Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-08-13
COMMUNICATED.


The question of Labor seems to be agitas,
Jog our country from centre to circumference.
The events OF the last twelve months are
alarming. If country ever attains pros
pcrity and high degree of civilization, it
must do it by and through labor. It cannot
be nation of idlers and advance 10 wealth,
power and fame. Its people must work.
they must produce to constitute wealth. But
labor alone will not accomplish this. It must
be accompanied by intelligence and guided
by knowledge. 1t must work with desire
to produce something beneficial, something
useful, something that other countries will be
willing to purchase. No nation produces
everything that its requirements call for
AS with individuals who have to interchange
the products of their laber, so with nations.
Nature creates diversity of climate, and
what can not be grown in one climate can be
IN others, thus necessitating commercial COM
muncation between different people.
To be successful in this endeavor to sell to
| others, this surplus must have been produced
| as chcaply az other competitors in the field
have been able to produce it. or 1t will have
to be sold at loss to the producers and the
nation AS labor is the chief factor in the
| cost of production, it must be as cheap in the
country that desires to sell as it is in other
| Could the laborer see far enough ahead of the
present moment, he would see that in the en-
HANGED prosperity that would attend upon
| cheap labor his own position would also be
enhanced his cost Of living would be re-
ducod, by the reduction in the cost of pro-
| ducton, and with less amount of money
| passing through his hands, he would obtain
q greater amount of the com forts and of the
conveniences oc life.
Let US illustrate this Some fifteen years
ago the price of pair of boots from
| ten to fifteen dollars. and now, under u
cheaper system of labor, aided by machinery,
which facilitates the progress of the work
good strong boots can be purchased at from
three to four dollars, reduction of at least
seventy FIVE per cent.-with clothing and I'M
derwcar there is reduction of greater per>
centage.
Food of all kinds were then much higher
than they now are; wages, too, were far
higher than at present, but the aborer was
not as we'll off at the end of the year as he
can be now, and he could not have many
articles of comfort as he is now able to OBJ
tain. The reduction in the price of labor
has accomplished this result, and the laborcr
can with less wages than he then commanded,
secure more of the neccssaries Of life.
In the competition that is so universal,
| the rates Of wages are destined to be still
| lower. Cause and effect will act harmonious
ly in this great problem in the lcssened cost
of production far greater aggregate of sales
| will be made, moro extended commerce,
and a higher condition of property will
ensue, and the laborer cannot fail to partic-
ipa,e in the benefits which will be of such
general disse nation.
Instead therefore, of battling against the
inevitable, aud remaining in idleness rather
than accept the situation as it actually exists.
if the workingmen would go to work and
take such wages as they can obtain. pros
rerity would be seen on every hand, and con-
tentment would exist where now only dis
cordaut tones are heard and sullen looks are
met.
The laborers must be left free to make
their own bargains, and to work for whom
they please aud the employer should be
left free to make his own bargains, and to
employ those whom he may choose to set to
work. therefore, monopolies of all kinds,
who attempt to absorb tho people of labor,
ought to be restricted by legislation.
There should be no dictation from others
in such matters; no trades unions should
stand in opposition to such freedom, for their
acts and principles are in direct opposition to
that freedom OF action which constitutes the
vitality of labor, y * X * neither should
monopoles be allowed to Cypress it.
IAPoREp