The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-09-05

To the Editor Of the wosxHsxAs's ADvocArs.
(CONTIsUKD.)
NEW YORK, Aug. Y, 1905

(coSrISUKD.)
Usury is an old thing. Under the Mosaic
Law, it is, to the credit Of that Law, con-
demned in many cases where it is now prsc-
tised with mpunity-showing that the world
has not grown much better without, how
ever, necessarily implying fall of mankind
from a once perfect state), or that it has
learned to practice rascality Tor to use q
milder word, Overreachlng) on larger scale.
Usury, under this Law, while allowed to be
charged upon stranger, (which meant for
eigner) was prohibited against brother
(which meant countrynan), Dent, %, 20.
1t was forbidden against the poor-Ex
p, % From a stranger "waxer poor" as
well as brother, usury was not to be taken,
Lev %, 1851. More is said OF usury in
Ps. Is, 5, Prov. Is, 8. Eek. 1s, 8. The
primary meaning Of the word usury appears
to be, as it would seem tc imply, charge
for the use Of money without regard to the
rate Of interest, and there 10 nothing in the
Bible to show that it meant otherwise, that
know Of But commentators on the Bible
try Tor they seem to try) TO explain 1t TO
mean simply exorbitant, or unlawful, and
compound interest, as Clark in HE comments
on Ex. y, IS, Ps. Is, 8, and Prov. %, y.
The principle Of usury is equally condemned
in the Bible where il is for the use Of things
not money, rs "vlctuals "-see Lev. Is, 81,
and Deut. %, 10.
q su G.. a.
would like TO say that there IN no doubt
clergymen would be glad to explain usury in
the Bible to mean only exorbtant or COM
pound interest, especially those who may
own, land doubtless a great many do owD)
property invested in interest bearin4 stocks.
It is because the clergymen and members
of our churches do not live up to the Bible
better themselves, suspect, that they
mourn the evil in the world 80 Justify and
pathetically, ~ they do sometimes. IL has
been said, and have referred 10 ID and ad-
mitted it in former letter, that one Of the
disadvantages Of capital is that ID will waste
rapidly if not used. But to say this il to
tell but q part Of the truth, and such part
as it serves the capitalist to tell. For when
ia capital unemployed? 1t never need be,
| believe, in any case. 1t has only to seek
market, far or near, which it can do, we can
not doubt, with much greater facility than
labor can when il is unemployed. | will
not, however, further discuss this branch Of
the subject-sxcept to say that if capital il
unemployed at any time, and therefore must
rapidly waste, 1t Cor it, owners) cannot say
to labor I'VE do not want your services at
any prices j" but it is shown that Its Cor
their) dependence on labor is of the same
urgsnt-even beggarly-kind as that Of Ia
Dor on capital.
1t may be proper place here TO add q re-
mark to what said in my last letter, about
natural right in owning land. might have
gone further than went in speaking on that
subject, and said that man might own the
share of land Of two men, and one work for
the other for wages. That is the usage at
the present time. But 10 it not better for o
man TO own his own patch Of ground and
work for himself, and be his own master,
than to put his destiny into the hands Of an
other-and be no better than himself? Or
il be be . Mechanic, is it not better 70 set up
business on his own account, or jointly with
another, or Others, and so.be independent OF
capitals The thing seems worth trying.
The best dividend to be declared, friends,
workingmen, is the largest amount Of hap
piness, and the best investment 60 declare
that upon (whiIe you must be tied to capital,
and perhaps even If you were TO work for
yourselyes) 10 steady industry, with econo-
my, cultivated good health. and .. chesrful
home.
II, however, you want to make flank |
movement Gas the military men say) against |
capital, you can do it by destroying usury. |
But better than that, probably. may BE- TO |
do il BY cooperative industry. For were
We TO put down the Evil One BY supprassing |
usury, be might rise in some other form |
with bis ho0fs and horns stiIl upon him. |
and II may Be better 70 quit his company IL |
The usursrs would b certain 10 |
spring some other trap upon m b. which 70 |
live without labor, and keep 70 themsslvss |
he lions share Of the proceeds Of toll. |
Perhaps cooperative industry may kill, 70 |
y speak, both capital and uspry, ~ they
nag not Be- able 70 compete With u. Or u |
this way capital may y compelled q lean
Its money cheaper than il othsrwiss would.
I 4 evident the more We work for cspztsi-
'stss the mere We increass their capital In
gther words, II " dou't want npltAlists ipI
" world, W. mast not work f6r them, u j