The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1884-01-17
Single Copies of the Journal
On Certain Social Problems.

On Certain Social Problems.
We give place to the communication of RE
publican because he is evidently sincere and
writes from conviction, and because he has in
the main observed the rules of fair discussion.
His letter, however, is but another indication
of the growing antagonisms and prejudices to
which we have before called attention, and
which bode no good either to the worker or the
capitalist That there are real grievances must
be admitted, but many of the ills complained of
are inherent in human nature everywhere, are
beyond the reach of reform, and are not amen
able to legislative enactments. And we should
listen less patiently to mere denuncaions of
rich men and corporations if we did not believe
that such sentiments are for the most part hon
estly expressed and that they are inspired by
what are felt to be oppression and wrong. But
to make it appeara crime to attain riches would
be 10 strike Il blow at American enterprise and
industry and to deprive this country of one Of
its most boosted advantages. Further than
that, this cry that 1.-THE rich must go' seems to
Us too absurd to call for argument; and 70 ar
gument would avail with those who utter it.
Our correspondent complains of the selfish
ness of rich men and of the Shylocks among
them; but self>hness is not confined TO any one
class and Shylocks are to be found in all the
walks of life. In these respects millionaires
certainly have no monopoly. and the world will
have TO be peopled by a new race before diff
ferent state of things can exist
"Republican' is so sure that laborers seldom
become capitalists he passes the question by as
not calling for argument. Here we differ from
HIM, decidedly. We maintain that the rich
men of this country, with very few exceptions,
began life without capital, and many of them
without educational or other advantages.
We're alike aborers and their riches are the
fruits of their own eXertions.
Next we notice that "Republican' has clear
ly misunderstood what "Democracy' said of
the educational and other benefits the children
Of the man who pays poll tax share equally
with the children of the millionaire. The man
who pays oai4 Il poll tax of course has neither a
house, COW, swine, or other taxable property,
ard it is to him democracy" referred.
What our correspondent says of trade unions
and strikes raises question which cannot wei
be discussed within our present limits. We
believe, however, that the workers have beer
the greatest sufferers from strikes-indeed thi,
is shown by statistics recently pubshell-and
that the employee has no more riyht to dictate
what his compensation shall be than his EN-.
ployer has to contpef him to work for less than
the current rate of wages. In the great ma
Iority of cases the ends of both parties, whose
/ interests are to Il certain extent identical. may
be better served by mutual concessions and al
amicable agreement. The losses by strikes art
enormous, and are il total loss. First We have
the loss in wages: next the loss in capital in
vested for the time it is non-productiye: an,
. finally the losses on the products of labor, and
which are generally felt.
''Repubican' says: ''If Democracy intende,
to Insult the poor men and women of his state an
country he could not do it more eifectuallv thai
to accuse them of improvidence or wastefu
ness OF the means of subsistence" We c&;
/ answer for the gentleman thus assailed tina
nothing could be farther from his thought thai
to Insult any man Or woman here or elsewhere
lie uttered truth however. 1t is true that of al
the nations of the earth Americans are the mos
WaStefui and eXtrayagant in their manner o
living. This may be set down to their credit OF
di>credit, but the fact has been established b,
careful investigation, and is familiar to all VIII,
have made a study of such matters. American
tGo h IS found Oh tie abffs@ 1 Of ann
fl,a Yi.,j, Z al W
better furniture and more expensive clothing
and we would not have it otherwise: but il
many directions there is room for econom,
that would result in growing fortunes and ad
ditiona comforts. That we should like to see
The nov popular cooking schools. in whic
amateur house keepers are taught to prepar
fancy dishes, might well be supplemented b.
others 10 teach true economy in the household
how TO save without stinting, and how t.
make the best possible use of the staple III
ticles Of diet. The good such schools might dc
is incalculable.
/ one other point raised by our correspondent
| He complains of the foolish extravaganza ant
sinful wasting of money by the rich for .'cost
I y and useless equipages, for personal adorn
ment ana vain show in society," Now it is thi
very extravaganza that reconces us to the eX
istence of rich people. 1t is a strong argumen
III their favor. The more cXtravagant they
are, the more money they lavish, the better it il
for all of Us, for every branch of trade and in
dustry. If they boarded up what they canno
take with them when they die, and lived il
niggardy fashion, we should be tempted to joil
III the cry 1.-THE rich must go" As it is we arr
content with the distribution of their wealth
among all classes; knowing, too, that ''riche
have wings in this country: that the wheel o
fortune may to-day make a millionaire of thu
poor man, and tomorrow a poor man of tn,
millionaire: and also feeling assured that DIES
pite all obstacles or antagonisms American en-
tcrprlse and industry will continue to VIM re
ceive and enjoy their rewards.
An interview is published with Senator Ed