The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-06-13
PAUPER LAROR

6A0Ohs
Within the entire range of all the vocabu-
laries of the world there can be found no
two words which separated, standing each
by itself, are more essentially antipodal than
"pauper' and 'laborer" The pauper con-
sumes, the laborer creates. The pauper does
nothing for himself or others. The laborer
supports himself and others. The world
would be better off if there were no paupers,
bat the world would stand still, as if by the
fiat of Jehovah. if it had no la
borers. Without labor not another furrow
would be turned, not another food crop
would be grown or harvested. Without
labor not another pouni OF ore would come
fir ON the bowels of the earth not another
ship or locomotive would be built not
another anvil ring would be heard, and every
shop and factory would be as silent as tombs.
The winds would blow, bat they would fill no
sails nor watt fleets OF commerce to the
markets of the world Fields would go back
to the wilderness; cities would decay, and
man retrace his steps to savagery. Notwith-
standing these things, we hear much nowadays
| about "pauper labor" Pauper and labor are
conioined to express a condition of things at
war with all ideas Of Justice Common sense
and common decsncy. Labor is made to ap-
pear in company with pauperism, and the
only wealth creating force in the world is
degraded by an association with that which
is a burden upon labor When q man can
| labor, we care not IN what land the sun has
brOnzed his brow, he is not pauper. He is
a wealth-pTcducer. He is as far removed
from pauper as wealth is from mendicancy.
Point out the colossal fortunes in the world;
trace their history. and it will be found that
labor has made them possible. 1t should be
understood and heralded everywhere that q
| poor labOrer is not pauper. Said one of the
speakers on the occasion of opening the
Brooklyn bridge TO the public: This con-
struction has not only employed every alb
stIact conclusion and formula of nathemat-
| les, whether derived from the study of the
earth or the heavens but the whole structure
may be said to rest upon mathematical
foundation. The great discoveries Of chemis-
| Try, showing the composition of water the
nature OF gases. the properties of metals,
the laws and processes of physics,
from the strains and pressures OF
mighty masses to the delicate
vibrations Of molecules, are all recorded here.
Every department of human industry is rep
resented, from the quarrying and cutting of
the stones, the mining and smelling of the
ores, the conversion of iron into steel by the
pneumatic process, to the final shaping of
the masses Of metal into useful forms and its
reduction into wire so as to develop in the
highest degree the tensile strength which fits
it for the work of suspension, Every tool
which the ingenuity of man has invented
has somewhere. in some special detail, con-
tributed its share in the accomplishment of
the fnal result" We would not dwarf the
usefulness of mathematics and chemistry.
Science manifestly had much TO do in build
ing the great bridge which connects the cities
Of New York and Brooklyn. Money was
also required by millions. Robeline is emit
tied to great credit for his ability to master
all the details of the wonderful structure.
We give due credit to scientific atiainments
and to the moving power of money. We see
all things ready. Science has solved every
problem. The plans are all made and are
ready. The required money is in bank
awaiting checks What now2 What is the
supreme 6emsnd after all? Labor. Robe
ling, the engineer. must have laborers, AID
every department OF human industry must
be represented. Science and capital
are powerless. The rocks in the quarry will
move only at the bidding OF labor. The ore
in the mines will remain there forever
unless labor touches IT, brings it forth. and
transforms it into wire and bolts. and but
for labor the Brooklyn bridge would forever
remained a picture in the mind'of the
engineer. Labor laid hold upon the crude
mate rails, and by the majesty and magic Of
its power wrought them into super
structure which commands the admiration
of the world, and still men talk
| of. ''pauper labor" 1t would be
as well TO talk of pauper science or paupsr
capital. We are told that Europe is ssading
"paEper labor" to America; that 'pauper
labor" is an embarrassment to the
progress of America, and some people de-
nand that no more European labor shall
come to America; that it shall be inter
dicted or taxed TO an extent that shall arrest
its coming. 1t is shown by the census sta
tistics of immigration that by far the largest
portion of the foreign arrivals consists
of farmers and farm laborers.
These immigrants people the vast
West, subdue its wilderness and cultivate its
fields, and add to the wealth Of the country.
TO speak of them as ''psuper laborers'' is
'alse to an extent that distorts language to
J bideous mockery. Labor has just cause of