The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-09-19

Consequences of the Division of Labor
as Affecting Social Life.
IraAzsLArsD ron TEE woHKmexAs's ApvocArr.l

Consequences Of the Division Of Labor
as Affecting Social Life.
TRANSLATED ron TEE woRKmeNAE's ADvocAra.l
LECTURE DELIVERED BY SCHULTZ DEIITZscH,
IN TIE HALL OF THE GREAT woRKAKs's AssocIA
TIoN, AT BERLIN
(CoNcLUDED)
The wonderful discoveries and investiea-
tlUns in the natura. sciences are of incalcu.
liable value for advancing the cause of the
laborer. Making the mighty powers OF ma
ture subservient to the use Of man, Il is
manifest that the laboring class is in . great
degree relieved from those hard and destruc-
tive performances that formerly 90 largely
not only itnpeded but even retarded its pro-
gress- On the contrary, the new meth DDS
Of working of their own accord urge man
on TO higher state of culture Mech anical
work goes hand in hand with mental work.
certain degree Of knowledge, YES, even q
scientific education will soon be an indispeu-
sable requisite for the laborer. With the
facilities afforded in modern times and the
comparatively short space OF time the la
borer is required to work, most Of the i'm
pedim Of former times are surmounted,
Itual and intellectual welfare. Considered
IN this light, thoee disastrous consequences
OF the division OF labor are at once obviated,
destitution and privation will be no longer
heard of. Whatever else is denied to the
laoorei to attain Immediately on account of
bis professional pursuits all this or partly
at least he may make up In his leisure hours.
An impulse 80 powerful like this, IL once
Anaa = ~R -.
desire to get sound education, 90 charse-
teristic Q trait Of our tierman laborers, re-
acts in a remarkable a5gree upon their in
dustrial life and habits. Elevation Of the
standard of education is elevation Of the
economical and financial condition of the
laoorer and the whole country, he is q clt.-
zen OF, experiences OF course is Of good prac-
ticai value. Another lever, and q very i'm
portant one too, is the various associations
OF the laborers, which not only assist the
laborers ia getting q good education, but
they also secure to themselves prosperity
and an honorable independence.
Let this be done on greater scale than
heretofore, for which the most favorable au-
spices are already 10 view, and let every one
understand that he is to become co partner
in the business, in which he is engaged, and
he will undoubtedly feel deeper interest in
the business, be will participate with greater
zeal and alacrity, he will become conscious
of the responsibility that rests upon him in
all his dealings and performances, 90 that
all this will serve as an intellectual compli-
ment to the merely mechanical part. His
moral and intellectual growth will then
find strong prop in bis professional pur-
suits and vice versa Of benefit, not only to
him but to the community be lives in and to
the government in general. Thus the true
aim and object Of the division of labor pre-
sents itself clearer and clearer to our sight,
and we consider that aim to be, to diminish
the hardships and toll Of the laborer, to en-
deavor to create . surplus over the material
wants and thus give him free scope and am
pie means to apply himself to something
more useful or to improve his condition, so
As to not be subject any longer 70 the au-
thorlty of Q privileged class Of creatures.
This, and only this, is the true emancipation
of the laborer, which will afford him time
and opportunity for full, unrestrained de-
velopment of his tsIents, extending the pos.
sibilry 10 him to take an active part in the
most important movements of the age which
he could not do heretofore. He can throw
off the shackles that make him q mere slave
Of his industrial pursuits, and are only OF q
relative value in comparison with his intel
lectual culture and refinement Thus the
destiny Of divided labor will be fulfilled, q
consolidation Of the scattered energies will
be effected, the cause Of humanity will b.
advanced and man will be that happy cfea
ture who knows no higher master than him
self.
" PRACTICAL CONSEQUENCES.
Il remains now for me to draw in ooncln
sion from the propositions laid down, some
practical consequences on the other side
touching on some Of the political aud Other
questions OF the day, that are In close con
nection with the differences drawn from then
in socisl life, and viii show, how it not only
Affects the interest Of the laborer bat how
essential it also Ia 10 all classes and condi.
tions Of men. Among the very first we found
that snong all the pains taken for gain
among the prerequisites fof the attainment
Of our aim of Life the division of labor 90
cupies most important position. There
must be NO Infringement made on his dis
tinction, the individuality Of q man In al
relations must be free and unrestrained. bis
talents must not be suffered to remain buried
. complete partition Of men must never b
suffered u take place, but all classes, al
grades OF society must participate In thu
great work in some way for Of :, or, if do
minion over the laborer is once :. IRE granted
TO privileged minority, all the fruits and
benefits which such wise division OF laboI
has wrought viii be unspairingly wrung from
them. This conclusion finds its application
- individual life ~ well - on the life oi
Q whole nation. A nation, consequently
that will in any way maintain certsin de.
gree OF cixilizAkion which commands free
dom and prosperity, commerce and industry,
may well taxa care Of thoss higher human
snd civil stt<ibufss for all it, members with
0ut any clsss- -distinctions. II nation shall
truly prosper il does not need . special castl
OF oficers, which like vulsure continually
preys upon its very vftals, it needs no bu'
reau0cracy cr afistocraey that sits 1t u,
hahn q the alp Of state; On ths contsaxy
= mnet distribute . respectable shase of III
Igensrd government TO Ill classes. In Lii,
manner it must never trcnsfse The dsfencs d
- oountty - . special warrior sasss, u
fnast ehia1y rely on - own insinalbll
lseWEtA Finally Il nust nst yisld % fans
| hcel pEissts the power b go warn IT. sdncs
tion1 na1tsrs, ne sohooI, mofsoyer. mus
be in1ePonoont Il Ne chafoh, thD naslor
/ csa 6sly prcspw - preserve IL indfvsdu
ality and indepeneeaes-- IL % quits natura
thet the Moral eondition a The intelleetua
faeal1os q sssry in1fvidaal Who 3 de
IpEised q - paElidpok3on h tAs kieheu
4 Ieoneslne end n0ue inpm1lnt iutuinnu
\ ahe1l4 hnCriah Heu 4 - vorl1 = I
pem1ole 1T uhols psopla, thus subjss
- sen1s a hunan s1d ps1ltieal ninosit,