The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-08-21
A Wheeling ClergymRn's Views
on Labor and Capital.
Rev. A. c. George. In zIOn's Herald.

create such conflict is an enemy to the
country, and emphatically 10 the laboring
classes. Labor Of brain and hand
naturally 80 together. Let no man put
aSSunder what God hBth joined for q per.
petuAl union and a mutual advantage. A
state Of anarchy would be Of no perma.
nent value TO the toiling millions. For a
little time there might be social equality
and unrestrained pillAge, but despotism
and military rule would follow and the
workers would be forced into armieS, and
trodden under the feat Of tyrAnts. When.
ever the red flag is displayed, the black
flag will be sure 10 follow. All changes
are to be secured in q republic by
peaceful processes, in subordination 10
law, through the majesty Of the ballot,
and as the result Of an appeal to reI-
son and conscience.
To increase the number OF men who
have an interest in the different kinds Of
business which are prosecuted, 80 that
they shall have some per cent, however
small, OF the aggregate profits, and to in,
crease the number Of freeholders-Of men
who own the houses in which they live
and 30 have a stake in the soil and in the
general prosperity OF the community, are
objects Of desire and accomplishment Of
which genuine labor reformers will never
lose sight.
The rights OF laboring men should be
protected by law, and upheld by public
sentiment; and working men, most as.
suredly, should respect the rights of 9th.
erS, especially OF the great brotherhood OF
toilers. Employers and capitalists have
their rights, as well az those who are de.
pendent on their daily labor for their
daily bread. All the abuses and wrongs
have not been on one side in the past, and
probably will not be in the future. The
wise and statesman.like policy is that
which obliteratos the "sides' as far as may
be practicable, creates an identity Of in.
terest, produces that condition Of society
in which the prosperity Of one is, at least
to some extent, the prosperity oiall, har.
monies labor and capital by inducing
every laborer TO become capitalist, and
educates all men TO regard idleness and
unthriitinesS a. immortality and crime.
A writer on political economy has said:
"a full, impartial aud equitable settle.
ment Of all differences betwixt capitalists
and laborers can only come when the
muscle and money are both furnished by
the same parties, and the tOilers are also
the proprietors." This may be true, but
it is the duty OF both capitalist aud Ia
borer to strive constantly to realize, AZ
far as possible, an identity OF feeling and
interest. Neither party can gain any
thing by contentious.
There il, have been told, a large fur
niIure house in Cincinnati which distrib.
utes annually amongst its employees who
have been steadily at their work during
the year, five per cent Of the net profits
OF the business, on the basis Of the wages
received by the men in their respective
positions. This is prize money. This
is making the workman sharer in the
business without any portion Of the risk
Of an investment. Every man watches
carefully against fire, loss and waste, and
does his best at his bench, for he is per-
sonally interested in the question OF divi.
dend at tue end OF the year. Strikes are
unknown in that establishment, and pre-.
minms are paid, by skilIful workmen, for
the lowest places.
The town OF Fall River, in Massachu.
sets, multiplied its spindIes from 2l4, 4,2ls,
IN 1865, to l,0l7,ll4 in 1871. "The great
secret OF this development" says writer
in the NOh american Reries, "les in the
fact that almost every person, at all prom.
inently concerned in the operation Of any
mill in that thriving town, is himself
stockholder and directly interested in it.
The division Of capital and industry has
not as yet experienced its complete deveI.
Opment, but the principle is established;
the rest can hardly fail to follow"
These instances are suggestive, and
teach us an important lesson. Laboring
men need to learn, by wise providence,
by trustful cooperation, and by n
happy combination OF capital and in
dustry, TO protect and secure their own
interests. II the rich become richer
and the poor become poorer, in this
country, il ia because the rich are con.
stantly enabled to use for their own
benefit the accumulations OF the poor. IL
is not by exaggerated statement, by win.
diCtive denuncIations, or by the madness
OF war on capital, that the best inter.
ests OF laboring people are to be promot-
ed; but by combination Of capital and
labor; by the friendly cooperation Of all
classes; by recognizing mu8cle and skill
in execution as we'll as money and skill
in the general management to be capital
stock In the business; and by larger and
more practical acknowledgment OF the
Christian doctrine OF human brother.
hood.
Gladstone said, at the close OF our war
for the Union, that the great lesson
taught was "the enormous increase Of
energy, vigor and stability which every
State must derive from the extension Of
political privileges and interests, and n
share in the governmental power, to the
largest possible portion OF the Commu.
nifty" That il 10 say, we demonstrated
the strength OF representative govern.
ment, OF democratic Institutions, in n
manner 10 marked and illustriOus, that
the prime minister OF England could not
fail to discover, and was constrained to
admit, the fact.
Now we all know that the government
stood the test TO which it was subjected
because II was the peoples government,
and not the government OF royal house,
OF an aristocratic class, or OF any party
or faction whatsoever. This principle,
the value and Importance Of which we
have proved in our political life, We
need 10 apply 10 our business and indus.
trial relations. We need the vigor and
stability which will come from identify.
ing every laborer, according to the meas.
ure OF his skill, intelligence and industry,
with the business in which he Is engaged g..
We need to extend share Of the com-
mercial privilege and governmental
power OF every corporation 10 the largest
possible number Of those who, by hand
or brain, contribute 10 its life and pros.
perity. Erery capitals! laJorer and
euery LabOrer II odpitdlat, is the true ideal.
How 10 reach ii ia the social problem Of
our time.
As n help towards ita solution, we need
to remember that only evil and suffering
can come from injustice and violence.
We need Also to remember that property
ia trust; that men are greater than cor.
pOrRtionR; that our Father in heaven ID