The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-08-16


demonstrations are Of quite modern
date. In former times, popular out
breaks proceeded from some tyrannical
oppression by civil rulers or 1eudal
chieftains, some unwarranted invasion
of public rights by superior class.
Now, the conflict is between those who
are altogether equals before the law.
Furthermore, it is noticeable that such
collisions were unknown in those con-
ditions Of society where the laborer and
the capitalist were united in one and
the same person. The mechanic or
farmer whose industry had made him
the owner of his factory or his farm,
and who thus gave employment to other
laborers with himself; was never found
in hostile collision with those whom he
employed. His example was constant
stimulus of hope in the minds of his
employees that they, too, could become
owners and employers, and so unite
capital and labor in themselves. In
this manner both industry and economy
were stimulated, and the hope OF &C.
quiring prompted them to save as we'll
as to earn.
But the progress of society has
brought about other conditions, has ma
terially changed these relations between
capital and labor. The great enter
prises of modern times are no longer
prosecuted by individual effort and pri-
vate capital, but through the instru-
mentality Of public corporations Gre
ated by law, and endowed with certain
specified functions and exclusive privi-
Ieges. In this manner capital has be-
come aggregated, while labor has re-
mained segregated. This new condition
has virtually annihilated that hope OF
final ownership in the minds OF labor
ers, from which sprang the natural inn
pulse to labor and economize, to earn
and to save. The aggregation OF enor-
nous capital in the hands OF q corporate
few closes the door against the aspira-
tions of the laborer to become a pro-
prietor as we'll as a workman. He feels
himself thus excluded from the privi-
lege, or even the possibility, of ever be-
ice OF that corporate capital which he
can not own and against which he
can not compete. OF course, the SYM
pathy that should naturally exist be-
tween labor and capital, is by this
means swept away. The laborers and
capitalists become separated as by
classes. Instead of co-operativcs, they
become rivals. Instead Of being con-
Joined by common interest, their in.
terests become antagonistIc.
We are far from denying that such
corporations have wrought immeasura-
BILE advancement to our national pros
perity. We readily concede that with
out some such form of aggregating in
dividual means into a combined force,
the development of our wide continent
must have been indefinitely delayed.
But, it must be remembered that all
force once applied, put in motion, be-
comes power; and all power may be I'M
justly and mischievously directed and
administered. The power of corporate
capital is no exception to this. And
when labor and capital become rival
powers, and both moving on the same
plane, collisions are inevitable.
The final question, then, is: How to
readjust the relations between labor
and capital under these new conditions
so as to re-establish the harmony that
should naturally exist between them
how to regulate the relative rights of
each, and restrain the wrongs OF both ?
That "strikes" can accomplish this it
were absurd to suppose. They, at best,
can serve only as violent protests
against the consummation OF wrong:
and they must result in widening the
breach that should be their purpose to
heal. Labor is power, as well as cor
porate capital; and that power, too,
may be misdirected and unwisely ap-
piled, and never more unwisely for
itself than in the form Of rude and vic.
lent strikes. In that form, labor arrays
itself against the law, and therefore
against society itself. This is an atti-
tude unworthy OF the dignity of labor
to assume, and one which it can never
maintain.
1t is TO the law itself, then, to legisIa-
ton, that labor must appeal in behalf of
its sacred rights, and in vindication Of
it's wrongs. We have already indicated
the causes that have led to these unlor-
tunate disturbances in the relations be-
tween labor and capital. The readjust-
ment of these relations will demand tue
deepest wisdom and severest thought of
our ablest statesmen. Nor can they set
about this task moment too soon. The
longer the delay the greater the evil will
grow.
Pretty little girl in Shreveport, La,
told her papa that there was pretty