Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1875-01-02
The Patrons Of Husbandry.
Capital and Labor Reviewed,

DAAono ANlShLAND DEACON-N Ill
you allow me the columns of your
valuable paper, to review the address
OF the committee of BGuf River
Council of the Patrons of Husband
ry, published in your issue of the 5th
inst, which has been distorted by an
unjust attempt at criticism, by a
writer signing his name "Laboratus?"
Had your correspondent conformed,
as scientist, to the strict rules of a
Critique, instead of that of o Croaker,
the authors of the address would have
had no right to complain nor reason
to reply. Instead of a manly, fair
and impartial criticism, your CORES
pondent hatches up an extraordinary
batch of misrepresentation, and ad-
duces one of the most lame, impote mt
and false arguments ever paraded be-
fore your readers on question of such
vital importance. Hence One of the
Committee, in his reply to Laboratus,
truly says: "The article (referring
to LaboratusO savors more of politi-
cal demagogueism, than a clear and
dispassionate criticism upon the ad-
dress reviewed." And to use Labo-
ratus' own language: "There are
more things in heaven and earth T [
will add in this mans Uaboratus)
cranium than are dreampt of in my
(LaboratusO Philosophy"
Perhaps this far seeing sage, the
giant critic of the 18Th century, is
looking forward through tie dim vista
of time, and is now forging the enter
ing wedge to give him prominence as
apolitical demagogue.
/ will here give the closing sentence
OF Laboratus' article of the 18th inst:
"1n going along too, you had better
recollect that Acteon was eaten up by
his own dogs; and Jupiter has his
thunderbolts cut and dried" The
gentleman here threatens and FORE
shadows his future programme. In.
stead Of attacking the address, and
scrutinizing fairly between the pro-
priety and impropriety of the course
marked out by the committee-to use
his own language-he attacks the
authors "in bombastio forioso STYLE"
using names and epithets unbecoming
The erudite gentleman or scholar.
Hence, instead Of placing himself be-
fore your readers as an impartial
critic, be must. be regarded by every
intelligent, thinking mind as az unre-
liable, captious disputant, guilty of
false reasoning and misrepresentation
calculated to lead the unwary astray.
But, as l intend to pay my respects
TO Laboratus on his own merits here
after, l will now proceed to review
the address of the committee, which
in the beginning sets forth facts that
no sane mann not even Laboratus-
will dare deny: That "in our section
there has been an antagonism between
labor and capital, anomalous in an
agricultural district-an antagonism
that has reduced capital and demoral-
lied labor" that employers are too
lax in forming contracts with en-
ployees, trusting to the good faith
alone of the laboring class for the
performance Of their promises. = 4 +
The consequence is, the employer
feeds. clothes and supports, for months
of the year, this copartner and his
family in perfect or comparative idle.
ness.n
The address, after enumerating
these and other selfevident facts, goes
on, ave offer the following sugges-
tions to remedy these evils: Let
every employer and employee enter
into written contract, drawn up sim.
ply and intelligeLtly to each, and let
such contract be carried out in spiri,
and letter, and with fairness" Can
any gentleman object to the sugges.
tions? No; not even Laboratus.
"Let the employer say firmly, that
he will exact his time or else dis.
charge the laborer, and use every ex
ertion to deter him from obtaining
labor elsewhere and let the laboring
class see that no one is to support
them or their families in idleness, mol
allow them to stay upon their prem
ises."
Let US examine this and see if i
corresponds with the principle of jus
tice. As proved in former article
the employees time belongs to th'
employer for the length of time con
tracted for. The laborer is hired u
labor, not to idle his time; hence,
he refuses to comply with his contract
what remedy has the employer but t
discharge him! This is all be cal
40 or suffpr this layv ;dIcr n ran,s;,