Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-09-23

uapts. mistakes, failures in earlier tentative
.,.gea of the reform, forsee; that rogues
and christians will seize upon il, in the hope
az thereby promoting their own selfish
ends. ! clearly see all this, but think
discern . brighter vista, eclipsing away
beyond il, now that the Republican theory
has been fully applied to the Government
and proved q success. After making sll due
allowance for drawbacks, / believe its ap-
plioation to industry is only q question Of
time; that the workers who make clothes or
shoes, or whatever else, may minister to the
human sussenAnce and comfort will learn
how to do this as partners, rather than as
hirelings, dividing equitably and wholly the
proceeds, instead OF accepting a share of
them as wages. Years, il not ages, may
yet be required TO perfect the safeguards
whereby the cooperation of workers alone
may be rendered practicable, bensGcent,
and secure: and yet feel assured that the
day will come in which he who wants .
house built in Cincinnati will apply to q
corporation Of practical builders. organized
like any bank or railroad company bargain
with the agent Of that corporation as ne now
does with q maslsr-builder or hrm, ana
have his work done at least IS well aud as
reasonably as now, while the stipulated
price will be wholly aud fairly apporhoned
among those who have earned il. If you
ask where is the capital to be had, point
10 the hundreds Of millions now deposited
in savings banks, whereof at least, two
thirds belong 20 working men and women,
and say, "Thsrs it is." The dspositors are
careful, saving, thrifty persons, who will not
risk their scsDty boards in rash expert
ments, as indeed they should not; bat when
ever it shall have been demonstrated that
they may as safely invest in cooperative
undertakings rs lend to those by whom the
lAboring class are now hired and paid, there
viii be no lack Of capital for such invest.
ment, even though the rich should supply
none Of 10. Ours is preeminently an age of
invention, of industrial progress. can re-
member time when the steamboat was still
. novelty and 6Fsside marvel when NO
mile Of iron track had yet been laid on the
surface of our planet; when American can
ais were merely contsivAnces for oircum
venting casArActs, and of small account any
how; when no steam propelled vessel had
ever crossed 9 sea aud when the electric
telegraph was rs inconcslvable as broad
firm highway to the moon. To NOW grass
cat grain, or sew garments BY machinery,
was then uuimxgined. We exported nc
grain but that grown near the shores OF thG
Atlantic, Its bays aud inletS; and our mails
we're wholly drawn BY horses, at an average
speed Of less than 80 miles per day. Look
ing back at the immense strides Of iuvsn'
ton and machinery, of steam aud eleotrici
~, during the present century, and mainly
IN my day, who can nationally doubt thu
industrial progress IS yet on the threshold o
its career that the inventions Of the mex
half ceutury must far surpass in scope AM
utility those of the preceding. Happy tn
generation just entering upon the stage O
being, If its leaders and teachers shall res
% lie that the noblest achievement towSrt
1 which its sxertions should be directsd-th
highest attainment within its resoh--is
more generous, more enlightened NOR
courageous, more devoted generation to fol
j. low IT, qualified aud melted to take the Wor
p which its predecessor has laid down, an
bear it on to still grHnder, more benefcsu
sriumphs.
This concluded, be went through the EE
position halls, followed by many curiou
) visitors.
MR.. GREELEY ON POLITICS.