The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-03-27
THE OAPITAL-LABOR CONFLICT.

In the course of our countrys devel-
opment from its primeval history, pro-
gress noticeably accelerated in all its
stages in every department of its being
that contributes to its illustriouS
whole. Ideas, conceived as applicable,
or feasible in industrial enterprises, or
as motives for transportation over land
and sea, or, the thousands of important
and useful inventions that add to the
wonders of the age in manner and
form, performing marvellous things,
both as to system and labor-saving,
were looked upon, and regarded by an
incredulous public as futile and mali
cious schemes, aud as emanating from
insane or diabolical minds, and neces-
sarily ending in disgrace and failure.
But, upon full and practical demonstra-
tion of each and every invention, the
triumphant inventor has never even
seen the beginning of the mysterious
uses and extent to which it is daily
developing in the services, accommo-
dation and convenience of man. 1t ap-
pears that each succeeding generation
only lives to see new, aud still higher
developments in the order of time and
progression. But, notwithstanding all
the glorious and ilustrious develop
ments of science and art which always
systematic and expedite capital and
labor, there is, nevertheless, an ire
concilable conflict going on between
them, to which we fear, the latter can
look for relief, only with forlorn
hope. The inevitable inequality, is
irreversibly established, and irrevoca-
bly, fixed in the great body of capital
in all its multitudinous labor-saving en-
terprises which displace periodically,
hundreds of thousands of working men,
the same requiring only certain per
cent of the whole body of laborers,
working on full time to supply all de-
mands known to the wants of the hu-
man family. Besides, inventive genius
and science always conspire against
the laboring man, and in favor of mo-
nopoly, corporation and capital in gen.
s-al.
And further the producing capa-
city of all our industries, for manuiac.
turing and supplying commodities for
public, or, private use, at home or
abroad, far exceeds their steady con
sumption, which causes gradual ac-
cumulation of surplus of production,
until no further demand exists, and
business wheels become clogged, finan'
cial panics threatened, or produced,
and labor suspended with its usual
hardships, priyations and sufferings.
Such state of affairs always continue
until the surplus moves off through the
regular channel-consumption, when
new and urgent demands again open
up business and trade briskly with fu-
ture good prospects, and labor for a
time is contented and satisfied until the
same difficulty again occurs. Labor is
always satisfied with reasonably good
wages aud steady employment. Bat
no amount of legislation can possibly
regulate our industries so as to secure
for them a steady operation to their
full capacity on full time, except, how
ever it were possible to create de-
mand equal to, or, superior to the ca
pacity OF supply at all times. And un'
Ill this be accomplished, labor tcessar'
lily will, and must suffer more or less,
for want of employment. There are
not vineyards enough to employ it all.
There is a universal business law, OBJ
served TO the very letter, that no inter
est employs a greater amount of labor
than is profitable or advantageous To
that interest Moreover capital recog-
nizes labor 10 no greater extent than
that it contributes to its ever increas
ing bulk. Capital hardly ever suffers,
bat labor often. Ingenious labor-ssy'
ing machinery have caused frequent
spssmodio business eonvulsions and de-
pr,ssions, but also hastened the devel-
opmsnt OF our country a thousand
fold. BENros.