The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-09-12
Cons eq uenees of the DIVISION OF Labor
AS affecting Social Life.
IrRANsLATED woRkNGNLSs ADyocArE.
LECTURE DELIVERED BY scHURLzE DELITZScH
IN Tue HALL or THE GREAT woRKMgN's AS
ISOLATION, AT BERLIN.
(coNcLUDED J

SONAAAANNI NJ DEhLA&Ns
(coNcLUDED)
As labor in its technical application aud
practical methods has progressed only with
an ever advancing civilization, in like man
ner it strips of all that is repulsive and dis
agreeable In its form, all that has given il
the appearance of Iudeness. The history
Of labor may be called, therefore, the history
OF the division of labor and il embraces,
4 likewise, that Of the lsborer and his position
in social life. And since labor and culture,
thus Inu ually related 10 each other can
never be separated, il is but too apparent
that all the circumstances we have hit upon
meet again wherever and m whatever time
nations have attained to such a degree oil
7 civilization, Consequently we cannot help
I but attribute all that is defective aud re-
Jectabie OF the phenomenal previously a.
I luded to, TO the comparative low standard OF
civilization which cOmpels the division OF
7 labor 10 take wrong direction, but not
/ civilization itself and It's benif seut effects
There exists sncn an unavoidable period ir
/ development in general that we have TO pass
through with the earnest determin alton TO
/ apply ourselves thereafter more vigorously
to something more useful.
This view of the subject is fully sanctioned
by history, II we will but glance back upon
its whole career from the earliest period OF
Its existence. AT the time when nations had
made but little progress in civilization, thIs
tendency OF the division Of labor to respond,
TINS distinction into classes which produces
that endless variety OF occupations, is still
very uneven and rigid aud we have oppor-
tunity to observe how privileged min ority
derives most advantages Il i'm a suppressed
majority. Our chief reason why such is
the case we have already stated, which is,
bcrause the ways Of performing a certain
work are so various.
If your laborers were compelled to exc
cute their task with The utmost straning of
muscular power, as in the first case the
tools were most imperfect and defective. and
since also they had not yet control over the
secret powers of nature 10 assist taem, this
mole OF working naturally caused an ex-
haustion and stupor Of body and mind that
were Numerically opposed to their progress
and general welfare. In tins manner we are
enabled 10 explain how at Old times the
most worthless and most degrading systems
Ut The division Of labor were in practice and
how 1t was but the next step 10 castles and
slavery.
<ASNOAoaDk " tuG Hpti - VI bklc aye. kQe
ability TO perform menial and mental work
coul1 not De associated IN one and the same
Individual lie who practiced one profession
was deeDied incompetent Tor another. Ia
order .hs' one-halI W mankind, or more.
might strive tor the highest aims Of the
human race, and devote ali time and thought
and talents 10 II, 10 remaines Tor the rest 10
entirely abstain from sucn lJfty aspirations,
and occupy itself with furnishing the means
OF subsistence Tor themselves aud the 9TH
eTs.
Discouraging and inhuman as this ap-
pears, if viewed in the light Of modern ad-
sancement, we must confess, notwIthstand-
ing that there is one feature IN those insiitu-
tons Veil deserving of attention.
his peculiar trait is, that, despite the
most deploEable condition, this open viola
ton the division Of labor, has been a source Of
immense good for the progress of our race,
truly II alone Is the source Of all progress.
There exists marked contrast liz the
comparison Of the ancient nations, where
such Institutions houTIshed, with those wild
and baTbarous hordes and tribes where no
trace OF such institutions can be discovered.
and who, as general thing, were incapaLI e
OF any culture whatever. We need but turn
our eyes to the sborigines Of America and
the native inhabitants Of the South Sea- IL
lands where such nations are TO this very
DAY IN existence. Ii would be vain 10 uace
any signs Of industry ana tbs division OF
labor there. Everybody il warrior, hunts
nan or fisherman, every family provides lor
It's own (household) livelihood and the cap
tursd enemy Is killed but not ma ae . slave.
here Is not the least uace Of distinction