The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-11-14
FROM NEW YORK,



NEW YORK, Nov. IL, 1874.
10 the Editor Of the woRKISoNASs ADVOCATE.
OLD ADAM SMITH,
Author of the Wealth IF Nations"
. work almost as memorable in its effects
on thought and institutions as has been the
Declaration Of American Independence
was by no means complimentary to the in
huence and effects Of the commercial spirit.
His political economy has been flung at the
head Of every one who has dared to differ
with the application Of his principles in
ways and methods to which the old philos-
opher's spirit, at least, gives no assent.
In one of his more thoughtful chapters,
Adam Smith declares that the state which
is ruled by wealth alone, by the Pluto
cratic spirit, is always the meanest and
most self ih of communities. This is
fair summary Of the idea. John Ruskin
stated in a more epigrammatic form, when
he said God shows what he thinks Of
riches by the kind of men he has given
them to" The prevailing tone Of feeling
and action in this great city-which is in
many respects the most complete apothe-
osis Of the commercial spirit to be found
in the world at this writing, is an illustra-
ton Of these dicta. The spirit Of Plutoc-
racy, the dominant one of New York, is
cold and selfish to almost the last degree.
Certainly the richest men are among the
meanest. Take VIM. b. Astor as all illus
tratlon. A citizen so mean spirited that
he always avoids jury duty, and resists to
the utmost ever attempt to tine him there
for. capitalist so penlrious that Of the
miles of dwelling houses that he has built
and owns, there is not one block that is any
thing else than piece Of paltry shabbi
ness INTELLECTUALLY disgrace mechanl
cally cheap and nasty. SO III every sense
he is mean. Instances are numerous OF
the same chan acterlstics III other men. But
have only designed to generalize little
in order to pave the way for my illustra-
ton. which is found in the conduct Of the
entire body Of the well-to-do employing in
terest and community. There is no doubt
whatever, that
SEVERE DEPRESSION or TRADE
exists everywhere 1t is not sudden, by
any means, but has been growing worse
for twelve months Every one has been
fully aware OF this Every one that can
afford to live themselves, seems to hasten
the inability of all those who cannot do So
without the day-by day labor, which is the
only veneer between pauperism and plen-
ty, to seven out of ten persons in this, our
boosted civilized nation.
A wise humanity would seem to inspire
employers Of personal help, of clerical and
similar labor, to help the faithful over the
gulf, which, if they fall IN, is to them
ruin, by at least partial employment
through the long dreary season before us
all
In such branches Of employment, at
least, there are no trades unions to keep
up or insist on high wages They are
without means Of resisting decrease Of pay.
And it is just in such employment that
selfish interest, recognizing no human
needs in labor, and only regarding 1t in
the same way as so much sugar and cot
ton, makes no effort to keep afoat those
to whom in prosperity their profit OF com
fort is SO largely due.
The movements now making in this
city, to
DECREASE WAGES AND INCREASE HOURS OF
LABOR,
are Of the same character, and dictated
by that spirit Of utter selfshness, which is
the chief characteristic Of Plutocratic, or
merely commercial rule.
II alienates the labor Of the hand from
the other general interests, and builds up
bitter and aggressive class feeling. more
directly and rapidly than all other inHu-
modern era of mere wealth making that
can be put together. 1t is the first to
howl when any of the natural conse-
quences of such brutal sel6shness is made
evident to their frightened senses. There
are fully $4,000 persons out of employ
ment in this city. Nature, more kind
than prosperous man, (who now does daily
all that is possible to increase the idle ar
my by utterly selfish efforts at econo-
mixing } keeps "open house for the
poor, by prolonging the most delightful Of
warm and pleasantest of Autumns which
Divine law has blessed us with of late
years.
Every day of pleasant weather keeps the
gaunt wolf Hunger" from twice as many
persons as constitutes the vast array of
those who are idle against their will The
little ones and the women are warmed, or
at least not chilled, by the sun that
makes even the nights genial. The
hundreds probably thousands) of house
less beings, who are "sitting out" the
nights on the benches Of the parks and
open squares of this city, would, if any
praise came from their numbed hearts,
sing TIE Deums to God for His mercy, as
shown through the mild season, than from
any appearance of present or prospective
charity on the part Of their fellows. The
great phantasmagoria goes on Broadway
is full Of display. The extravaganza Of
society aud fashion shows itself, if not in
display, i'll the richness CT material used,
in the massiveness and expense Of jewelry,
in the cost of all things they demand and
use There is, of course. wider economy