, 1877-12-07
run LABOR QJ ESTlON.

-,Nlrrt irHW the lA't 'HsI 'h' '..>>
throughout the country - giving %
., much attention, and ,hIt th- lead
,nr writer's ani thinkers " the i.N
are setting heior. she pahhc thyr
view, up,u ir Rut ~ thInA ,hU
many who write upon this topic DO
no, look deep enough into It 70 fully
comprehend the cause which under
hes aud pr nduces the agitation, Which
,~avs upon is surface the eIc,ted
multitude. Who evidently, though
~rongfullv, consider themselves az
.rieved, through the influence VI de-
signing men, who for their own self
i>h ends give utterance Ia pernlclous
doctrines, which turn the minds ot
the workingmen AWAY from the true
issues OF the case.
There is one simple fact which has
heen ignored by all writer's and speak
rrs upon this topic--they have passed
i, bv, either for not daring to place
it before the workingmen, or because
it has escaped .heir attention. 1t is,
that labor is in reality overpaid.
We have often mad, this assertion,
and have as often stated, that as soon
as the lahoring men fully understand
il, and act in accordance with the
requirements of the fact, then, and
not until then, will n more satisiac-
tory and peaceable condition of al
fairs exist.
There never has been as much I'M
employed capital in existence in our
country as thereis at this time. Why
is this? Because it cannot be pro-
hubly invested, Why can it not
he? Because the cost of production
is above the margin of risk and pro
tit, Capital will not under existing
facts advance to the inauguration of
new industries; it will not invest in
improvements; it will not move. IL
1t should do So certain loss would
no entailed upon its operations, and
a certain loss is death to capital.
Capital being idle, no industries
started, no improvements in pro
sress, demand for labor does not
exist. The citizens Of the Eastern
States have practically demonstrated
their appreciation OF these facts, and
labor is lower in price than it is |
among us. The result is that labor !
is active there, while it is quiet here.
Asaproof ofthis goods manufactured
here are sent to the East to be made |
u2 into clothing, because the cost Of
labor there being so much less than
here, it affords the dealer a profit to |
have it done there, even after paying
the freight from here and back again.
Now one result Of this is, certain |
number of laborers are employed at
the Esss to perform that work, and
consequently a certain number here
are idle. Another result is, q GER
tain amounto of money is put in cir
culatiOn there to pay these workers
and that amount Of money does not
circulate here. Upon the principle
that half q loaf is better than no
bread, it would be better for our
wUVkingmen 60 work as cheap as
their Eastern compeers are able to !
DO 1t does net cost as much to live
here as it does there. Food is cheap !
er and more plentiful here. Wa
have not rigorous climate to con.
tend with; there is but very seldom
a day or night whom 4 man would
suffer without FIRE in his room. In
fact there are hundreds of men
hare who do not have a Gre in
their rooms the year in and the year
out, aud yet they are well, hearty
and strong, and do not suffer. There
IS here no day in the year when a.
man must stop work from climatic in
fuencss. With such facts broadcast
around Us we cannot see why our
wcrkingmen should not be able to
woEk as their Eastern co-laborers.
Farm hands IN ths central Western
States are working, living comfort
ably and thriving upon twelve dol
iarx per month and their board. Why
with all Ihe advantages of genial eli
nate can they not do 50 here?
Al the price Of labor is lessened 10
ehespscs the cost OF production, and
consequently she cost in living is d.
minished- So that in reality the Ia
oorer will get NOR. food, more cloth
ing, and more Of the comforts of life
apou his reduced wages, because the
pruuogticuate deceAse in the cost OF
ihesa things VIII be greater than the
rates Of his reduction in wages.
These FACTS should bs duly cousid
cred BY those who would counsel the
Iabovers wisely and 70 their owu good.