New-York tribune., 1878-07-11
MECHANICAL PROGRESS.
AN ADDRESS BY MIR. BOUTWELL,.

well delivered address to-day before the Horces
ter Institute of which the following comprises the
important points:
MR. D0UTWELLs ADDRESS.
The hope of every country is in its youth, and
tho main basis of this hopo the confidence of youth in
the future and in its capacity to deal successfully
with every condition of existence age this confidence
is often. perhaps always, degree Impaired but
the outgoing OF n body OF young men, endowed with
that confidence and strengthened by scientific, technical
training for the duties OF lfe event well calculated
TO stimulate the hopes Of the young and TO reinvgorate
the faith OF the aged.
No dtnson Is common in all countries
and il every generation than the notion that
the age is inferior to those which have preceded
H. This delusion has fastened itself upon many
educated aud thoughtful persons OF this generation
But of Europe It with entire truth be asserted that
its history the dark is the record of unnter
rupted progress In the two and half centuries OF
American civilization there has been constant advance
ment and step backward Since the general apphca-
On OF steam the practical affairs of life science ana
the inventive faculties Of have wrought reyOlu
oD only methods Of labor bat change has been
effected IN the application OF the faculties Of men en-
gagged in industrial pursuits The movement has been
always the direction Of economy. simplicity and quick
ness OF production BY this movement the relations OF
demand and supply are however, changed suddenly
without notice. and Of course without preparation Tho
the the same, the supply is
Increased, NDile b1e nullDtF VI WOIAmoh IN
production is diminishing. For time the capitalists
and aborers alike suffer. Then heard the complaint
of OF work by the labOrer and the cry OF over
production by the capitalist
THE BENEFITS OF INVENTION.
Then inventions denounced as the enemies OF the
aborng classes The Immediate harsh results OF the
development of the inventive faculties be denied
and only be found in the truth that the
ultimate, general and permanent consequences are in
the highest degree beneficial This It Is purpose to
Indicate and TO support with something in the nature
Of argument The earnings OF men at once divided
into partsthe larger part is devoted to necessary
subsistence the smaller part to possible savings. The
who OF two casses-One class spend all
tho earnings for subsistence the other class reserve
small portion OF their earnings aud hold 1t savings.
At the end the savings small per cent only OF the
earnings the subsistence having consumed much the
larger share Inventions diminish the cost OF products;
as the cost products dminshes the market for them
Increases aud time being gwen happens usually that
the number OF operatives needed In any branch OF in
dustry VIII increased rather than reduced by the
OF labor-savng machines,
IT, then, It be admitted that the prices Of labor are not
permanently affected unfavoraby by the progress Of the
inventive art, there remain means Of refuting the
statement that such progress nures to the benefit Of the
abong classes II the value OF the compensation which
aborer receives be measured by the articles Of neces
sity which he herewith procure it will appear that
compensation is twice great in 1873 as it was In
1900 To those whose subsistence consumes their earn
ngs the money value OF labor is measured solely by the
articles which the money received for labor viii buy
The same rule is applicable to those whose income
cseds their expenses except to the small cent OF
income over expenses; ; and in the end even this
excess measured by tho articles OF necessity com
fort and convenience which caRbe procured therewo.
Thus faculty which a systematic expression OF In
teueotual power is recompenEed. while mere peisons
Leeomng less i'm pOrant in the economy OF labor
ISDIvIDUAL ADVANTAGE NOT CONSULTED.
Mere defamation against this change is the vainest Of
human undertakings. The array OF numbers in
opposition however imposing when massed presents no
obstacle 10 the Of eyents The chemist In his
laboratory the mechanic IN ms SHOP, deyses cheaper
method OF doing necessary or pn agreeable ihlng ana
the world accepts II without Thought OF thosee
means Of SUBSISTENCE are taken away: Inc iah %
with the ancient sickle in bis hand wages an nn-
horse power and however you may multiply the men
and tie scaes the contest Is equally hopeless, hut the
through unnumbered oenturins Will IN tne
victory OF the harvester eat cheaper brad Herein Is
cus stands iur, u equal 90 the muscular force OF
hundred million fullgrovn men The lGtr = the in-
yeutIye the creative faculties aiLsd eX.i H and de-
i,'ring Csnariiy of Tho Britsb realln tweiyn-fod
The Brush lahoreT too however deg-adcd he NAV be In
his present estate opuient IN MS possessions wien
compared with the British Hborer Of the last century
lie Is better fed clothed and sheltered, and education
ana political rights can not long be wAhed Ihls aug
cyliTatun on the threads every part Of
tbe hab,tabc globe And / pause In this presence 10
oarr her fhe humble tribute OF the opinion entertain
that she has done more By mere secular
means for tho civilization OF the world thau
has been accomplished by any other nation
OF which history has preserved account.
What have said OF the power Of England ana Whsi
nave suggested the In which that hns
JUSTIFY the rcPctI1'on Of the ss'etncos
that the progress anC application OF the nyeuye ~
cannot De arrested 5 aTgnment or oy humoers ~ ho,e
array: and II the or the WORK ngnen o. America
were open my words and my yoioo cuVd reach theL
should SAY yOW welfare ahd SSIel '9hSla. hot III "
position tie Of eVJHts bat IN hius So ufselyes
couribut ions 10 zoe 0f civilization h-I ire active
around yOn, and Il you cSnHct contlldt 10 tem you
the changes which are IneyitaL. As country we arc
and country hope 10 continue TO be ne rivals OF
England IN manufactures aud commerce Rivalry I'M
plies progress. Indeed, II progress were IN p0ssDie n
yaliies would soon ceHse Ano S, "a ,ton sn
,eedipg and clothing 200 200 900 human beings are
The questions most intimately concern the aoorers
America In this IN TINS national aud inerna-
iiona competition, labor-saying machines will play
now exist the future will be richer IN inventive |
arrest the progress scientific and practical in
America the nations OF Europe would rejoice IN our
oly and isolation, accelerate their own steps and take
undsputed possession Of the markets OF the word l
only remains for US, then as naton 20 prepare our
selves contest which cannot he avoided ana whch
we ght accept gratefully and In the iath that the
energy and capacity OF our connymen wi" De equal 10
every exlgency.
LABOR-sAvTNG MACHINES.
II may be worth moments thought to consider the
means by which present success in manufactures has
been attained In sewingmachines, agricultural tools,
cutlery leather boots and Shoes and In low-prced cot
ton goods we able to meet the English manufacturer
upon eunal terms in all the markets OF the world Is
his eipenee ON our part due to cheap aborI Certainly
not L. It due TO the superiority Of the ordinary Aneri
eau aboror over the Ordinary English labOrer Only to
limited exter Our eminencs and success In these do
nartments are the skill and genius Of those
laborers and ''Sans who, by their Inventions have
enabled us to produce by the aid Of machinery at eo
NJ thR .
whether estimated the prices paid In England or
the United statef, The improvements In implements Il
agriculture ha added to the demand for hborers
bob upon the land and in the shops The tOeis apoD