The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-04-12

tunities being so equal, all were COM
paratively well-off and personally indie
pendent of each other. Another conse>
guence was, that all were interested in
good and economical government, and,
although educational oppor. unities were
far more limited than they are to-day,
all were Intelligent voters.
This was in the first quarter>century
Of the young nations existence Then
came steam and all its attendant ma.
chinery and electricity and other great
mechanical and scientific discoveries.
Vast opportunities for the development
of the immense natural resources Of the
country Immediately arose. Railroads
were needed in all directions. Steam,
boat lines, telegraph lines, express lines,
manufactures, coal. and iron mines,
foundries, torges, machine shops, and
all the other appliances of revolutions
lied method of industry. Commerce,
banking, insurance, and nunsberless
other interests underwent an entire
metamorphosis. The division of labor
consequent upon the introduction of
machines continually increased, neces-
stating greatar accumulation of capital
and labor. Small capitalists carrying
on small industries, with the aid OF few
men of nearly their own social standing,
were driven from the field of compe-
tition, and have been com PEELED either
to change their occupations to
those not affected by machinery, or
else to invest their capital in small retail
stores, or give up their position as IN
dustrial capitalists altogether, invest
their pretty accumulations the best way
they could, and become the employ es
or agent of thoseD with more means
This process has been going on with
ever-increasing rapidly. Large incor-
porated companies have been formed in
every important branch of industry, with
millions of dollars of capital under the
control OF a few. and some times Of only
one man.
And still the process of Capitalization
goes on. One alter another OF the small
er capitalists is swallowed up by the
large. until we have at last reached 9
condition when comparatively few meI
form a kind of commercial anG industria
aristocracy who virtually control all oul
social and political interests. your
space will not permit me to describe thu
manifold and alarming evils that proceal
from this state of things. Ever,
| thoughtful man, with a little reflection
can fill up the picture for himself
Where and how is it to end? Already
the work of the world has been brough
to standstill by the rapid increase o
productive power without correspon
ding increase OF consumptive power.
The reason is that capital absorbs
all, leaving to labor just sufficient t
satisfy such wants as laborers were &C
customed to q century ago. Machinery
operated by steam-power, is not oul,
labor saving; it is labor ITSELF It j
not, as at present owned and controlled
an aid to labor, but its competitor
This is the truth of the matter, and it
truth of most awful meaning. Human
labor is disemployed because machine
have largely taken its place. 1t is ais
degraded because skilled labor is tn
very kind Of labor for which machiner
is best adapted, and in which it ca
effect the greatest saving.
Capital, then-in the form of mi
chinery-in competition with labor
tyranny"