The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-14
The Tyranny of Capital.

To divide the fruits of industry between the
capitalist and the laborer, that there might bs
harmony, has been attempted from the first
organization of society; and attempts are still
made, but without success, and there are
closing OF workshops, and strikes, and appa-
rently never ending antagonisms.
In all the elaborate discussions, 80 far as we
have seen, no reference is made to an import
ant element in our social structure, and it
seems to us that this should receive careful
consideration as preliminary to an under
standing of this question. We refer to the
absolute need, in society, that considers-
BILE portion of the wealth created shall be
reserved that it may be drawn upon in
times of necessity, and for the appropriation
now become a requisite for individual
well-being, and for the maintenance of the
poor and the unfortunate; for, we may
think as We please, and protest as vehemently
as we will, society is unit, and it is as much
possessed Of individuality and power as the
most desp0tic emperor. That the required
wealth may be set apart it is necessary, as
first step, th at part of the individuals who
form society shall have the mental quality
leading them to save and to accumulate, and
as we have such, this quality of saving may
be said actually to inhere in society. These
persons we call capitalists, whatever may be
their rank, station, or culture, and, viewed in
the proper light, they are public benefactors.
Although they contribute all their powers to
the accumulation of wealth, with the idea that
what they save is wholly their own, still they
are little more than stewards; for whatever
disposition they may choose to make Of their
wealth, it still will be used for the good of
society; and, besides, should the public
necessity ever require 1t, they may be dis
possessed of the last dollar. 1t is true that the
necessity must be very great before such spo-
HIATT ha tod fnr atv in
stiDctively watches and guards reserved
wealth, and it's total extinction is as much
dreaded as is the death of the queen bee by
her subjects. When the laborer, and those
who sympathize with him, declsim against
the accumulation of capital, they do not con-
slider that without 1t neither themselves nor
society, except in savage state, would exist
That wealth epgenders extravaganza and fol-
lies of every name is to be granted, but the
evil done is confined to unfortunate indivi-
duals who, in our country, soon run their
race nor is this evil at all equal to the good
which accum ulated wealth brings to mankind
at large.
It must be seen, then, that the complaint
OF the laborer that he is robbed OF his earn
inge is not true, at least to the extent he
alleges, for he is made partaker Of this
wealth in many respects, and, beside, it will
be preserved for the benefit OF his children.
The only real complaint he can make is that
he is not permitted to control it; but, as he
has shown himself incapable of keeping it, the
control II plsosd In more careful hands.
| When q man accumulates wealth he no less
aocumulates within himself qualities OF equal
indeed, we should say OF much greater
value. These are persistence, patience, iore-
sight, and self denial, which contribute In
marked degree to the enlargement OF the
/ mind, and hence such must, In the nature OF
the case, be superior to the laboring man who
with health and strength consumes all he
earns. or course we refer to the condition OF
things in this country, where no real obstacles
prevent development; and we may say, also,
that all similar discussions should refer to 80
oiety on this continent, for their application to
European society is cut of place, since barbaric
institutions which should have died out dur
ing the last century really do oppose and op-
press the laboripg classes.
The first thing which the lsboring man is to
consider is whether it ia not practicable for
him also to become capitalist by saving
part of his earnings, and, as consequence
acquire an enlarged mind, by which he will be
able to abcumulate still more, for saving to
any extent is an intellectual achievement To
spend the whole of ones wages at the clio 81
Of each week requires no SKILL but the saving
even of small portion actually Drlngs out
some high quality of the mind, and this VIII
be basis, and the only one porsible' Dy winch
ultimate prosperity Is to be secured NOR Is he
to compare his poor attempts with others, ex-
oept to consider that the ability TO acquire
large sums had beginning as
humble as his own, and that
1t was the natural outgrowth OF years OF
self denial and wise management II ne
should suspect that such power is heredi-
tary gift, he may as we'll suspect that he him
self has this hereditary gift, lying unde'
veloped; or, It will not be less important &c
know that he can transmit such powers 10 MA
children, for it is more glorious to be the nrsl
than the last of a family. Thus, In Whatever