New-York tribune., 1867-04-05
COOPERATION.
ANOTHER LETT

ANOTHER LETTER FROM MR. RUsKIN.
On Friday, March % we published an interesting
letter from John Ruskin the cooperative movement
second letter the subject is as follows:
My DEAE D: Limiting the inquiry, then, for the
present proposed In che close Of my last letter. to the
practice would beg yOu to observe that the points at
issue in the comparison OF this system with at OF mas
.crship are by means hitherto frankly stated sin less
can they as vet be fairly brought 20 test for all master
ship not alike Ia principles there are just ana UNJUST
tcrOr but that CoUcratye partnership is better than
unjust ard tyraunOus I1a,tersp there is very great
room for doubt whether il be better than just and he
uignant mastcrshp At present you, every one OF yOu
speak and act rs IL there were only one alternative
namely between system in which profits shall be d
vidcd In due proportion among all and the present one
in which the workman is paid the least wages lie WIZ
take, under the pressure OF competition IN the ao0r mar
| kct But an intermediate method IS conceivable;
method which appears to me more prudent ana III It's u
Ultimate results more just than the cooperative one
| An arrangement may be supposed, ana nave goou
hope may day be effected by which every auDoI
dinac shall be paid sufficient and regaI Wtgts agcou @
ing to his rank by which due provision thal De made QnI
the profits Of the business Tor sick ana speranhuaed
workers. and by which the MASTER Dehg heiu
as minor king governor for the conduct as wen as
the comfort Of all those under his rule shall on that con
profits of tho business which the fact OF his being It's mas
ter may be assumed TO prove that he has organized by
! superior intellect and energy.
And think this principle Of regular wo@gesPaytingi @
events the prudent for this reason manly thaI IN
spite of all the cant which Is continually talked by cruel
ng content i'm the position in which Providence has placed
you thero is root OF the very deepest oesV trtl III
tered by inpd and unwise lips and received into doubt
embittered hearts H. indeed no eiIOrt had Deen
what services the youths of nation are individually
qualified any taken TO place those who nave un
in the offices they could best fulfill then to call the CON
fused wreck of social order and ie brought about p
| malicious collision and competition, an arrangement OF
Providence quite OF the most ns0ent ana Wlckeu
ways in which It is possible 10 take the name OF God III
vain" Bat IT, at the proper time earnest effort Dc
made place youths according To their capacities III the
occupations for which they are fitted hnk me system
OF organization will be finally found the best which gives
the least encouragement 70 thoughts OF any great future
The healthy sense Of progress which necessary to the
strength ana happiness OF men, does not consist IA he
anxiety of struggle attain higher place or rank but
i'm gradually nerfcctiug the manner and accomplishing
the ends OF the life which nave chosen or Nhch c
cumsances have determined FOR US. Ihus, hlnh the
object OF "a workmans ambition shall rot be to become
master but TO attain daily more subtle ana exemplary
skill in his own craft; TO save rom ms WAGES enough 70
enrich aud complete his home gradually with more del-
and substantial comforts ana TO lay by Snch store AZ
shall be sufficient for the happy nalehahcc Oh ms 1lu
age rendering him independent oil the He pIoNlaeu i1r
the sick and INDECENT ny INC aridngeinfht
and shall be sufficient also Tor the starring OF Ms chlcn
in rank Of life equal 10 ms own III hs wares iie hos
enough enable him 10 do this they arc unjuSty low II
th6y are raised 10 this adequate standard do not
think that by the possible Increase o M cams u1G[ con on
master he should be chticed into feyers hope OF an en-
tire change condition. and an almost necessary con
sequence pass his days In an anxious lscohteht win
Immediate circumstances ana conl"It!esa atpi ., IS
daily life. for which no subsequent success coulu hdeh
And am the more confident in this belief, because,
even sdppOdug gradual rise In social rank possible ior
me 10 think the elevation itself, when attained. would be
conducive to their happiness. The grounds Ot ts Olh
ION viii give you future letter; IN the present one
mus: pass 60 n more important point:
Naiiey that II this stability Oi condition be indeed &c
srable for those whom existing circumstance. might
seem to Justify discomfort. much more must u be good
and desirable who already possess every thhf
which cuu bO conceived necessary t0 hhppness II y o
mcrrst nsnnce Of seshness O preach contcntncnt 10
aborer who GETS thirty shiliugs week, While sup
pose active and plotting coyctoats 10 ne MrI'oIt
who has three th0nsnua y.af IN , IN, ~ ~
The uppCr example 10 the lower; ana 70
recommend and justify the restraint of HE ambition OF
their uforiors chiefly BY severe ana timely limitation o
And Without at present inquirng into the greater
les convenience Of the possible methods OF accomplishing
such object every detail IN Suggestions "l lhla h
uccosaafily furnishing separate matter or uspur VIII
merely state my long li1cd conviction that one oI te
mos. inuurt ami conditions the attainment Of health
fil system social economy would be tie restraint ol
the properties ana incomes Oi tho upper classes "lthh
certain fixed lms The temptation To use every energy
in the accumulation ui wealth being thus rtmoycd an
other ana higher ideal Of the duties oi advanced lIe
WOuid De- necessarily created IN The hadlhi mHu' b
limits OF wealth from cOniin'icidl tohptii.h 'HiHcI
success, ana earlier marriage WIN h ITO bcAth'tlt
moral results, would become possible to the young "Aue
the Older o. active intel. Ct Who's aGHDy ls now
lof or gnIcd I'D tic furtlrraucc thcr u.0Hcst
interest would be- induced uscNlshN o. occupy iieui-
selves in the sulcInt"mcuco q! punIc n.liudgD' OF
would b. .ouud natural uua prudent avuyh o choose the
mrmbcrs OF the Legislative body o The Commons ana 10
attach the ulc also peculiar huuurr u the poe
session OF which -uch coml4lc, hF "oud br I.lt az ~'Iu
more than replace tho unworthy taslacuHu oi being
supposed richer than others. which Co. many men s hs
principal charm OI their wealth Ana Hlhphri o Jaw "i
ih.- uurIOu would hr imposed un ITEMS Ntr W he
actual upper classes there j. hudrrauce la rs oihg
yioIruf ar unatrut pgocccIingri rrd th, viii en-
dcayOr to show you IN my neat le''ol T;sr' my
yours. -
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,,nBfttyN- rgrcgETJ NY