The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1864-11-23
Work Hours and Wages.

The following extracts from the CoxsEa An
vrnInsa Of this city pre-en, . view Of the rels-
tons between wage. and capital, which 10 worthy
81 consideration. The subj"c, presses upon the st.
'en,,on Of the community 81 the present time and
its discussion can hardly fail to promote the gcn.
ersl well being exposing errors and leading " the
siopton OF sound principles Our contemporary
anys.
There are but two Legitimate modes ~ acquiring
prop~r'v-lsbor sn1 inheritance. fsbr consists
Of two kinds-phy seal aud mental. Tho first pro-
drces but little, and can lie lone by every able
botied person the latter 10 highly productive, and
can only be performed by those who, by education
and hy patient thought and Investigation, have
h'ted themselves for its exercise. Labor Is the
source az oil thin.s that have value. Tie useful
results o. labor arc denominstcd capital Present
labor Is comparatively unproductive without the
ses.tance Of cap tai, which Ia not monen but the
buildings, tho machincry, the tools, the raw ma.
terisls, the food and cothing. VI. means Of trims.
poriation. &C., &c, which, by their coinpoundiny
productive force place each Gay q sresier and
greater amount ~ enjoyment Al mans disposal.
Lstor would te almost vslueless unless its results
-cspitsl-~ere fully protected, not only in tue
| bands Of the lAborcr who works for himself, bu,
also in the hands Of the employer, or capitalist. who
romuntrstes labor for its efforts and thus becomes
last A. legimacly the owner Of i,s results o. does
the lsborer who works for his own sccouni
| Now can there be any real sniagonl.m between
1 Nv
| rot. They are cola orers IN u common object
beneficial TO both. Gao aids the other. Neither
can iniure tie other long both are fec 10 art
a. the interests may dictate. La orers mus, he
len tree to labor Tor themselves or for others, ne
| thew must deem most advantageous L. them selves
Thanks 20 the admirable natural laws that so
| bcneaclsily control man. wages are not, and can
not be fixed arbitrarily by either labor or captsl
| Had they tie power, whenever an opportunity
offered, short-sghtcd motives would lci.l labor to
| crush capital. and capital To crush labor, N ,hs
great inJdry Of both, and Of humanity a. ,aree,
But striet aud mpsrts justice Is constantly msin.
10 mol between these important interests by COM
petition, aud yet isuorant phiian'hrupists and
Legislators are daily btrugsl NC to otsru,t or anal.
hlste tbs great aud bepehtl& natural iaw, to he
great injury OF all.
Wages are entirely regulated by tho value Of
the results produced BY every spec es Of labor,
Wages IN CIiornA conformeA 20 the value OF the
soIl ~nieh eoulo ue Obtained ~ days labor,
unaidcd BY capital, ana not 10 what cap tai was
desruus o! Piyins 10 labor Aud wages fell IN
CAio ns IN proportion the quantity Of gold
l4iu nsned, tbaS could 10 gathered in Q DAY, by
LABOR uuaiued vy capital.
| Wien capital -,pei atcs with labor, tie results
otiated Jointly ty tnem are ,qg'taby divided be.
tween n! co" p auton. NEITHER can long Obtain
pe iuon eN sts petween capitalists AS well As lie.
tween lauuTc's but whichever human avs or CONF
u4uaIohs iAiet'cne 10 project or aid ether then
ialus,c ARISES AMI continues until tie cessation OF
Ihe human interference tn the tenetval acton
OF competition, Il capital AZ any occupation. OF.
LlLs uo'c, snd labor less, than it's JUS. share
selhshLcss Immediately leafs capital TO rush from
oiner enplcyments W the exc. pt ouslly profit.
able Que, ~ 10 tie same impulse Leads Ia ar 10
qut IA iaNof u ottcT more ohtable up2tious
and lhib eoutnues Until AL equ. IbrIutu 10 estab.
hshed N Tie iemuIeis.on received BY each.