-
ployers, with their own hands. This
regard for labor which ceyates il
To- its true dignity, 10y placing employ
eli and employee upon the same level,ls
found in no other country Oh the
globe, SO that here almost the entire
population, Ia composed Of that demo
cratic equality in labor movements,
which excludes the forms ton OF An eN'
elusive aristocracy OF non-producers, 10
eat ont the substance, and become pen
sioners upon the labor OF the country
NJ is the case in Great Britain. The
d.gatty o''ubor is therefore, jmiy recog
u.sed This also inspires feeling o'
contempt IN the public mind, towards
those who neglect OF refuse to enter
into industrial pursuits, which IN a
measure ostracises them from the pub
lie regard. The laboring classes are
therefore the most intelligent, uprigh,
prosperous, and d'guliied "i all men II
thisRepubic and produce awlde sprca
prosperity that reaches down to tn.
lowest depths Of human society. with
nu elev&tiug power that produces IN
evitable reformation and regeneration
In England labor is mcnlal ami nm
dignifed pursuit, aud the lahorine
classes are regarded AS the property
and under stratum OF the aristocracy
necessary to its support, Int disqual'
fed for EQUALITY of social, political, oi
personal rights, with those who boast
Of gentle blood. Here, the farmer and
his employees swing their scythcs II
company, each feeling the dignity o
labor aud the equality OF men, Here
the manufacturer is the best workman
in the establishment, and personally su-
perinteuds the labor of his business
So IN almost every pursuit "i lite =
None but small class OF nlncompo"ps
are ashamed ofthe soiled hand and the
vigorous muscle Of the laborine man.
Each feels himself peer Of the proud
est, whether employer OF employee -
Hence, the nation is a nation OF Iaoor'
sr,, and prosperity, happiness and
wealth attend every pursuit in life, and
producers outnumber non-producers as
nine to one. A nation of laborers 10
selfeustainiug and independent of all
foreign assistance. II is not depend
ent on commerce for its prosperity, II
the departments OF labor are rightly
adjusted and evenly distributed. In n
new country like our own, tins nicely
adjusted balance is almost impossible.
The agricultural pursuits and prodnc-
tons will preponderate over the manu-
featuring interests, creating surplus
OF productions for the employment OF
commerce. Ii the producing classes
could be equal to and not greater than
the manufacturing and other classes,so
that productions would be required. eA-
changed and consumed at home and
manufactures should he just equal to
the supply of manufactured articles,
commerce would dwindlc into insig-
uiticance. and the United States might
initiate China, abandon commerce tor
want Of surplus articles for expectation
and our people would become absolute
ly independent in every department OF
business. But We cannot expect to ar
rive at that desirable independence, SO
long as the vast facilities for profitable
production employ a large majority Of
the people in producing an immense
surplus above the consumption. This
surplus must be exported for that
which We need and which we do not
produce at home. Ii we could adjust
labor 80 a to supply all the varied
wants of the nation from industrial
pursuits within the country, there
would still be surplus for the EN-
ployment Of commerce in expectation
and specie would then how into thu
country in exchange.
We shall ultimately attain that sub
lius condition Of national indepeud-
suce, when our productions will be 50
varied - to supply every want and
the susplas ~ sxpesssdia exchange for
ed. 81 ! ditiliss = labor wsala
seChnllllt n1pea aalisa0 indspsna-
"a No ~ ~ tesslbssy, ths ssil
~ slnn1l1 - - unsaA onenaasel