River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-04-28
Labor-Capital-Legisla-
ton.

Hence it is that people are often
brought in antagonistic positions with
out really knowing how or wherefore.
This fact is to be regretted-deeply re-
GREETED, since no fair, dispassionate dis
cussion can be had upon whatever sub.
iect is under consideration, and no un-
biased judgement founded where every
thing is weighed by partisan scales
And this is one OF the evils growing out OF
the cultivation Ola warm partisan spirit.
While it may be well to discuss both
or all sides Of any important question,
it is not always well to approve OF
condemn simply because a certain party
happens to approve or condemn. Party
leaders or party organs are not very
safe conscience keepers, and it is always
safe to regard them with caution, if not
with suspicion. They are all right in
their proper places, but they are not
oracles to be consulted on all occasions
Among the subjects which should
never be discussed in partisan spirit,
is the labor question which has so long
engrossed public attention. And .5t
it is almost impossible to keep it out of
politics; and the reason of this is, it is
intimately connected with the financial
questions which always cut some fig
ure with politicians, and with political
parties. And why? Just because
there is no part so sensitive in or about
a man as his pocket, tits Of little or
no consequence whether it is empty Or
plethoric, it is the politicians guage-
his lever, and, sometimes, his fortress.
1t is said that time is money, and
that labor is money, and, in one sense,
this is true. A certain kind Of labor
and certain amount of it, is usually
equivalent to certain amount ofmoney.
The capitalist is not independent of the
laborer, nor is the laborer Independent
of the capitalist. Capital may be ex.
acting, but it avails little unless invest
ed in active business. For this reason
there should be reciprocity, and not
hostility, between the laborer and eapi.
talist.
But the vexed question to be settled
is the amount of capital which shall b.
equivalent to certain amount of labor
and so uice rerSd. 1t is not enough, al
yet, to say whether days work shall
consist Of eight, or Of ten hours, nor viii
this fact make much if any differences
IN discussing the labor question, unit
such time as the question of how mucl
money shall pay for such days worl
shall be well settled.
The question of the imitation, or tn
contraction of our currency, is of mino
importance, in our opinion, when CON
pared with the labor question. Pros
perity will never attend the lahore
while he is at swords points with hi
employer, and the same may be said o
the employer. He may invest his cap
ital in other schemes, and suffer moth
ing by the change. But, as between
labor and capital there must be harro
ny, or prosperity to either is set at di
iance.
The capitalist is necessarily interest
ed in the growth and prosperity Of thu
country, because this insures a good re.
turn for his investments. The laborei
is no less so, since 1t is the demand
for labor occasioned by such prosperity
that gives him full and profitable en-.
ployment. Capital often makes sudden
and at the same time. profitable shifts
The same is very seldom true Of labor
Strikes, or sudden shifts seldom result
in anything but loss to the laDorer-
loss Of time-.loss Of mcney-loss "
confidence.
Whatever may be the relations be-
tween labor and capital, We see nc
chance for relief to either by legislation
Whatever may be the end, either ostcn-
sibly or really sought, it is a grave
mistake as TO the office and power Of
legislation. II would be a substitution
Of civil for natural law. And we seri
ously doubt the propriety or utility,
even, Of any legislation upon these mat
tiers, whether bearing upon private 10
dividuals, or corporations. A contract
made under legal coDstraints is a con
tract ouly in name, aud il is quite al
likely to be one Of legalized plumber a
otherwise. Necessity is one thing, bu