Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1873-07-03
Mr.. Ruskin on the Labor Problem

In an article almost grOtesquely cnar-
acteristic on "Home and its Economies, -
Mr.. Ruskin amuses himself with the
utterance Of certain grave paradoxes on
English society at the present day, and
entertains his readers with some singular
" frank confessions Of personal autobio-
graphy. He lets US know that he is
quite free from the sublime passion" Of
saving souls, and equally so from all
enthusiasm for the progress Of science.
He takes forlorn view of the pros.
poets of England in her present state of
moral degradation. patriotism is,
however, perhaps the last emotion he
can now conveniently study in England,
for the temper which crowns the JOY of
life with the sweetness and decorum of
death can scarcely be manifested clearly
in country which is fast rendering her.
self one whose peace is pollution, and
whose battle crime; within whose con-
fines it Is 'loathsome to live, and in whose
cause it is disgraceful to die"
In the controversy between capital and
labor which now threatens to disturb the
basis of our financial civilization, Mr..
Ruskin takes strong grounds against the
pretentions of the former. mo man
ever became, or can become, largely rich
merely by labor and economy. ALI large
fortunes (putting treasure,trovee and
gambling out of consideration are found
ed either on occupation of land, usury, or
taxation of labor. Whether openly or
occulty, the landlord, money.lender, and
capitalist employer gather into their
possession certain quantity Of The
means of existence which other people
produce by the labor Of their hands. ~
The capitalist, argues Mr.. Ruskin, can
not consume all the means of life upon
himself. He gives them to other per
sons whom he employs for his own ad-
vantage, dispensing them, for instance,
among champagne-merchants, jockeys,
jewellers, foot-men, builders, painters,
musicians, and the like. The diversion of
their labor from the production of food
to that of articles of luxury is often the
cause of famine. But the laborers are
beginning to learn that instead of paying
such large sums into the bands Of the
capitalist for music, and horses, and
sparkling champagne, they had better
secure some little comforts for themselves.
''These are the views which are gaining
ground among the poor; and it is entirely
vain to endeavor to repress them by
equiyocations. They are founded on
eternal laws; and although their recogni.
ton will long be refused, and their pro-
mitigation, resisted as it will long be
partly by force partly by falsehood, can
only be through incaleulable confusion
and misery, recognized they must be
eventually; and with these three ulti-
mate results;-that the usurer's trade
will be abolished utterly,-that the en-
ployer will be paid justly for his superin.
tendence Of labor, but not for his capital,
and the landlord paid for his superintend-
encc of the cultivation of land, when he
is able to direct it wisely; that both he
and the employer of mechanical labor
will be recognized as beloved mas crs, if
they deserve love, and as noble guides
when they are capable Of giving discreet
guidance; but neither will be permitted
to establish themselves any more as
senseless conduits through which the
strength and riches of their native land
are to be poured into the cup Of the
fornication ofits Capital" Mr.. RuSkin
presents remarkable instance Of the
union of extremes. Born in the purple
of hereditary wealth, nursed on the
silken lap of luxury, surrounded with
the means OF the highest culture without
an effort of his own, relieved from the
hard necessity of anxious thought as to
what he should eat, or what he should
drink, or wherewithal he should be
clothed, he has never raised his hand
for stroke Of productive labor. The
most admirable effects of his wayward
genius are due to the fact that he has
had no care for his daily livelihood. The
works of others have furnished the soil
iu which the richest fruits of his intellect
have ripened. But he now presents
himself before the public as the gratuitous
advocate of the EXTREMIST views Of socie-
ism. He brings his wealth to the defense
of poverty. The principles which he sets
forth if carried into effect, would put an
end to the existing social order, on the
ruins of which he prophesies the establish
ment Of an earthly paradise. Whether
his visions are to be classed among the
dreams ofthe enthusiast, or are anticipa-
tions of the inevitable course Of nature,
remains among problems of the future.