New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1861-12-13

and without which he cannot with SO fuil
efficiency serve the country.--lt has been
said that one bad General is better than two
good ones. and the saying is true 1t taken that
an army is better directed by a single mind
though inferior, than by two superior ones
at variance and cross purposes, and the same
is true in all joint operations wherein those
engaged can have none but common end
in view. and can differ only as to the choice
Of means In y steamer at sea. none on
board can wish the ship to sink, and yet not
unfrcouentlv all 90 down together because
too many will direct. and no single mind can
be allowed to control,
It continues to develop thas the instruction
is largely if not exclusively war upon the
first principles Of popular eovernment-the
rights of the people. Conclusive evidence OF
this is found in the most grave and maturely
considered public documents, as well as in
the general tone of the insurgents. In those
documents we find the abridgment of the ex-
istinr right of suffrage and the denial to the
neoplc of all right to participate in the selec-
ton If. public official, except the legislative
body. advocated with labored arguments to
prove that large control in the Government
in the people is the sourse Of all political evil.
Monarchy itselfis sometimes limited at rs
possible refuge from the power of the people.
In the present position could scarcely be
justified were | to omit 10 raise warning
voice against this approach of returning des'
potism. 1t is not needed or fitting here that
general argument should be made in favor
of popu lar institutions. but there is one point
with its connection not so hackneyed as most
others, to which, ask brief attention. 1t
is the effort to place capital on an equal foot
ing with. if not above labor, in the structure
of Government. 1t is assumed that labor is
available only in connection with capital that
nobody labors unless somebody else owning
capital somehow by the use oft induces him
to labor. This assumed, it is next considered
whether it best that capital shall hire la
borers and thus induce them to work by their
own consent or buy them and drive them to
it without their consent. Having proceeded
so far it Is naturally concluded that all la
borers are either hired laborsrs or what We
call slaves, and further it is assumed that
whoever is orce hired laborer, is fixed in
that condition for life Now there is no such
relation between capital and labor as as
sumed. nor is there any such thing as free
man being fixed for life in the condition of a
hired laborer. Both of these assumptions are
false. and all differences from them are
sroundcss. Labor is independent Of capital
capital is only the fruit of labor, and could
never have existed if labor had not first exist
ed-Labor is the superior of capital, and
deserves much the higher consideration
Capital has its rights, which are as worthy
Of protection as any other rights; nor is it
denied that there is and probably always
will be relation between labor and capt.
tai Producing mutual benefits the error is
IN assuming that the whole labor of eommu-
nifty exists within that rtlation A few men
own capital, and that few avoid labor and
with their capital hire or buy few to labor
for them: large majority belong to neither
class-neither work or have other persons
working for them In most of the Southern
States majority of the whole people of all
colors are neither slaves nor masters: while
in tho Northern States a large majority are
neither hirers nor hired men with families -
Wives. sons and daughters work for them
selves. on their farms, in their houses. and
in their shops, taking the whole product them
selves, ana asking no favors of ca pitsl on the
one hand or of hired laborers or Slaves on the
other 1t is not forgotten that considerable
number Of persons mingle their own labor
with capital. that is they labor with their
ou hands. and also buy or hire others to la.
hor for them: hat this is only mixed and
not distinct class. No principle stated is
disturbed by this mixed class. Again-as
has already been said-there is not of neces-
atty any such thing as few hired laborers
being fixed for that condition for life. Many
independent men every where in these States
a few years back IN their lives were hired
laborers-the prudent peuri'e beggar IN the
world !ahors for wages while and saves a
surplus with which to buy tools or land for
himself then labors on his own account, and
at length hires another new beginner to help
him. This is the lust and generous and pros
porous system which opens the way to all and
consequently energy, progress and improve
ment of the condition to all. No men living
are more worthy to be trusted than those who
toll mp Or on from poverty less inclined
to take or touch aught which they have not
honestly earned. Let them beware of sur
rendering political power which they al
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