Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-02-19
THE TRUE BASIS.

THE TRUE BASIS.
The following article is copied from the
Continental Monthly of February: ssNever at
any stage of American history was there such
u crisis of ideas as at present, and never was
there such urgent necessity of setting prompt
ly, vigorously and clearly before the people
the great and new principles which this crisis
is bringing to life. SO vast are the issues in
volved, SO tremendous their inevitable conse-
quences, that We acquit OF exaggeration the
statesman who, in comparing, even the grad
nal unfolding OF the mighty past with this our
present, exclaimed, 'sNow is the first of the
worlds progress"
The reader is doubtless perfectly familiar
with the fact that in the battle between the
North and the South two opposite principles
are involved,-the same which have been at
the bottom of all wars for freedom, from the
beginning of time. The one party believes
that one portion of society must flourish at
the expense OF another part, of permanently
sunken class; while the other holds that his
tory proves that the lot of all persons in
commo nwealth is capable of being gradually
ameliOrated, and that in any case it is our sa-
cred duty to legislate for the poor, on this
basis, by allowing them equal rights, and max
ing every exertion to extend the best blessings
OF education to them, and open to every man,
without distinction, every avenue of employ
ment for which he is qualified.
The Northern party, or that of equal rights
and free labor, like their predecessors, hold
many ideas which coming years will see real
lied, for-as has always been the case in these
contests-science and learning are always on the
liberal side. BY strange accident, for the
first time almost in the history, the Republi-
can party is for once in its constituted rights,
on its own ground, while the feudal or conser-
vative wing form the aggressors. AS of old,
too, the Southern conservatives are enforcing
theories once the property Of their foes, who
have now advanced to broader, nobler and
more gloriousIy liberal views.
For instance, the men of the South believe
that labor and capital still antagonisms.
Now it is true enough that they once were,
and that when the people in different ages first
began TO re bel against their hereditary tyrants,
the workman was only serf to his capitalist
employer. That the age when dema-
gogues fourished by setting ssthe poor' "a
gainst sthe rich." A painful sckening series
of wars 1t was, ending too often by labor's
killing itself with its adversary. Then, foul,
false s'democracy'' was evolved, which was
virtually a rank aristocracy, not of nobility,
but Of those who could wheede the poor into
supporting them. Such was the history OF
nearly all ssradicalism" and .sdemOcracy' from
the days of Cleon and Alcibiades down to the
present time.
But the enormous developments of science
and Of industry have of late years opened
newer and broader views to the world. AS
capital had progressed in its action it is seen
that at every step labor is becoming-slowly,
but surely, as Heavens law-identitied with it.
The harmony of interests is now no longer a
vague Foureristic notion,-for nothing is
palmer than that the more the operative be-
comes interested in the success of the enter
prise which employs him, the better is it for
him and it. And all lUork in 1.-THE owner
ard the employee But then, we are told
that 'sthe owner gets the prodts.'' Does he
Sum up the companies and capitalists who
have failed during the past decade, compare
what they have lost with what they have paid
their workmen, and then see who have really
pocketed the money, and whe ther on the
whole the capitalists have been more than
properly repaid for their risks, and wear and
tear OF brains. To be sure we are yet far from
having realized a regularly arranged harmony
OF interests. But L see that here even in this
New England, there is nothing which the
great and most intelligent capitalists desire
more than this harmony, or syste m in which
every mans brains and labor shall be proper
ly and abundant ly remunerated since they
see (as all must see who refect) that the near
er we approach such practical adjustment of
forces, the less liable will they be to fail. And
theworld ,as il has reflected that labor has -four
lshed among barren rocks, covering them
with smiling villages, under the fostering care
wilderness for want of harmony between it
and capital, has concluded tina. the old battle
between rich and poor was folly. The OBJ
scura hamlcts of New England, which have
within thirty years become beautiful towns,
with lyceums, Libraries, and schools, are the
most striking examples on earth of the arrant
lolly of this gabbe of scapital opposed to
70 labor" In the South, however, the old
theory is held as firmly as in the days when
John Randolph prephesied Northern insurrec-
lions of starving factory slaves against munu-
featuring lords, and-as President Lincoln
recently intimated in his Message-the effort
Is there being made to formally enslave labor
tocaPtal. That is to say, the South not only
saheres to the obsolete theory that labor is
zoe to capital, but proposes to subdue 1t to
,9e me latter. The progress of free labor in the
North is, however, constantly increasing
proof that labor is capital.
Let the reader carefully digest this state
Ient, and regard it not as an abstraction of
pohtlcal economy, but setting forth vital
ruin Intimately allied to our closest interests,
aaa 10 future involving the most serious g.
%ergencies. We are at crisis which de-
lands new influx Of political thought and