The Labor enquirer., 1883-03-24

"HIen We seek' 0ur| aspiration is not
poisoned by adesire for class privileges;
no, indeed, it is just class privileges
which we would extinguish. What pure
religion proclaims, namely: Honesty in
our dealings with one another, this we
would make fully possible by putting
men upon material equality. For this
reason do We look to the final successful
overthrow of competition.
! The effects Of IRRESPONSIBLE competi-
ton, such as low wages, panics, strikes,
enforced idleness, general insecurity,
riot and contention need but be named
to remind all Of the constant need of
our best efforts. 1t is said "tO remove
an evil, one must remove the cause"
Very well. Let us try Trades unions
are good enough as far as they will 60;
but, friends, they don't 90 far enough.
This is not denying their eminent use
fulnes8, but it is simply suggesting the
next necessary step in the same direc-
ton. Now, the cause Of competition is
the private Irresponsible monopoly Of
our great national wealth, the indi-
viduals holding the same cOntending
against each other for the possession of
the market. Heaven knows, every kind
of reason o. is brought forth to point
away from the true cause of poverty.
Among the various supposed causes of
poverty that are held up by men of
ambition we may notice the evil of in
temperance. When holy gentlemen and
pious ladies lament the evil of intemper-
ance as the cause Of poverty let US re-
fresh their memory of the fact that the
average wages Of many trades, as esti-
mated by official authority, in themselves
explain the situation without alluding
to the causes Of exceptional habitual
drunkenness. If all the sober men
within the ranks of labor were rising 10
/ prosperous conditions while their dissi-
pated comrades remained poor and
shiftIess, there might be some sense in
these, assertions. &c. brothers, let us
never forget that the true cause which
has led to a new division Of labor and
wealth is found partly in the introduce
ton ami use of the steam engine as a
| IabOr-saving means of competition. and
partly IN the utter absence Of any pro-
vision in the constitution Of our present
government to avoid the results of such
d change Let the average mechanic or
! farmer be ever so frugal or industrious.
what ran he DO single-handed against
the mighty nonopoies that are fattening
and swelling into gigantic proportions?
Let us but think of the struggle betwpeu
the great railway corporations and the
western Grangers Let us remember the
weavers in England in the beginning Of
this century who were driven into
poverty through the use of the steam
power loom, against which their COM
petition was in fact no competition at all.
We'll, the matter is that the steam power
has practically revolutionized our whole
syetem Of productive industry. With
the steam engine production on a small
scale is no longer profitable. We need
an industrial revoIutiun-a revolution
which must be bIoodIess. a revolution in
public thought and sentiment, revou-
ton which shah turn the present state
of competitive chaos into national CO.
operative order, a revolution which will
shorten the hours of labor, which will
enrich our average education 50 as to lift
up labor to the degree Of art which will
free society from prostitution, from over
work and underworld, from all the crime
and misery which springs from our
present condition.
Now, then. let us briefly sum up the
chain of ideas which must link rs to our
duty as citizens Of this young republic,
and also unite us into one mighty union
for national good. Education and pros
perity are our national needs. Next,
national industrial cooperation is the
means, There are our ballots And now,
where is our will, our courage, our sincere
and manly efforts? 1t is not for US to
judge each. other in arrogant presump-
ton; but let our example speak volumes.
Let US study the truth, Hvei and spread
it by pure example, by courteous manly
speech. by quiet reasoning with patience
andforbearance, and last, but notIeast, by
circulating the truth in printed form.
! Ma- If NOT nrnEe TO aLEantare TO write