The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-08-31

superior Of capital and deserves much
the higher consideration. And occa-
sionally violent machine partisan, or
some sclf.opinionatcd egotistical idiot
denies that Mr.. Lincoln ever said any
sucl, thing. Others claim that if he did
say 30 he il not fairly quoted by the
labor papers. Now, in order to shut
the mouths Of such fools the editor OF
the Rock Islander wrote to Hon. Ster
ling p. Rounds, Public Printer, at Wash.
ington, d. G., for copy Of Mr.. Lin.
coins first annual message to Congress,
Dec. 8, 1851, and Mr.. Rounds sent lis
the official document.
Mr.. Lincoln, in this message to Con-
gress, il speaking Of the late rebellion,
and he SAYS that the instruction 10
largely, il not exclusively o war upon the
first principle Of popular government
the rights Of tho people," and that
monarchy itself is sometimes limited Mt
a. possible refuge from the power Of
the people," Nov, in order that no one
shall hereafter say we have garbled his
words, torn them from their proper con.
nection, and not given his true meaning,
we quote the last part Of his message
six paragrapls--in full, as follows
I'm my present position l could
scarcely be justified were to omit rails.
ing warning voice against this approach
Of returning despotism.
ut is not needed, nor fitting here,
that general argument should be made
in favor Of popular institutions ; but
there is one point, with its connections,
not 80 hackneycd rs most Others, to
which l ask brief attention. Il is the
effort to place cdpitat on nh equal foot
ing with il not above labor in the
structure Of government. II il assumed
that labor il available only in connection
with capital that nobody labors unless
somebody else, owning capital, somehow
by the use Of it induces him to labor.
This assumed, it is next considered
whether it is best THAT capital shall hire
lahprers, aud thus induce them to work
hv their own consent, or buy them, and
drive them to it without their consent.
II wing proceeded thus far, il is naturally
M,clnl,,l that all laborers are either
hired laborcrs or what We call slaves.
And ful Their, it is assumed that whoever
is once a hired lahorcr is fixed in that
condition for life.
"Now, there is no such relation be-
tween en- vital and labor rs assumed nor
il there any such thing asa free man be-
ing fixed for life in the condition Of q
hired laborer Both these assumptions
are false, md all differences from them
groun Hess.
Labor is prior to aud Independent
x capital. Capital is only the fruit of
lahnr, aud could never have existed il
lab n had not first exit d. Lab.r is
the superior Of capital, and deserves
much the higher consideration. Capital
has its rights, which are as worthy OF
protection as any other rights. Nor is
ii denied that there is, and probably al
ways will be, \ relation between capital
and labor producing mutual benefits.
The error is in assn ming that the whole
labor Of community exists within that re-
lation. A few men own capital, and that
few avoid labor themselves, and, with
their capital, hire or buy another few to
labor for them. A large majority belong
to neither class-neither work for others
nor have others working for them. In
most Of the Southern States majority
Of the whole people, OF all colors, are
neither slaves nor masters, while In the
Northern . large majority are neither
hirers nor hired. Men with their fami-
lies-wives, sons and daughters-work
for themselves on their farms, in their
! houses aud in their shops, taking the
whole product to themselves, and asking
/ no favors of capital on the one hand mol
/ hired laborers or slaves on the other. II
is not forgotten that \ considerable num-
/ Der Of persons mingle their own labor
with capital-that is, they labor with
I their own hands, but also buy or hire
others TO labor for them /; but this is only
| mixed, and not distinct class. No
principle is disturbed by the existence 81
this mixed class.
again, rs has already been said,
there is not, Of necessity, any such thing
rs the free hired laborer being fixed tc
that condition for life. Many independ.
ent men everywhere in these States, 4
few wears back in their lives, were hired
lahorers. The prudent, penniless be.
glnner in the world labors for wages
awhile, saves surplus with which t.
buy tools or land for himself, then la
bors on his own account for another
while, and ut length hires another new
beginner 10 help him. THIS is the Just
and generous aud prosperous way te
all, gives hopes to all, and consequent
energy and progress and improvement
Of condition 10 all. No men living arc
more worthy to I've trusted than those who
toll up from povcrty-none less inclined
to take Or touch aught which they have
not honestly earned Let them beware
Of surrendering political power which
they already possess. and which, il sur.
rendered, will surely be used to Close
the door OF advancement against such q
they, and to fix new disabilities ant
tar,iens upon them till all Of hbert,
shall be LOST.
From the first taking of our nationa
census to the lust are seventy wears
and We find our population at the end O
the period eight times as great IS it wa.
at the beginning. The increase of these
other things which men deem desirabl,
has been even greater. We thus hav.
at one view what the popular principle
applied to government, through the ma
chinery of the States and the Union
has produced in . given time and also
what, it firmly maintained, it promises
AOI tuc AuluEc. 4ueIc aEc 6iFG0Ov among
us those who, il the Union be preserved
will live TO see it contain two huntire,
and fifty millions. The struggle Of to
day is not altogether for to-day-it is fo
vast future also. With reliance o.
Providence, all the more firm and earn,
est, let us proceed IN the great tasl
which events have devolved upon us.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
"WAsHISaToN Dec. s, 1851"
Here you have it in full--no garbling
no misquoting. In his annual messag
to Congress- Mr.. Lincoln calls the atten
ton Of the whole nation to the fact tina
an effort is being made to place capita
on an equal footing with, if not above
labor in tho structure Of government
and he warns the Latonal legislatur
and the people to beware of that effort
He says there is no such lelation he
tween capital and labor as assumed. Fl,
says labor is prior to and Independent
Of capital; that capital is only the frui