National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-02-16
THE VALUE OF LABOR.

w. acknowledgements Editor and PROPRIETOR
THE VALUE OF LABOR.
reproductive labor is the only source o
wealth in q country, as is admitted by al
political economists, then its constant en-
ployment should be the first care Of every
Government. If labor is more valuabl,
when intelligently applied in conjunction
with all the aids of inventive genius, ther
educational advantages accessible to all thu
people, however humble, should be tn,
second care of all wise rulers. If economy
is wealthy which is meant an alb
stinence from prodigality, careful hus
banding of resources, prudential expendi
ture in all business and social matters, and
q wise discretion in preserving from waste
and destruction all property, tools. appli'
ances and implements-as applied 10 lndi-
Viduals, then is it also Of equal consequence
In the affairs of corporations, States ana
nations
These three questions in happy combina-
ton, preserved in healthy condition, contain
the key to national prosperity. Congress
has literally provided for the free education
of all citizens in most of the States, by the
donations of public lands in aid of schools.
1t is moreover continually harping upon
economy. But it devotes comparatively
little attention to labor. Indeed its spasms
of economy are usually INDUCED at the
expense of labor. 1t is true that the
development of the illimitable resources
Of the country have, thus far, generally
kept the demand for labor in excess of the
supply, and it has met with liberal reward.
But as capital accumulates in the hands OF
individuals and corporations its tendency
In this, as in all other countries, is to op-
press labor. Capital combines to grind
down labor to the very lowest point possible.
These combinations appear to forget that
intelligent labor to be productive must be
comparatively free and recognized as the
o-worker-the peer-nay, more still, the
creator of capital Without its aid capital
would be powerless. There is no other
one thing in the world so utterly helpless
and useless without the cooperation OF
labor as capital. Without labor it can have
40 employment and without employment il
IAN have no increase.
From the foregoing observations it ap-
pears that the first objects of capitalists
should be harmonious cooperation with the
aborers. As the interests of capital and
abor are identical the oppression of the one
s certain to reflect unfavorably, sooner or
later, upon the other Capital is organized
EASILY because it is in few hands, and when
thus combined it seeks to Cypress labor
The latter is compelled to organize in self
lefencc, and strikes" are the result. These
after stop production. Capital suffers the
oss of its accustomed dividend, and the tax
saying capacity of the country is imne-
lately curtailed.
As the capitalists are the large conduits
through which revenues find their way into
he public Treasury it is common to de-
nominate them the large taxpayers of the
nation. In this character they assume
paramount consequence. Wheaever a
change in the tariff is mooted they make a
rush for Congress, and entreat or protest as
though they really had any considerable
interest in the matter. The truth is, as
every practical man Of acute observation is
lware, that they have scarcely any interest
n the subject at all. So far as they are con-
,erned any change in the tariff can only
Effect material on hand or contracts already |
made.
The taxes come out of the consumer, and |
Inc consumer is tie laborer. 1t is true that |
The Government may collect them in the |
irst instance from the manufacturer and
:he importer, but these in turn collect them |
from the consumer, with an additional pro- |
Git. If taxes are laid upon real estate, the
rental is at once increased, and the poor
aborer is required to pay larger house
cent and higher prices for the products of
the soil which he consumes.
What nonsense, then, is it to hear these |
landowners and manufacturers and i'm |
porters whining about an increase of taxa
lion, with an air of injured innocence. But
worse than this, they usually succeed in
making Congress believe that they are the
zeal parties in interest. Because they pay |
he money into the Treasury, they are cha
,led to impress our legislators with the idea
hat they also control the votes of the la
sorers who pay it TO them. Hence legisla-
ion is too apt to be influenced by them in
avor of capital, and labor is coolly told
hat supply and demand must regulate its
In illustration of the correctness of this
theory let it be noticed that Immediately
Upon the suggestion of the Secretary Of the
Treasury that it might be necessary to lay
, trifiing tax on tea and coffee, these ad-
7anced in price the amount of the proposed
AK, and the consumers are still paying the
Increase, whether the Government shall de- |
tide to demand it of the importers or not.
The people will not object to being taxed
1pon tea and coffee, provided their labor is
lot curtailed. A further imitation Of the
currency will operate to lower wages by
decreasing their purchasing power Let
congress remember these facts and shape |
heir legislation in the interest of labor. If
abor prospers all other material interests
re bound to thrive.
GENERAL MnRoY, superintendent of Indian |
fairs in Washington Territory, who has been |