National Republican., 1877-07-30
WHERE SHlLL OUR HOREuEN COY

One of the first things TO be done in solv-
ing the difficulties growing out OF the rela-
tions between labor and capital in this coun-
try must be to remove part oi the workmen
from places In which there are more Of them
than are needed TO places in which th,Ie is
q demand fot their labor. This process
must, of course, le voluntary, and result
from a consideration by workmen of the
fact that when any particular branch OF
business is overcrowded and is likely to re-
main so the surplus workmen should seek
some other occupation.
Now, there Is no business which will bear
such an amount of expansion rs agriculture
In its various departments. 1t can at all
times absorb all the surplus Labor OF the
country. Whenever, therefore, the pressure
OF hard times begins to press on laborcrs in
towns and cities they should at once turn
their attention 10 the country, for II Is sign
that labor is not properly distributed, and
that too much Of it Is seeking employment
in oyercrowded channels
In order TO ascertain one OF the chief
causes of the present arrangement OF labor
we need only refer 10 the last census Of the
United States. From 1t we learn that dur
ing the last decade nearly all the towns and
cities in the Republic increased largely in
population, while the ratio OF increase In
hiost rural districts was very small, and in
some instances the agricultural population
actually decreased. The growth OF towns
and cities during the last fifteen years has
been forced and unhealthy. Every town
has been ambitious Of becoming a uanulac-
turing centre. Every local paper in the
country has kept preaching that the thing
needed for each particular locality was to
establish manufactures, and consequently
that branch Of business has been greatly
oyerione, and an undue number Of men
haze been drawn from the pursuit OF agri-
culture. 49,
. Great relief would follow If the eguilib.
rum could be rc-established by restoring to
the country the population which has been
Improperly drawn from II. There need be
no practical difhculty In accomplishing this
result, There arc largo numbers Of men
In towns who were raised on farms, and
who could 70 hack to them without dill,
Uulty. Men in towns who have boys foi
whom they are selecting occupations, should
seek employment for them in some depart.
ment Of agriculture rather than encourage
them to engage In any OF the overcrowded
occupations presented In cities and towns.
The New York Word regards this remedy 5
for our present troubles rs Inadequate, be.
lands now on the market is quite limited
II may be said in reply to this that it is by
no means necessary for a man TO go Wes,
In order TO engage in farming or gardening
There are thousands OF examples Of men in
even so thickly settled an agricultural Ie-
gion as New York and New Jersey, who
have, without any capital but tho labor OF
their own hands 10 begin with, become the
owners Of the land upon which they live in
great comfort. Even in the most pepulous
of the Northern States an energetic and in
dustrious man can become the owner of d
homestead, and by going south vast quan
titles Of good and cheap land can be had
In Virginia alone there arc probably two
million acres Of land for sale to-day.
We think, therefore, that there Is no on
thing which would afford such certain re
lief to the deranged industry of the conntr
as to urge as many men rs can possibly d
so to betake themselves to Iural pursuit
II men have the will to find places in III
country they will be very apt to lind III
way Of doing 50, and thus aid in practicall
solving the great problem which is now pc
picking every true patriot.