The Labor enquirer., 1884-10-18


and until that majority was determined
not to put any restraints qpon others
which they were not willing to submit 70
in their own case.
s'Ihe discussion Of this ststute would,
Of itself be Of incalcnlable bene6t and !
earnestly trust II may soon be discussed,
whether calmly or vehementy.
''For until society has made mp its mind
to such law fear it is useless to think
Of universal happiness. Ard it is to be
remarked that the number Of children
to family might be probably somewhat
higher than might at first be supposed,
since many women have no children. A
maximum Of four children TO family
might possibly be permitted, and the
state sanction or punishment for the i'm
fringement of such law should be very
slight as the great object Of the Law
would he toTuide and strengthen public
opinion and individual prudence and
conscience, not to supply their places. A
distinguished professor Of law has re-
Gently agreed with me that such statute
would be far more efficacious in lowering
the birth rate than any mere public
opinion, since in large cities like London
in modern times, statute law is the only
command many persons will obey.'
And this is humanity, enlightenment,
conscience. Withhold your FIRE, ye pro-
creant forces of nature! There are too
many living things The world, the very
universe is crowded! Turn off the host
of souls that seek mortal expression; |;
somewhere among less crowded planets
there may beimore room! Earth and
Hell are full! -
Meantime three, ,fourths Of the earth's
bread breeding surface is held subject to
not kindred but more heinous repres-
sion. One "stag of ten" holds lordly
pasturage till wanted to grace wasteful
feast where bread for hundreds, and
beef with it, to, in plenty, would find
room to grow. The vine, ito make glad
the heart of man." claims the hills until
luxury is sated. Artificial wants and
idleness demand the bulk of the wealth
of real food raised by the real workers
from the willing earth ?; and what srmies
of war and speculative enterprises-not
preductive-leave, is shared by the pro-
ducers, the real titled and authorized
possessors whose sweat has earnedit all.
And Of these the number is TOO large!
Turn Mr.. Nautilus out with a bee and
let him earnan honest living and his
heart win cease to be troubled about the
increase of population. ~ ~
Go to the ant, thou political economist,
or to convenient beehive, and consider
their ways and be wise. No repression
there. Dotll not the tenderness with
which they care for their myriad young
say something to you about the bountiful
heart of Nature? Be content to live,
sharing something of the labors that
produce, and your living will be sweet to
you and labor less a curse to all for all
recognizing its dignity. Let the Earth
feel the loving care Of her children In a
brotherhood of labor and she will yield
a Joyous life to- myriads, though they
swarm as do the ants upon their hills.
When will these people learn that
there cannot be too many workers, ex-
Ncept under the unnatural conditions that
now obtain. Even as it is, do pestilence,
famine and war, those friendly genii of
the Malthusian creed, produce relief?
Does greater proportion OF human
effort find free access to the soil when
the aggregate number IS less? Does not
the relentlesss tithe-taker claim his third,
not only of the fruits of the soil but of
bodies and, souls as we'll? Repress, in
deed Room, rather; and soon, too; 1t
cannot be too soon! J. H. M. :