Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-13
Mr.. AtkinsOn's Revelations
Boston Herald. Sept. 9.

The address OF Mr.. Edward Atkinson at
| the opening of the Institute Fair will well re-
pay careful reading. Itwould be hard to find
an argument which furnished more com
plete answer to the mass of vapory and theo
| relic assertion put forward by interested
| capitalists on the one hand and by socialistic
| agitators on the other. Mr.. Atkinson bases
| his reasoning on two substantial founda-
t1Ons, one being that the aggregate produc-
| ton Of this country, and, consequently, the
net annual increase in wealth is, per capita,
| a very small sum, the other, that freedom of
| individual action and freedom from re-
| strictive and destructive taxation are requi-
site for the full development Of our natural
resources and the welfare of the people of
this country.
1t hardly seems possible, until reduced to
an arithmetical statement, that the animal
product of this country, in every depart
ment of industry, does not exceed so cents
per day for each man, woman and child.
But this sum IN the aggregate would repre-
sent nearly $4,000, ,000, 900, which is a suffi-
ciently high limit at which to put our
yearly product. Out of this there is each
year consumed in the process of existence
not less than $4,000. 600 900, and of the re-
naming 81 900, 900, 600 half is consumed In
the work of maintaining existing capt.
tai in working condition. Thus
mum; that is 10 say, the country has this
amount of additional wealth this year, rep
resented In factories, railroads, improved
lands, etc., that 1t did not have last year.
But this sum, If divided per capita among
the people of the entire country, would
amount to only a little more than SO per
annum. 1t is upon this slender basis that
our increase in wealth is founded, and yet
the development of wealth is perhaps great
arf In than n in ha
world.
If we take from the annual aggregate
product of the country the expenses OF mu-
nicipal, State and National Governments, it
is shown that there is left to a family of
four persons, which is fair unit of calcu-
latlon, $500 as its proportion Of the years
supply. The head of a household so con-
stituted whose income exceeds this amount
obtains it in consequence Of the fact that
others received less than this sum. On the
other hand, II an equal distribution were
made of each years productions the situa-
tion of the intelligent laboring men who
receive fair days pay for a fair days
work would not be much improved.
The communistic notion seems to be
that, If such distribution were made, the
poorer classes could live as the rich
now do, when, as matter of fact, there
would be only a small addition made to the
comforts and luxuries of even the poorest.
Those who have wealth are but a small
fraction Of the community, and their pos
sessions would give but a slight return IL
rigidly divided among the poorer millions.
Equally at variance with facts is the no
tion of the oppressive power o. capital. At
the labor meeting in New York, day or
two since, resolutions were passed denounc-
ing monopoly. Such denunciations are
utterly meaningless when the particular
monopoly and the causes of oppression are
net given. Now the New York Cen
tral Railroad is, In the opinion of a
great many, q monopoly under the control
of the Vanderbilt family but Mr. Atkinson
points out that by this concentration Of
wealth the cost OF transportation has been
cut down more than half in the last fifteen
years. Such a decline would be absolutely
impossible If this vast railway system were
cut up into small sections, each having it's
separate staff of employees and its distinct
plan OF equipment. A great capitalist may,
at times, misuse his money, but in the main
he must use 1t in Legitimate business under
takings, and In so doing must aid in the de-
velopment Of the country, which implies an
enlargement of the opportunities offered to
all for profitable employment.
It is In what he said in relation to the
burdensonIe effect OF oppressive taxation
upon the business interests Of the country
that Mr.. Atkinson struck a chord Of
thought which should awaken inquiry In the
minds Of many Of those who listen 70 him.
From the first to the last of his address not
a word is directly said about protection, but
the indirect references were unmistaksble.
He quietly di spaissed the theory that high
wages would interfere with freedom of trade
by showing that where industries were
largely carried on by the use Of machinery
and skilled labor required, as Is generally
the case in this country, the rate of wages
tended to increase as the cost of produc.
ton diminish ed His reference to the
disability iut urred by sustaining a
large standing army was an easy parallel to
the disability which our country labors un-
der by sYsteI q Of taxation which increases
TO each wage Garner the cost Of living.
oy compellin; him to sustain naturally un-
profitable busl cess enterprises. Where the
margin betwe en- prosperity aud want is so
narrow the Law IS which take from poor man
a Few cents on Of each dollar that he uses Ia
the support Of his family isseverely felt, aud
in the aggregt tie forms an enormous sum.
He might haV said that the tangible mono
poly which tn laboring classes should seek
to overthrow was that protection which de-
prived the CO.. Tntry, IN the form of indirect
taxes, of hun dreds of millions of dollars
each year. II this could be saved the net
annual gain oE wealth to the country would
be doubled, an d in this way the work of
each wage can YER be made easier and his
means for supply ing his wants would be in