The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1882-07-22
A.al.or 81. tapaaal.

The St Louis Republican, univer
sally conceded as ranking among tn,
ablest conducted newspapers in thil
country, speaking of the recent trou
bles and conflicts in the large cite
between capital and labor, takes al
unbiased and dispassionate view of ths
matter. Unlike the majority Of the
great wealthy journals who, right Of
wrong, are always arrayed against the
laboring classes, it does not seek tc
cry down the poor man because he
dares to demand fair remuneration
for his labor. The Republican truth
fully says:
Strikers and members OF labor unions but
act upon a principle which is universal in its
application to the affairs Of life in their en-
deaFors to hold mp and get higher wages The
selfshness In tho nature of each individual,
and which, in proper limits, is 8 virtue
prompting each te take care Of his own and
his own household, is at the base Of sill these
determined conflicts of labor aud capital.
Those who see only peTverse destruCtivgness
in these labor movements, should widen their
vision and acquire some of the spirit which is
taught by the motto, ''Put yourself In his
place.
Bnt the Republican, while it desires
TO accord TO the laborer all that is just
II due him, and to acknowledge his
perfect right, as free American citi-
zen, to take such action as will best
promote his own interests, is not dis
posed to exonorate him entirely from
blame. The error which brotherhoods
of workingmen too frequently fall into
is aptly stated by the journal quoted |
when it reminds them that the right |
to "Proscribe others and restrict free
dom of action can never be allowed |
them. Proceeding further with the
interesting subject the Republican says
As society is constituted and in the present
state of sociological advancement there is no
other equitable mode OF determining the value
Of labor except free competition. What would
lsborers think of a resort to violence by the
body of capitalists to prevent any individual
Or company from acesding to the demands of
employees! They wouid just see in any such
extreme measures a wrong to be resisted at
once and to the last extremity, The effort TO
create fat money, that is, to declare that a
certain coin, and still worse, piece Of paper
with certain stamp on it, shall exchange for
a fixed amount Of commodities, the fruit of
law, and has always resulted and
must always result in confusion and waste
and failure, Precisely analogous are all efforts
10 put a fat value on labor. Freedom of eX-
change is the only possible rightful adjuster
Of values, whether it be Of labor or cOmmOdi-
lies. Voluntary entrance of labOrers into
lnions and their voluntary stay in such unions,
and by such free association and unity Of ac-
ion TO fix and maintain higher wages, is
powerful and entirely legitimate means Of
the interests Of those arraysd on
lne side of the perpetual contest between
abOr and capital But when lsborers attempt
o abrade the vital principle OF freedom of
letion on the part of any man who does not
ne Joined them, chooses TO dissOciate him
elf, they substitute despotism for liberty and
the whole social fabric