Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-10-23
Mr.. oRVIs' ADDRESS.

luuISuuy eNculug, vi ''DONtTelRnh VI lnuuS-
try" Mr.. Orvis spoke without notes, and
all we can give is such points as we were
able to minute down while he was talking.
AT the appointed hour he was introduced
by Mr.. II. B. DEMO. He commenced by
saying that the subject was so large that he
could not be expected to do justice to it in
one evening, and he asked the audience to
bear with him if his talk was rather long.
He said he was not here 10 array one
class against another, nor to intensity the
antagonism which now unfortunately exists
between classes. Unhappily there is con-
fiict between classes, and it is our duty to
recognize the fact aud labor to promote
unity and brotherhood between all.
Labor creates the wealth Of the world, but
the laborer enjoys but small fraction of
that wealth. We must face the fact that
while labor is the source of all the comforts
and luxuries Of life, labor itself is to-day in
disgrace. Politicians aud Fourth of July
orators tell us of the dignity of labor, but
they despise labor, and regard the laborer
with contempt.
1t is the noblest calling to be a laborer,
because labor is the creative power in So
ciety, but the creator of the wealth of the
country does not rule that wealth on the
contrary, the wealth which the workman
has created is his lord and master. Cap
ital rules the world, and rules it with rod
Of iron. We thank our stars. that We are
free from military feudalism, such as has
existed in Europe and especially in England,
and well it is that we are, because if that
was added to our commercial feudalsm our
condition would be indeed deplorable. Well,
why is it that capital rules the world? 1t
is because capital is organized while labor is
entirely without organization. Without Or
ganization there is and can be no power,
while sin union is strength" A class who
are always the few have ruled the many,
because they were organized. In early
times kings and their retainers ruled the
land, but we are now under another and a
worse feudalism-that of corporations.
Corporations are despotic when they have
the power, because corporations have no
souls. 1t matters not how humane the iudl-
viduals comprising corporation may be,
their individual responsibility is taken away,
and they are not responsible for the actions
of the corporation.
Capital, being organized, is invincible,
save by organization on the part of labor.
So long as the masses remain as at present
unorganized, so long will they be without
power. Capital, organized, seizes on those
two primary functions of our social and ma
tional economy, production and distribution,
and, with the most powerful intellects to di-
rect, capitalists through cooperation control
these two vital functions of our system. In
Massachusetts 80 per cent OF the wealth is
held by 20 per cent of the population. In
other words, in Massachusetts,, "the model
commonwealth" as it is called, one-ffth of
the population own four fiths of the wealth,
besides which much of the wealth Of these
rich men is covered up in various ways, so
that the disparity is really much greater
than shown in these figures, which are taken
from the statistics in the tax.collector's Of
fee. There is an organized enmity between
classes, we must admit, but these reform
movements, as the organizations of Patrons
and Sovereigns, are not stirring it up.
The meaning of an act of incor poration is
that as you sink your individuality in the
corporation you also sink your conscience,
become irresponsible for the acts of the
corporation, and superior to the paying OF
your debts. If this state of affairs were
continued for a century and half the work
ing population would be reduced to abject
slavery. But he was not a croaker there
was no danger of this slavery because the
people see their danger, and are already
forming organizations among the working.
men.
When he went to Massachusetts twenty.
FIVE years ago, nearly every man in the
southeastern counties was a shoemaker, max
ing the boots and shoes at his home for his
employer in Boston. Now the work is done
in great factories, which draw the workmer
together in the villages and theyare depend.
ent upon their employers for daily bread.
If work fails there they have no other occu
patton to turn their hands to, but must b.
idle. The result is that the shoemakinl
population of Massachusetts is idle one-thirc
Of the year, and for the past year it ha!
been fully one-half of the year, through
stopping of the mills. The superintendent
Of the poor in Lynn says that one.third o
the population of that city, or 1900 families
had to receive aid from the authorities las
winter. Thus we see that with all the i'm
provement in the way machinery, aud tn,
combination of the labor of hundreds o
workmen in one shop, thus making theI
work more effective, and reducing the cos
of production, while the price of the good
is as high as formerly, the laborer VIII
makes them suffers for the necessaries o
life. Why is it? The evils are two. Pro
ductiOn on the factory plan is in the hands
of organized capital, and We cannot get di
rect remedy for that. But the other basi
function of society-dstributio is il
our power to regulate By organization. Til
percentage that clings to the hands of thos
through whom goods pass between produce
and consumer is too large, and both thes
classes suffer in consequence.
The most dangerous elements of socet
are the railroad corporations. We claim t
hold all men equal before the law, but ever
act OF incorporation is a violation of thi
principle and gives to certain parties priv
leges which others do not possess. Ever
railroad charter is unjust and therefore {
law is founded upon justico) illegal. Raj
roads are scientific highways, and should a
ford equal advantages to all, as all hav
borne their share of the taxes which aide
them they should belong to the public
What should be the highway and not prop
erty is now vast property in the hands {
few men, and 80 conducted that as raj
roads increase in value farms and othe
property go down. When the New YOr
Central road was building, farmers wei
urged to aid in the work because the roa
would increase the value of their land.
good deal of wood was used in the sa
works at Syracuse, and was worth from s
to $40. Back along the line of the road
was worth but S2 or SO. The farmers wei
told how readily their wood would be dOul
led in value by the building of the roa
which would nlaca them in communicate