The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-11-14
Ghs Sailg Arsns.
Friday. November "A. is73.
Government Workshops,

A meeting composed Of representatives
Of the Workingmen's Central Council and
the Federal Council Of the Internatiouals
was held the other evening to devise plans
of relief for the unemployed poor, and
some suggestions we're made which seem
10 us 10 deserve little notice. The men,
bers Of the two associations are generally
believers in a radical system of democracy
but they acted on this occasion upon the
supposition that Government is sort Of
guardian, instituted to do all manner Of
kind Offices for the common people. TO see
that thew are comfortably fed, and housed,
and clothed, and 10 supervise the equita-
BILE distribution of wealth If commerce
is depressed and individual enterprise is
baffled, Government must go into trade
and take up the unfinished works which
private corporations are forced TO surren-
der. If bricklayers are out of work, Gov
erument must turn mason and give them
all lob. If capitalists cannot afford TO
build railroads for which there is no traf
ho, Government must do it so that brick
LAYERS can earn their wages. Government,
in short, must see that nobody is ragged
and nobody is hungry. 1t is the paternel
theory in politics pushed to its very last
extreme.
We have only to state the case to show
how utterly Mt variance IL is with every
principle of our Federal and State Consti
buttons. That is the best government, &C
cordinS to the American idea, which gov
erns least Public officers are charged
with well defined and strictly limited fuuc
tons, that they may provide for the en-
foreement only Of those restrictions upo
personal liberty which are absolutely nee
essary for the safety and good order ct sc
ciety. Beyond these functions they hav
no right to 20. The workingmen, howey
or, demand that extra sessions OF Congress
and the Legislature shall be called to prC
vide work ION large scale for the Ut
employed, aud that the General Cover
ment shall institute workshops in variou
branches Of industry in which AL penn
less, homeless, and involuntarlly id
persons, without regard 10 nativity
previous condition, shall receive emplo
ment. This would he repetition of Il
disastrous experiment tried by the Provi
lionel Government in France just after Il
revolution Of lS4S. To provide for Il
people thrown out of work by the fna
ciQl disorders OF that period, the Cover
ment established National Workshop
(Atelisrs NatioHdaT,) in which the pi
was two frances Z day. The first we,
the roll of workers contained so
names, and in a short time the list c
tended TO ll7,O0O. Private faetori
were deserted. Laborers from the cou
try came trooping into town. Work "
soon exhausted IL was useless to mar
facture anything, for nobody could b.
Out of the whole number of social
workmen who drew wages from the
ton no more than 1000 were actually
work. The cost of supporting 10000
lers, when the revenues were derang
and trade prostrate became uDbearab
The result was general financial colap
hundreds Of manufacturers being ruint
and thousands of the best wOrkmen f
ced 10 leave the kingdom.
The laboring classes should understa
that their prosperity is closely bound
with the condition OF private capital. i
Government cannot reverse the laws
trade aud therefore it cannot relieve
tress by stimulating production for VIII
there is no demand. The labor mari
will revive when commerce revives a
no sooner. To set workshops ruun
without regard to the disposition of tn
products, but merely to make work, We,
seriously depress legitimate business ent
prises, ruin the markets, and Il
aggravate the distress OF the poor beyC
all calculation. The prospects are {
for a speedy revival of trade if the G
eminent will stand aloof and not medC
The stock Of manufacturers in the Uni
States has been enormously diminish
during the last month, and we must 5,
reach a point where the necessary C
sumption of the country will enforce a
sumption of industry. When this ii
comes and money begins once more
circulate freely, work must become pel
and wages fairy J. Tribune.