The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-08-05
COOPERATION VERSUS COMPETITION.


~~-~~~>~~>~~~~->->7-->~~-- d
Lecture by 1Ir. Robert Crowe-The Past and
the Future Of the Working Glasses.
lecture was delivered yesterday afternoon at the
Farmer Institute Ludlow street. by Mr. Robert Grove
Incorporation versus Competition" After few In
troductory remarks, be spoke as follows:-The fun
damenal axiom of Political Economists in every age and
country with few modern exceptious has been that
"man can provide better for himself and more ad-
vantageousy for the public, when Left to his own IN
dvidual exertons opposed and in composition with
his fellows than when aided by any social arrangements
which should tend unite bis interests individually and
generally society" In fact the principle Of Individual
interest, though anti SOCIAL impoc and irrational In
It's results is proclaimed by the most distinguished
political economists be tho very corner Of our
social system, without which society could not exist.
This system has in the past prevailed with no apparent
opposition. Empires have crept from the womb OF bar
barism to an exalted condition OF civlization-but
only on the half obliterated page OF history
can be traced the faintest evidence OF
their former existence and other nations now onrsh-
ing the ruins OF those former ones present such an
array Of national strength incline to believe that
time will be poweress to affect them Prominent among
the nations Of our time stands England, though
shall have advert other countries, yet TO
her turn with greater confidence, because anording
more ample scope for investigation In no other coun-
Try nave tne consequences OF the cOnpetitlNc SYSTEM
been so fearfuy developed The natural consequences
Of this system is to cenraize power wealth aud fame,
and an illustration of this let the condition OF the
canais of France, the great unwashed and swinish
multitude OF England and the mudsils Of Northern
States bear witness Nor does the evil end here The
individual system Is mixture Of extremes as 10 power
wealth and poverty, and those concomtants nsepa
rably linked 10 despotsm the one hand and slavery
on the other Privilege and caste divided the world
other by the individual principle and this bdivsIon
OF society by caste the whole from the high
ha lAuun- rhnltt hat ha unrld nva
regards his fellow man not as coequal, but rival,
whom it is the business Of his life TO outstrp or
mate fruit of the individual system We inca-
cate il upon the child at birth; in their
as II
tom best adapted to the capacity OF man, because
IL afforded necessary stimulus to his lnantine cond
ton; but knowledge formerly the exclusive properly
of the few by its very diusiveness demands change
the rapid development OF machinery lessening the labor
of men, but forcing 10 acquire additional know
willing to admit the individual competitive system TO
DO tue mos; natural tho origin OF human society,
also see that many evils OF which we justly complain
their origin to this source. In the first place u
has established universal seHshness observable in all
the relations of life. and from this selhshness has
sprung the Legislation i'm all nations OF the world favor
ing production without corresponding regard 10 tho
distribution OF labor's results Thus have created
a civil warfare between individuals engaged in the
profession business Their interests made TO
appear anagonistcaud 80 envy, jealousy anger fraud
all Of which may be summed up in the modern word
smart" generated. Another evil resulting from
the present system the temptation, nay the necessity
artificial wants. 10 minister 10 the tnordnate
demands OF that scishpes which is the motive power
OF the whole system. and consequence increased
the intensity or those passions and
defy the regulating power OF law. This reasoning
may appear strange; but would he stranger still 10
produce reason why many should be exposed 10
poverty and want That such ia the case is evident
and for its existence may be found IN the fact
that there exists unnatural limit TO the produce
ton OF wealth. Prssumng that the exhaustion Of
productive powers ana tho satisfaction OF our wants
are the only natural limits, what then is the
mate product Of the individual system. To Illus
trate this let me say that the quantity OF wealth
which working man receives is always tho least that
has labor be purchased tor according TO the political
economists of the Old SCHOOL, and the reason why he
does obtain twice the quantity is he
individual demanded more, another individual would
offer to for less; other words he finds in
the necessities Of his fellow WORM n competitor
When tns principle is clearly understood mon will see
that the exhaustion OF our productive powers and the
satisfaction Of wants are the only natural limits 10
the production Of wealth; that SO long capital shall
be employed competition with capital instead Of in
conjunction with it, shall satisfy wants
exhaust productive About the year 1927 It
was estimated in Great Britain alone the application
Of scientific power to production cqualcd the added
manual labor Of four hundred million ADULTS that to
tina. time i've millions il would require population Of
four hundred millions OF workmcn 70 produce the
amount produced BY labor saving machinery.
was introduced within tho last century But
while the power OF production has thus Increased.
has remuneration given TO the laborer Increased in
similar proportion Let the universal poverty Great
britain TO day answers land pronounced by competent
authorities to be richest the poorest
ton on the earth--le tho enormous rate OF taxation
upon people boar witness But this taxaiion severe
though It Is cannot be considered as the prime cause
Miles, states that 1928 the tax sl03 per bead
or onc-forteth OF Brain's wealth. Tho true solution
be sought for In the false system of commerce
exchange. IL may DO said that an unlimited inter
change OF products cannot possibly deprive the work
man OF the produce OF his labor: blt answer that com
merce unfrequen,ly compelled sell their wealth
under prime cost OF the raw materials tnus forfeit
ing whole OF the pront resulting from The labor per-
formed; and this result Is more certain TO follow
among the wealthy Than the poorer nations Now LEI
me ask TO what condition will this constantly ncrcas
ing application OF scientific power under the present
system lead usS I answer, to national bankruptcy
and ruin--to universal pauperism and starvation
on what interest Is il to the tong slave that these
animate competitors muitipy-uncousuming and peri
petually industrious working slaves Nothing Their
labor brought into the market TO sell against the labor
of man. Bringing this part of my subject a close
let mo give you few evidences OF result Of this
system 10 a general FIRST, the concentrs-
ton Of wealth, lind that in 1885 the soil of England
was owned by $50 O00 in 1922 or thirty six years aer
the number fell TO 300o0, aud order 10 illustrate
way in which this ccntralzing system has been con-
Quoted take the foo.ing:rhe Marquis Of Breadalbane
rides one hundred miles straight line his
grounds; the Duke o: Sutherland owns the country
from 70 and the Duke OF DevonshIre besides
other estates owns 90, 900 in Derby On these
very estates the average wages Of the aDorer is niue
shipgs or 50 10 per week aud from carefully prepared
table ind that the average wages Of the agricultural
aporers Of England and Ireland thirty cent
per day, mud himself and only half employment that
turning the further consideration OF this system
frauehf with horror and disgust gladly another
theme Surrounded every hand with the results OF
their toll the thoughtful among the children Of labor
voluntary exca Is there no escape is the great bulk
Of humanIty doomed toetcrna unreinitug toll
no the dark desert Of desparro bright
hope guide the toing millions 10 coveted ha-
Yes the long looked f,r boon within our grasp
The lecturer then enlarged upon the history pros
poets Of cooperation he stated that al the present
mere In England tho-sand cooperative instiu-
mons, With membership OF two hundred thousand and
representing invested capital OF eight millions This
MAJ OF only vaar In