The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-11-16
ah< BAILEY Niroiniau.
STANTON, VIRGINIA.
Thursday, IN OVEN her Is. 1871.
LABOR AND CAPITAL.

A'"ooo Aoiauo, IL speccH III the u nlCeu OtateS
Senate, Oh the relations existing between Cap
ital and Labor, remarked that he knew of no
greater tyrant .han One Hilton Dollars, un-
less it were Two MILLION DOLLARS, and
announced as fact that he had made bis i'm
mense fortune by crushing out smaller capt.
talists. What was asserted as an memorable
truth in the experience of Mr.. Sprague, is
simply the history of the country Money has
been the power which has crushed to the
earth Labor-Grecd has planted its iron hoof
upon the neck of industry and muscle, and
made them pay tribute at will The mechan-
lie and aboring man has been a mere shewer
of wood and drawer of water,"-a piece of ma
chlnery to be run under the tyrannizing as
sumption and presumption of Capital, as tho
no spark of intellect lighted up the inner
man no septient emotion emanated from his
soul. Now and then ftful CLEAN of light
broke through the zimmerman darkness that
-enshrouded the mind and will of the labor
dng man, but no sooner would the gimmer be
flashed in the face of Capital, than its Her.
culean club would drive it back to its living
tomb. In their hidden and slnothered abode,
aoweFer, the power and right of labor have
been gathering strength. The slumbering vol.
canoe, heaving and surging beneath the sur
face, has finally burst forth, and the power of
Capital and even the policies of governments
are being startled from their repose, to con-
template the stately march of one of the grand
estrevolutions that ever drank Hyperion inspi-
ration o. moved by the square of Right and
Justice. England is suspended over an an
cry crater of the outraged Rights of the La
boring classes, which threatens the destruc-
ton of the power of Capital and the privileg-
cd few, who have domineered and tyrannized
over the laboring many, for centuries. The
Peers themselves are trembling, lest their ba-
ton OF authority be wrested from them the
autocratic features of their government bro
ken beneath the wheel of the Labor revolu-
ton, and the pertinent and controlling ele-
ment of their political system, crushed under
the heavy column of Labor Relormers. Bel
gium and Germany feel the throes which are
surging and maddening in increasing volume
under the very seats of their power. The La
Dor movement-equalizatio of Labor and Cap
stalls making itself felt there, and all over
Europe. A Congress of delegates of the La
boring classes meets in Berlin on the 10TH
for the purpose of maturing system of de-
fence against the unjust demands Of Capital
applicable not only to the Eastern Continent,
but to America. The influence of this i'm
portapt movement is being felt in this coun-
try. From all the great marts Of trade in the
United States, come up the murmurs Of dis
content, arising from realized wrong and OPP
preston, and the gathering storm which is to
sweep down the imperous requirements of
Capital will not be long in finding vent. Cap
ital wtW haze to yield up its assumed prerog-
atives. Labor eiU assert its equality. An
universal understanding of action
concentration of purpose-upon the part Of
the Laboring classes, must bring Capitalists
to realize the fact, that working men are
something more than pieces of ingenious me-
chanism-that there Is mind and will, and an
elevated sense of individualism, that cannot
longer be held down to the unchallenged bid
ding of plethoric task-masters, who place the
dollar above the aspirations of the immortal
mind. -a
The ideas here suggested may be called
socialism, communism, internatioDalism, or
whatever it may suit the jealous fancy, or per-
verted taste of those with whose interests
they antagonize. Yet they are true, and their
power is destined to be felt, not only in the var-
ed rami6cations of trade, but in shaping
and fashioning the fundamental action of gov
eminent si5
We want to see the mechanic and laboring
man take their proper position in society, in
the councils of the State and government-to
have all the avenues of promotion opened up
to them, and to assume that relation to pub
lie affairs, which the material support they
give to government, justify them in aspir-
ing to. They are the main stay of our political
system. Their sweat and toll furnish the
means by which the machinery of government
is kept in motion. Yet it is rarely the case
that they have voice in directing the appli-
cation of their own hard earnings.
Parties are falling to pieces by reason of
the corruption that is nursed and nourished,
and partizans are falling under the condemna-
ton Of the popular voice because of their un-
blushing vices. Political organizations are
now held together by the cohesive power of
public plumber. All the baser passions which
attach to humanity raise their hideous fronts
u public places, and eliminate in fraud, vice
md robbery. The Northern Democracy, as
represented by Tammany, is utterly disgraced,
Iad the prime leaders are fast fastening to
felon's doom. The Republican party is cor
upt and vile beyond computation. The
ime, therefore, is suspicious for the substan-
ial element Of the nation to come forth to re-
rieyn our imnerilled liberties revolutiopize