The New York herald., 1878-12-16
LABOR AND CAPITAL.

DR. RYLANcE ON OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
AN Acknowledged ELEMENT IN POLITICAL
SCIENCE
Another of the lectures delivered on recent Sun
day evenings by the Rev. DR.. Rylance given last
evening in st. Marks Church. The subject chosen
was Competition" and pohtco-social topics had
been chosen before not hard to anticipate that
the effect OF competition on commerce would be the
real subject of the lecturer. text was
chosen from Matthew. xiii, 12-"Whosoever hath,
to him shall be given" have mainly discussed
theoretical ideas in former lectures. said DR.. Rylance
Communism is beautiful ideality. but the world
has been slow to adopt it. Here and there have been
efforts made by high-minded men and women to
carry out such IDEAS but only has the world little
sympathy but Communism has bad name. So OF
cooperation, mainly, though it has much more to
commend it than Communism. 1t makes no
violent attacks capital and. if managed with
providence and SKILL often succeeds. Less interest
has been felt in cooperation in this country than
abroad, for there has been less need for it. Tho
laborer has been able to make his terms largely.
but this time has passed away. and have time Of
discussion before
But have to speak tonight of the actual compei-
ton which drives the weakest't to the wall. Mr.. Mill
sympathizes with socialism and he recognizes the
necessity of competition. wherever compe-
tition is not monopoly is,' he says and
while he acknowledges the evils of compet-
ton he declares that it prevents other evils
Instead Of looking it bane then, he declares
that it should not be curtailed in any way. Man il
creature wants. natural and artificial. Nature only
partally supplies these wants. Labor Is necessary
70 aaapa raw scpo"i of nb;lnsonbv Nc can o
viate this. IL is condition not to be evadcd. Labor
is the best conservator OF virtue. For the struggle
not equal and can never be made
equal Nothing is left but to allow the
fair play OF human faculty This involves COM
petition Human minds rendered acutcr by fric-
ton 1t ought TO be recognized just that the
who produces the most work of the best qualities
should receive the greatest reward. Communists
may deny this eoquenty, but il is ndorsed by tho
| practical common of the world. Sef-love IL
itself recognized by Christ The whips and
| spurs supplied by competition, then, produce
| the best effects in practical life. All undue
/ interference by government, all monopolics and
this and to be denounced robbery OF the
for the benefit of tine few. Special reasons may be
advanced to Justify the interference by government
with international trade but it is very difficult to
| answer the tree traders arguments.
| LABOR COPYING CAPITAL.
There is even now too much of disposition on
the part of capitalists TO combine against the public
and auainst the laborcr but Ii is not done much
mr. as r,.cklessy as formerly Yet we hear of iron
| masters and railroad men deciding in COM
| binaton minimum prices. Why should we
condemn the aborers for Joining in strikes IL the
| which are now recognized us wise and benefocnt or
ganizatons Readers of Charles Keade's story Put
4 Yourself III HIS Place ana tne ACCOUNTS out
RACES pcrpetrated in this country by trades
| may wonder that 1 say this, but judge things by
their essential merits and not by their abuses The
rise OF trades unions marked epoch in commercial
history. Yet they spccious attempts to obviate
some of the natural effects of competition. II has
been said that ninety per cent of those who embark
| in trade fail. There is often suffering among
the employers than the employed, and this is not
mere pulpit sentiment Employers are as much gov
erned by competition as the laborer. Workingnen
should ponder this but they too often blind to
IL. do not say that all strikes arc wrong They are
! necessary under the present condition Of affairs.
/ Competition has made our civilization. With
i out 10 should have been savaacs.
| Left to itself il will exert healthy
i influence. Centuries hence man may be willing to
/ work for the general good he works for his
own. But competition will still exist and men will
then vie with each other in sclf-dcvoton now In
selfinterest. Let workingmen closer together
i and help another and he will help himself the
best Industrial combination is the best way out of the
present trouble. Cooperation IL no longcra dream
but an acknowledged element OF political science.