The Labor enquirer., 1884-02-23
Au0LuH IATERHgT.
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The mere fact that it is pleasant and
convenient and nice to think that when
one has $l00, 900 he can loan it out so -
to give him 5000 per year as long as he
lives, without decreasing his capit.l;
and can then by will give it to some one
else who never did stroke of work to
deserve it, but who will draw the 5000
Per year, and so on endlesaly, will hardly
Justify society in permitting him in his
old age, and his successor in his young
and old age both, and his successors sue
cessor, and 80 on forever, to besupported
in idleness at society's expense.
But even as it is, men who have in
vested their capital and retired have no
certainty of not being left helpless in
old age. nthey invest in lands or in
mortgages, the title may prove defective.
If invested in stocks, the company may
become bankrupt. If in government
bonds, their value may be destroyed by
revolution or war.
But man should not retire. In the
first place, he should not oVerwork so
that he needs to retire, and he should
ever continue to give to society some
product of his labor. He has no right
to sit down and do absolutely nothing.
He will be an honester and happier man
If he devotes even his declining years to
some suitable and beneficial employ
ment.
It may be said that by abolishing the
power of money to earn money, we
would deprive man of the privilege of
providing for his daughters in the way
of dowry, or so that they would not be
compelled to earn their living if unmar-
ried. But why shouldn't they work ?
Why should they become dreary, dis
contented drones, living from the sweat
of poor mems brows? Far better let
them earn their way in life. This idea
that woman who earns her living is no
longer entitled to the highest respect,
does not exist in the minds of honest
people. 1t is only the thin-bred aristoc-
racy, who obtain their living as paupers
do, who consider it a dishonor for
woman to work. -.
But it does not prevent the father from
providing for his daughter. If he wishes
olprov1de for her so that she may not
work, let him plank his cash down, put
it where she can have it, and let her
spendft like an honest person should,
and not loan it out like Shylock,
If man bequeath his son $l00,0O0 no
one will complain if the son spends it;
or if he keep it and earn by the labor of
mind or body that which he eats, wears
or uses. But if he loan the money at in
terest, and live in idleness from such in
come, doing no labor, and still keeping
the 100000 intact, soci ETY., then, has a
burden.
Or suppose the father shall leave his
son ten houses and the son collects suf-
fcient rent from the tenants to pay for
taxes and repairs on the property, and to
support himself as we'll in idleness then,
too, society has burden. 1t may fall
Immediately upon the tenants, but they
distribute the burden. If they owned
the houses, they would pay only the
taxes and repairs. As they have to pay
the landlord an additional sum, such
sum must be added to their incomes. If
the landlord receives from one tenant
$500 year net, the tenant must neces-
sarily earn that much more than If he
owned the house and that sum becomes
a charge upon his clients, customers or
EMPLOYERS.