The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-07-05

The SWEAT ofthe lnboriug mans brow is
the sweet perfume that recalss the cod.Hsh
arstocrncy Of the land, and the ointment
that ereases tho wheels Of monopoly. II
this is tie way the All Wise Creator de.
signed things, can not help but think that
he bestowed that "swest perfume" and
intmen" upon many lazy, unworthy and
unprncipled specimens Of humanity. why
is it that our statute books are being filled
with laws granting greater privileges and
higher powers TO corporations from year to
year, while you look in vain for an efTec
tive law to protect miners, railroaders and
tber workngmen.
A good many years ago the government
OF the United States subsidised a number
OF corporations by giving them millions Of
acres of public lands TO aid them to build
tho Pacific Railroads.
What is The result7 II is no new thing
to hear able and fearless men, whom the
monopolists can not buy, boldly declare in
the U. S. Congress that for more than ten
years the Pacific Railroad Companies have
virtually controlled the government of this
country. And the worst of it is, it true,
Shall we shut our eyes and lull our reason
to sleep, and let things go on as they may.
1t would not be epatriotc so to do, because il
would seriously ieopardizs the safety OF our
institutions.
Any system ofgovernment which allows,
or enables a few individuals to control the
money and the legislation Of the country, is
wrong and must produce pernicious results
Let us draw a comparison.
For instance, how many persons who
read this save $1,000 a year, Probably not
one in fifty. But suppose a prudent and
industrious man caves $1,000 year, or
little less, II will require fifty years to save
$4,000. This is a long lie time, and If
the man did not bsgin until he was thirty
years old, he would be eighty before he
hao such competence laid up But the
great majority of the people, who make all
the wealth Of the country by their labor,
can not earn even $1,000 a year, to say
nothing about saving that much.
How enormous is The achievement, then.
which results in a saying of $50 900 a year.
But if a man had been born IN the same
year as Jesus Christ was, and had lived
from that year until now, and il during
each year he had saved $4,000 he would |
not be worth as much as Vanderbilt or
GOuid, aud their fortunes were accumu. |
lated in short time. How was 1t done |
Shall the poor laborer be compelled to toll |
at starvation wages to still further enrich |
men Of that class2 | do not wish to he |
understood as saying that wealth and cor
are not valuable and essential
.hlngs 10 have in prosperous country. 1t
s the abuse ofthem that deuounce. Its
TACT that corporations and capitalists do
adopt all kinds vi methods to get the most
work possible out of their men at the low.
'st rate OF wages.
For instance. it i, common thing to
give task to a lot OF men and then rro,,
se them that as soon as it is completed tho
men shal! be free for that day OF week. as
he case may be. The poor fellows viii
hen strain evervnerYe and muscle to finish
I as quickly as possible. After thev have
Jeen thus guaged and measured they will
Je told that as they did the task in a certain
ength OF time, that therefore they must do
he same amount OF work as they did when
lhder such extra pressure.
This ls gnuging the hfe-blood out of n
ipr a. ,ttr a,,f
lends to enable a heartless plutocracv IN
i've in wee and luxury and to supply means
% corrupt the laws aud pollute tie admin
stratlnn ot the government. And any b,ss
Who is instrumental in thus taking adyant
ge oi wnrGingmen, must have a mean,
ilmy, little soul, smaller than mustard
eed. is 1t right2 Is there any humanity
n itE ! am opposed To 1t. even il all the
bosses and lackeyA should be
'old enough to call Inc unkind names.
In that way they expect To deceive the
'eople. | would like to discuss in detail
ome ofthe fundamental principles to which
haYe only hinted, but space will not per.
mt me. You may think out the details for
ourselves at present. In conclusion de
ire t" make sugGe'tIon. When you hear
ny one unfairly crilIcise the principles set
lrth ID this article l0"k at HIM and size
nm, aud sec what manner Of man he is,
nj II he deserves il treat him with silent
pntempt and unspeak akabls scurn
Every poor man can do at least that
iueh,, and il he does, shall Ieel amply
epaId Tor my part Of the work.
Very respectfully,
W. NJ. RAPsHER,
Lehighton, Pa, July LIST, 1884 +
NE,r ,unnn L.,,,.. ,....