The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-02-15


a writer in the Cleveland Herald in dis
cussing the question Of Labor Reform, after
stating some wholesome though unpalatable
truths, asks the question, rs the proposition
true or faLss-tlere Is no Human property er-
cepi that produced b. labor" 70 which the
Astute editor replies:
The English metaphysicians during James
the Firss reign were terribly exercised to arrive
at the truth whether two spirits could occupy
one physical point Oar correspondents thesis
has precisely as much practical importance.
When Adam Smith propounded this abstract
truth, STEAM had not been applied to the univer-
sal process of industry and human labor en-.
tered far more largely into the production Of
wealth than at the present time. But the prob
lem that society IS now interested in solving. is
to secure a more equitable distribution Of our
social gains: Refining upon abstract PROPOSE
tons, viii not reduce the price Of sugar. nor
equalize the earnings Of the capitalist and the
employe.
Now, this style Of argument may appear
very logical and appropriate to the patrons
Of the Leader, though we cannot see it's rele-
vancy. the question to be decided is, "Are
there Crongs to be remediedg Is the crea-
tor above the thing created Is the system
which allots to the laberer, the creator Of
wealth, pittance, scarcely sufficient to keep
body and soul together, while it gives to the
So called employer the proceeds OF that labor,
one that is founded on justice or common
sense If not, then the producing glasses
are justified in using every means within
their power to overthrow it. Men argue
from premises to conclusions if the found
alton is false, Of course the supersuucture
must be insecure. Thus the question pro-
pounded by the Leaders correspondent, ~
ing as it does, on the threshold Of the Labor
question, and involving its success, demands
plain and unequiyocAl reply.
But the Leader writer is copyist at best
aief Justice Blackstone in discussing the
rights Of property, makes Use q he fellIax-
ing language:
There IS nothing which so generally
strikes the Imagination snd engages the affec.
tons Of mankind the right OF property, or that
sole and despotic dominion which one man
claims and exercises over the external things in
the world, in total exclusion of the right of any
other individuA. ~ the universe. And yet there
are few who give themselves the trouble 70 con-
slider the original and foundation OF this right.
Pleased as We are with the possession, We seem
afraid 70 look back at the means by which il was
acquired, as If fearful Of some defect in the title
We think Il, enough that our title is derived BY
the grant Of the former proprietor, By descent
from our ancestors, or by the last viii and tes
lament Of the dying owner, not caring TO reflect
that accurately and strictly speakingl THRRK
1s NO FOUNDATION IN NATURE on IN NATURAL Law
WHY A SET or WORDS UPoN PARCHMENT sHourD
soNyEY THE DOMINION OF LAND, WHY THE SON
SHOULD HAVE A RIGHT TO EXCLUDE ms YELLOW
CREATURE FROM DErERuNAfK sPoT or GRoEsp
BECAUSE HIS FATHER HAD DONE so BRFoRR HIN. or
why the occrpier oF particular 6eldSor level.
when lying on death-bed and no longer able
TO maintain possession, should be entitled 70 tell
the rest Of the world who should Be entitled to
enjoy IL These researches, it must be owned.
would be useless and troublesome in common
hfe.D
Thus we see that tas soil and the products
Of human industry are alike monopolizsd by
systems founded on seroag. No s~ouder,
then, We are eomplacently told when thsse
Aacbr AEe tehtnosS4a no eFe cJToto W TOOK
back at the sseaas By which they cere acguir-
cd, as II fearful Of souss defect in The title"
The New York Journal Of Commerce" dem. J,
in an article on the Pendleton proposition TO
pay the bonded debt of the United States in a
deprecated currency, prOphetically says: ave
do not believe that any large portion ofthe Dem
ocratic party are In hvnr Of the Stevens Butler
Pendlston scheme, o. that & can In any way be |
made party issue IN the approaching Presiden- !
tial election. Bat amy National Convention that |
presents q platform having in it such rotten
plank may save itself the trouble Of naming
candidate. The purest man In the country
could not dreserve his updghtnsss on such
foundation, and would deserve 70 be ignomin-
Ously defeated at the polls"-Kxesspee.
We do not believe that any large portion
of the people are in favor Of longer eontipu-
ing the present financial system, which has
Frustrated the industrial interests Of the
country. The party or candidate, no matter
What their record, who expect 70 ride into
Office on such n platform, win end themselves
egregiOusly mistaken. If the bondholders
refuse gFeenbacks In exchange for their
bonds purchased at forty and forty-Eysl
cents, hme II gyery probability that the pof.