The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-10-09
Some Labor Reform Theories.

Our friends regard the production and
perpetuation OF wealth as being due al
most entirely to labor. They often say
that laboring mcn-as distinct from the
class of capitalists and cultivated people
have created the wealth of the coun-
try, and it is sometimes added that it
Justly belongs to them. The working
people do not generally understand how
much the production and existence Of
wealth depend upon other elements than
mere muscular exertion. They do not
appreciate the part which is performed
by cultivated men and capitalists in Or
ganizing and cquipping business enter
prises, in adapting production to the
markets of the world, and in so direct
ing the labor of multitudes of men and
tie use of costly machinery as not to
impair the capital invested. They do
not even understand clearly that the de
scruction of capital ruins the laborers Of
the country by destroying the business
which gives them employment Many
laborers think they are in some way
benefited by all the losses sustained by
capitalists. Wealth is not so stable or
permanent as our friends believe 1t is
of q sensitive nature, and does not bear
rough handling. 1t is easy to destroy
the value Of any kind of property or
investment by injurious legislation or
mischievous municipal administration
But many men believe that by means Of
legislation sin the interests Of labor, ="
and by severe taxation, most of the
wealth now in possession of rich men
and corporations can be transferred,
without impairment, to the hands
of the working people think the
actual result, if their plans could be car
ried out, would be the gradual ami
hilation and expulsion of the wealth of
the country. There would no longer be
any disparity of conditions between rich
and poor, because all would be poor
alike. Our organized industries would
be destroyed. All machinery which re-
quires the cooperation of many laborers
would be disused, and we should be OBJ
liged to return to the conditions and
methods of life of the days before the in
PRODUCTION of improved labor saving ma
chinery, when the people of our country
depended almost wholly upon agricul-
ture and such manufactures as could be
carried on in their homes. The world S
wealth will not be perpetuated or repro
duccd if the essential conditions under
! which it has been created are. destroyed.
Might does not make right or justice
on the side of the people, any more than
on that of the tyrannical few who are re
garded as their oppressors. Excessive
taxation is robbery, though the guilt and
dishonor of it may be distributed among
millions of voters. When the people
make law which compels the capitalists
of a city to deliver up their wealth atthe
doors of the city treasury, for distribu-
ton among the laborers of the munich
paity, in the form of unnecessary ana
dishonest appropriations for improve
ments. the act is not more honest be
cause committed by the people under
the forms of law. II is not wise to
teach the people Of our country flat
nothing in their political action can be
wrong or unjust; that robbery and in
Justice are to be accounted right when
perpetrated by the majority by means of
the ballot .-October Atlantic.