The Labor enquirer., 1884-12-06
mon, Ignorance, / wish to say that / in,
clude the teachers among the laboring


course with laborers of various classes
in city and country and think / know
something of their needs.
In all the articles Thaye seen on the
labor question, there IS lack of discus
sion on what I deem very important
poiut, viz: the mental and moral train
ing Of the laborer, and the capitalist too.
/ do not mean that every child should
be taughtsimply to read and write and
to be honest though ! strongly advo-
cate these but that every laborer should
be 80 instructed. his mind SO nodded
that he may intelligently and properly
use the advantages placed in his hands
when the hoped-for time Of deliverance
comes. want every laborer to be a
philosopher. l don't care whether he
knows what philosophy is or not, but /
want himto understand the just relations
between employer and employe, and to
train himself and those dependent Non !
him, to make the best use of his and
their time and money. He must not re- !
gard the capitalist simply as 2 tyrant to
be overthrown and himself as serf
whose only ambition is to be free. !
want every laboreI to habltuate his
mind to that restraint of passion and cul-
tlvation of elevating thoughts that must
prevail when harmony and justice reign.
While human nature remains what it is
at present, large percentage of the pop
ulation must labor from necessity. It is
idle to think of inducing independent
men to labor, even if the wages were
1 good and the time reduced to four hours
1 lper day. And supposing the plea Of in
sufficient wages and no work should be
overcome and everv laborer set to work
at good wages; does any one suppose
that poverty would be wiped Eout? By
no means. The shiftless. the reckless,
the wine-bibber, would spend all their
earnings and feel the cruel grasp of the
hand of want. the same as before.
| \ 4
My plan is to carry on the war all
along the lire at the same time. The
capitalist, the laborer, the merchant and
all the rest must be informed that there
is to be new order of things, and the
mind should be prepared, as far as pos
sible, for the new dispensation. would
bring about Revolution. but not by
means of dynamite or gunpowder.
The French Revolution and other,
events of history show us that we may
overthrow despotism only to find our
selves in the clutch of worse one. lam,
one of those who are striving to add a
mite to to the sum of that influence that
shall some day disintegrate all govern,
ments, but while we have government,
let us have strong one. hate shams
of every description and sham govern
ments most of all. A weak government
is the most unmitigated curse this world
has ever known. It is the one thing
above all others for whose existence
there is no excuse. 1t fetters the limbs
of Enterprise and strangles Patriotism
in the cradle. 1t promotes the grossest
forms of vice and utterly fails as de-
fender of virtue. I do not bow down to
the god of legislation and think it the
fountain-head Of all blessings, but l.
think it is high time that such men as
Vanderbilt and Gould should become
impossible. Let legislation Aep in here
if nothing else can avail,
The general average cost of living at
any given time should be considered,
and no workman should be employed at
wages that will not supporthim comfort
ably. Nor should any excessive amount
OF time be required for days work,
though it must be admitted that in some
cases strict adherence to this rule would
result IN the collapse of the business and
consequent lack of employ ment fc p. ne
artisans. | think the Phalan24erian
principle might be studied With rrofit nv
laborers. While perhap
hts would beimmediatel
social effect would be ST
recognize and accept, to
degree, before the worrI
for the abode of absoll rgo.
We are not working for ~,..
If we ignore posterity 49,.
we may as well give uE}
once. We must deman
| have already indicate
thrust prosperity intt
man who does not knon o..
hence insist on create ...
given to mental, mo, ua.Ai
training in order that
our improved condinol au aa .-
it. appeal to the we-o,a
where to unite in the e. tnr ..s
throw, of that ruth H.. 49, os
peace and happiness, , A..'is~
assassin Of love, virtue ,ra .gy.s
inexpressiblv despotic rl .u.rA,4
lnfernalism theliqus ,a..-
have onlyju tou a. -rs Y
question of labor and ny .aGR...
not time to take it up a..l ,y. r. a Be
of articles upon 1t, al,no 20 tsA1
deep interest in it.
THE LABOR ENoUIzu- .a-5 f. H. y