The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-04-15
LABOR AND CAPITAL.

tiOnal Labor League The memorial
asks that special session Of Con-
gress be called as early as practicable
for the purpose of considering the
relations between capital and labor ;
but what these relations are it is
difficult TO ascertain. and the petit
TONERS do not enligbten US. Refer
ence is made to the Congressional
committee which travelled over the
country two years ago investigating
the causes of the depression in COM
merciaI matters and In endeavoring
TO ascertain if there were any means
by which the differences" between
labor and capital could be adjusted.
OF course the extra session Will not
be called; of course the board of
directors of the central committee
O. the National Labor League will
bewail the prejudice Of the Presi-
dent of the United States and cry
he is the slOve of those tremendous
engines of social oppression, money
and monopoly. Il Is strange to con-
template how men, conceded to be
of natural good sense, can become
so unreasonable on certain subjects,
yet prove so rational on others; and
it is no less strange that men of I'M
questioned intelligence should en-
courage that which is practically
senseless by pretended sympathy
with movements which good judg-
menG teaches are absolutely imprac-
ticeble. The commission of Con-
greSsmen that travelled over the
country at great public expense two
years ago, with the alleged object of
ascertaining the cause of the de-
preston which then existed in
trade, and to discover if there could
be devised method of adjusting the
differences" between capital and
labor, was as successful a farce
as has been enacted in years. The
Of that commits ZION knew,
Il they knew anything, that no
amount Of travel, or investigation
could further illuminate the causes
of the depression at that date; they
knew that the dizziness in CONNER
cial circles was due to natural
causes which would be lighted
when the natural period had ar.
rived, and that 10 amount OF con-
gressSional investigation or legisla-
ton could speed the arrival Of better
times for one moment, or afford to
the complaining laborer an hours
legiti mate comfort. The laws of
defy all legislative inter
ference; they may be stayed for the
time being; the commercial stream
may be temporarily changed from
its natural channel, but it Is no more
possible fer Congress to pass laws
what would afford permanent relief
in violation of commercial princi-
pies than for man to stop the sun in
its course. All things in nature
shO v that perpetual prosperity is
unnatural. Seasons change; seas
ebb and flow; day follows night;
the trees bear fruit for season and
then rest; and so nations have
periods Of prosperity followed by
periods of depression, and all agree
able to diyine-Ornatural, if one
prefers it-fiat which says there
shall be no rest, and that all things
must change. 1t is these changes,
these periods of prosperity that fol-
low seasons Of depression; the laugh
ter that brings tears; the joy that
gives way to pain; the rest thatsuc-
ceeds labor, which constitute life;
that recall to mankind tie uncer-
taintieswith which he is surrounded;
that make him thoughtful. careful,
frugal, lOng-suffering patient, fOrgiv-
ing in fact that make him a man.
1t is true, there is much that
might be better, but this improve
ment must come from humanity
itself. There is no difference" as
that word is generally understood,
between capital and labor. The
only difference Is that one is
labor and the other is capital, and
no earthly legislation is sufficiently
powerful to make labor capital or
capital lahor. They are absolutely
essential to each other, and people
should remember this fact: and if
labor desires to become capital, it
can do so by working energetically,
by being frugal. by accumulstihg
means, and by placing it where it
Will grow, where it will give en-
ployment to other labor, and where
it will prove a blessing both to
mankind and 70 the DOssPsSor. No