The Labor enquirer., 1883-09-29
Modern Society. Scored in an
II Able Article by that 7
+. Agitator. 81
The Working People Plainly
III. Shown Up to be Absolute,
~a ta Slaves. Il T. @fa,Ta
Will the Working People Open
Their Eyes to Signs Of the
~ ~ !. Times9 ...~.

"a No matter what the boast of a republic
can. form of government, socialism,
whether under monarchy. constltu-
tional government or otherwise, is wholly
international; everywhere the present
basis of government and society is cap
italistic, sustaining privileged class,
which claims the right of preying upon
the rest; this predatory power puts capi-
tai above man and knows no scruple
touching acquisition of property, in its
dealings. In this respect, then, no diff
ference exists between the United States
and the various countries of Europe.
Capital, instead of imparting the varied
improvements of civilization impartially
ITO all, is retained by privileged minor
ity Everywhere wealth is being con-
centrated, and our national aspect has
it's reverse in almost hopeless pauperism.
Like causes produce like effects, and the
tendency to economic extremes univer
sally prevails. Where, as in Europe, the
bourgeois divide their questionable
game with an almost defunct nobility,
in the United States there is no division
at all. Although this new country may
claim almost inexhaustible resources
unknown to the old world, the capital
istic class here even has obtainedan al
most entire monopoly, though in justice
these should belong to the people. Has
naked nature privileges for any? Monop-
oily has struck its fangs into the rich
lands of the country. Can this Ameri-
can landlordism 60 on without the most
serious consequences resultingH Already
the future frowns upon us with dread
possibilities as our industries become
rapidly more concentrated under private
monopoly. We may notice the equal
rapid disappearance of the former small
employers and business men. The laws
of national economy compel the disin-
herited workman to cringe to the mo-
nopolist. Wages are the necessary out
lay to keep the human machinery alive,
while wealth is unpaid wages. With
our unparalleled growth ofnatural wealth,
the average annual income should
amount to $1,000 per head while our
present system gives rise to Vanderbilts
and Goulds, the average wages are on
the steady decrease. Where is the diff
ference between factory systems, here
and in Europe, and the Gisciplining OBJ
tanning in the prisons and poorhouses of
both continents? Frequently the work
ingman is not 80 we'll cared for as is the
beast recently, in western mine, the
mules were cared for before the miners
they cost money and were looked after
while the men were left in the ruins.
We disregard periodical business de-
pressions already another crisis is ap-
preaching us with it's possibilities ol
closed workshops and mines the old
cry of overproduction will again be
heard.
Overproduction There can be no
overproduction in shoes so long as a man
walks in wornout shoes or goes bare
sst The same holds good of building
cl1des, as the people still live in novels.
Not over but under production is the
fact we have to recognize; this under
production is but the sequence of want
of average purchasing power by the pro-
ducing classes.
In spite of all our pretensions of re-
publican freedom, the bourgeois govern
supreme, holding the entire political
machinery, the great corporations using
their lawyers as representatives. What
in Russia is the knout of the Gar, or in
Germany the policeman's sabre, here
finds its equivalent in the hypocrisy Of
the governing classes. The press is their
instrument, exercising its influence in
every election, and generally stultifying
the masses. In this the press has sue.
ceeded and, according to its teachings
the people actually believe their condi,
ton to be far superior to what it really
is; more than this, the press is preparing
the public for CGsarism; its columns are
devoted to the scandal and gossip o.
European courts. One might at least
expect the press of this country to keeE
I'D the spirit of free institutions. The
more men believe, the less they generally
know; the less the masses know, the
more gullible they become. An imagin
ary heaven is held up that they may no
Eenjoy real heaven.
The same capitalistic taint is felt in oul
system of judiciary. Poverty being
crime, the yagrant is classed with crimi
nails of the severer type. That the re
spect for the unfortunate portion o
humanity is being gradually lost is agaiI
shown in our present poorhouse investi
cations. 1t is the same policy which
manifested itself in the conspiracy law
for occasional use. When despairinI
men and women proceed from strike t.
riot, we have no remedy but the militia
if the result is number of victims, W,
say, "Just a few workingmen, that's all,
while, when a Russian Car goes, Amer
can sympathy is overfowlng.
1t is the principle of the American