New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-06-06

| felt all through life, from the child's creole 10
the old mans retreat, were secured by inc
manufacturer, who had at heart the interests
of his work people, and gave percentage Oh
his fortune toward the comfort OF those WHO
helped him earn it..
This picture is very attractive one TO the
eye but under closer examination the attract
iyeness disappears. Mr.. Reybaud may pro-
uo,ncc the objection "futile," and accuse those
who urge il OF standing on an excessively nice
point Of honor but it is in our we" Hanu
objection that this system Of patronage, II 1t
does not hurt the self-respect OF the Workman
must go far to prevent his having any SELL
respect 10y making him recipient OF very cum
ningly devised but of very palpable AIMS AL
the bottom of the kindness turks the ldea that
the capitalist and the operative are not OF inc
same kind.
WHY should capital patronizc labor? Capital
is nothing but labor under another form 1t IS
labor accumulated, labor in its results. Why
should past labor patronize presentT why
should labor accumulated patrOnlze labor accu-
mulating2 Why should the results OF labor pat
ronizc labor seeking for results ? In the old
countries of Europe, where the working classes
have few privileges and no high ones; where
they obey laws but do not make them, and
submit to governments they have no share III
organizing, the system of patronage could DO
no harm. The working people are subjects,
with little self-respect to destroy. But here
where the working man is a free citizen,
with civil rights equal to anybody's and
political power as much as the proudest
possesses, the quality of sef-respect
should be jealousy guarded and anXIously
developed II is better that the working man
should go without privileges, and even almost
indispensable comforts, ill nc can earn them
for himself, than that he should owe them to
a good will which treats him as an inferior, or
TO a kindness which he cannot repay. The
| law of sympathy may have its limitations both
in method and in principle Mt all events, 1t
must recognize the law Of equal manhood, OF
il ceases 20 be law Of sympathy, and becomes
n law OF c0ndcsccnsion, which unintcntionaiiy
insults while il benefits. There is absurdlty IN
the idea that ones simple manhood should he
acknowledged in every sphere OF existence cX-
| ccpt that in which he makes his liyclihood-that
the politician should confess it, but not the capt.
talist the ruler, but not the inancier; the
! Government, but not the banker. We are,
| therefore, among those who rejoice that the
/ lonely system of patronage has passed away
that It does not work that the laborer rebels
| AGAINST il even in suIly fashion, and we wei
come cordially the coming of the cooperative
system, the only system that promises ianly to
s,,pplanl it, by making the labcrer his own
capitalist, aud by practically teaching him how
he may he both workman and employer.
! There are many things TO be said about the
cooperative system that is now exciting inter
est at home aud abroad but first of all this Is
to be said, that il seems 10 MS thus far the only
! system that makes the Ahorcr respect himself
and prove his title to be respected. We shall
! hone To make this further appear.