The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-04-19
LABOR,

tiiS law III i1ldil , QeNelObillPtt- IIQ-I3s7
and happiness. We now add, that by
labor, everything valuable III the prog
ress OF civilization, has been produced.
Wherever we look upon human society,
in its different departments and infinite
ly varied relations and interests. we dis
cover the results Of human labor. The
very structure Of society and govern
ment-tbe formatieaof language, Whose
constant use. scarcely diYests it Of is
almost miraculous character; the fra
ming and establishment Of systems OF
law and education; the discoveries Of
science; the achievements Of art; the
Improvements and products in agri
culture, commerce, trade. mechanics.
manufactures the means, 50 Wondfoas,
for the diffusion of knowledge, the
transmission Of thought over the
earth; indeed, everything which has
marked the advancement Of our race;
everything which has added 10 mans
security, wealth, power, DIGNITY in the
social state, is the product OF Labor,
physical or intellectual. Capital even.
which. IN it, rapid accumulation With
the growth of nations, and the improve
ments Of modern ages, has assumed %
control labor, and sometimes with q
hand Of iron is nothing but one Of its
products, and entirely dependent upon
it for is value. Without labor, capital
is both peWerless and VaIueless. re be
valuable, capital must be productive:
and to be productive it ms be united
with labor. Money boarded up in cof
fers manufactures unoeeapied lands
lying waste; ships remaining idle IN
port; everything which constitutes capt.
tai, is uHproduetixe unless united with
labor; and if permanently disconnected
with Il, IS absolutely vaIueless. Capital,
it is true, is often reluctant 10 acknoNi-
edge such a relation Of dependence, and
relying on Its power to control labor
through It's necessities, often becomes
unjust, offensive and tyrannical toward
it; and labor pressed By its wants, be-
comes pusillanin9Hs, crinsing, serxile,
toward capital. Even i'll ctr own free
land, when manhood is taught by the
genius Of our freedom to stand unabash-
ed and erect in every presence but that
Of Con, we are forced sometimes to
witness the humiliating spectacle, ofhon
est, useful labor, with the lines Of gaunt
poverty deeply marked on its downeast
face, humbly begging the crumbs that
fall from the richly spread table of
proud, overbearing, bloated capital.
This should never be-and we would
say Of labor, whileit is its duty TO render
justice to capital, as affording, when
justly applied, facilities for its pursuits,
which nothing else can supply, yet it is
required by no obligation to bow its
neck to capital as its master. Labor
holds the position of highest honor in
the history OF the worlds advancement.
In the beginning, our Creator gave to
man his physical and intellectual ca
pacity to labor, and the earth to be the
theatre of his labors; and every step
forward in the progress OF our race,
every discovery that has shed new light
on mans pathway, and revealed to him
new sources Of strength and happiness :;
every achievement that has marked an
epoch in human history, given higher
elevation to human character, and open
ed brighter prospects upon human des-
tiny, are but monuments, reared along
the course of time, in honor OF what
Labor has wrought. Nowhere are its
triumphs more numerous and splendid
than amongst ourselves. The discovery
of the new world we occupy; its deep
shadows Of mental and moral night,
dispelled by the enkindled lights of
christian civilization; its mighty forests
subiugated and changed into smiling
fields, and hundred cities reared as
by magic, and splendid in their displays
of wealth, and in their architectural
beauty and grandeur; its unnumbered
villages adjoining hill and valley, and
furnishing the abodes Of eontentment
and peace; its natural resources deveI-
onad with a rapidity and success UNI