The Labor enquirer., 1884-07-19

would not pay them 70 understand It
And The radicals nd lsndsrntand Il
Lei d consider TIE present proposals.
Of the political ls1ormsr1 ! will leave
the conservatives 70 grovsl in tie miro
|of their own ignorance. I viii leave
the liberals TO congratulate themselves
upoh the success Of their past trickeries,
Eand turning to the pseudo philosophical
radicals I ask them TO consider Whist
condition the workers would be in il
their: widest dreams Of reform were
carried out; if their most fantastic
fancies were accomplished realities il
We had adult suffrage, annual periia-
ments. home rule; il the quesn wore
uperannuated with Mr.. Henry Georges
ESQ; if allthe court flunksys were earn
ing an honest living; If the prince Of
Wales were in Madame Tassands and
the duke Of Albany teaching an infant
school (this was written before the
Dukes death !; if the rich were teased
more and the poor less or even if the
poor were exempt from taxation and the
rich paid all / afirm that the prole.
.tariate would be not q bit better OF than
they are now, while the power Of the
bourYeoisie would be greater than ever.
Political reform has been gradually
advancing during the present century.
And do we find that the people are
materially benefited Z On the contrary,
despite the corn law repeal, reform bills,
factory acts and other devices for de-
ludlng the people and retardinR progress
the bitter cry Of the outcast swells in
volume and increases in intensity.
These proposals of reform are based
upon misconception Of the social re-
lations of the laborer and capitalist. If
we want to elevate the masses, let US
really understand their position. In the
first place they are wage earners, !. ..
their subsistence is procured BY the
weekly sum which they obtain from the
capitalist By the operation Of economi-
cal laws wages are always forced down
to what will obtain mere subsistence.
The increase of population on the one
hand and the introduction of labor
saving machinery on the other. con-
stantly leaves number Of unemployed
workers on the market. 1t is alleged
that these political reforms which I have
mentioned would benefit the wage-earn-
ers in this way:
Taxation would be reduced, and that
part of the workman's wages which he
at present devotes to the payment Of
taxes would then be devoted TO procur-
ing better food and clothing or better
house to live in. But if we keep in
mind the law which regulates wages we
will see the mistake of such conclusion.
AS soon as the workers could live upon
less wages, wages would fall, because the
idle hands would sooner accept a wage
that would merely keep them than
remain idle. Thus, suppose q workman
at present gets S. week he will not
work for less because this is barely
sufficient to maintain him and his family
out of the $5 he pays 81 for taxes.
When these reforms are enacted he has
a surplus of S1 week in hand. The
capitalist knowing this gives notice that
reduction of wages to the extent Of 81
will take place. The laborer cannot
resist the reduction because there are
plenty of idle men to take his position; !;
and he is as bad off as before,
Restriction of population and emigra-
tion are reforms which are advocated but
the arguments in favor of these are SO
many and so intricate that ! will not
attempt to deal with them in detail, in
the time at my disposal; but briefly
considered, these arguments, however
ably (2) supported BY deductiye reason
ing, cut q most contemptuous figure when
confronted by facts All that is required
to produce wealth is human labor and
natural material. There are plenty Of
idle men and plenty of minerals and
land Of all kinds. How is it them that
men starve? The answer which must
come is. because some power intervenes
between the labor and the land. And
that power is capitalism. If we can
clearly see that a certain ella ss stands in
the way of the van of progress, we must
warn them of the danger Of their posi-
Jtion, if they refuse to move, then pro-
>gress must 60 on, even if they he crushed
beneath its wheels. ~
Ihave now finished my argument on
the futility of reform. If you think
Malthusianism is not sufficiently dealt
with then l must leave it for a special
occasion. hope to address you again
in answer to the question which is at
present in your minds. You would ask
me what propose to put in the place of
that which I seek to DESTROY. When
ever the executive are prepared to give
me permission, will address you on the
subject of Constructive Sociality."
Meanwhile if / have succeeded in
making you think I am satisfied. There
is much to be done and doing falls upon
us, whose minds are free from the
restraints of bigotry and self interest.
We are truly slaves, every one
"Who begs brother Of tho earth