The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-09-16
LABOR AND CAPITAL.


Bulwer, in his beautiful play OF the Lad
OF Lyons" makes one Of the male charat
tiers say: ooh, that we, the hewers of WOO
and drawers OF water had ne'er been Dor
that the rich might know what it is to d
without u.s. This sentiment introduced int
the play by one Of the few distinguished drs
matte authors whose works have bee
handed down ia US from the past. uttere
by q poor and obscure actor, is merely tn
reflex OF an irrepressible indignation whic
wells up from the hearts Of the producin
classes when they are led to believe tina
that they are suffering from any real Q
imaginary hardships or impOsitions trace
able to the concentration Of wealth in tn
hands of the rich, or an arbitrary exercise Q
authority by their employers or the dOml
n~eering demeanor Of those whose bushes
it 10 to direct and superintend their worl
and labor.
Claude Melnot, the principal male char
acter in the play aspires to the love q
Pauline a wealthy French girl, the onl.
daughter OF Mons. Deschappelles, a retiret
Lyonese merchant. Melnot was u poo
maintain honestly, by the labor OF hi:
hands and the sweat of his brow, his wild
owed mother and himself. In order t.
present some little token OF his affec
ton to the idol Of his heart, an,
thereby excite in her mind a senti
ment OF gratitude which he hopet
would ripen into a feeling Of admiration fol
him. and ultimately cause her to recipro
cate his unquenchable passion, he plucket
from his mothers garden and wrought
with his own hands. in the most artistic
manner, q magnificent bouquet OF the
choicest and most fragrant flowers. This
bouquet he entrusted to his friend Caspar,
with instructions to deliver it personally
into the hands of Pauline. Caspar at once
repaired to the lordly mansion OF the Des-
chappelles, where he was intercepted at
the entrance by lackeys, or servants, and.
Notwithstanding the flowers were taken
from his hand, he was rudely and roughly
abused and driven unceremOniously from
the place, and returned to his companion
to whom he related the uncalled-for indig-
mites that he was compelled to sndura. 1t
was an insult to Casper and q rebuke to
Melnot, who, in the agony OF his heart,
gave vent to his injured feelings.
This treatment was unjustifiable, for it
is to be presumed that Casper was respect
full in his ann and that he politely
sought an audience with the lady, in whose
presence alone his mission could befulflled.
This incident occurred in a monarchial
government, and at a time when the
wealthy were still surrounded by those
barriers of naughty pride, one of the evils
OF the feudal system, that effectually de-
barred social intercourse between the rich
and the poor. 1t cannot be denied that
even in this country, under u Republican
form OF Government, which was designed to
place all on an equal footing, riches i'll
many instances are the source OF a great
deal OF unnecessary pride, and very fire.
quently excite a~ntagonism between the
R-A,- n~ vrfOrfpnfo NJOS SnS
This war OF sentiment has been going on
from the very beginning, and will most
likely be prosecuted until time shall be 10
more; yet much might be done, if the
wealthy were governed by natural sense,
and the poor by reason, to ameliorate the
condition of the laboring classes, and to
enable the rich to enjoy the fruits OF their
accumulated means. On the western from
tier there is no excuse for class distinction,
and it is a source OF congratulation to
know that there is comparatively little ex-
listing, because twenty years ago even the
richest came to this auriferous region az
poor as the most poverty-stricken among
lis at the present time. Those who, during
that time, by honest industry, perseverance
and economy have acquired wealth, never
forget the trials and struggles endured by
them, and are always ready to extend the
right hand OF fellowship to the honest
toiler, whether he works in the shop, plows
the field, or delves in mineralbearing
quartz away down below the earth's sur
face in the deep gloom OF the mine. The
upstart who shows a disposition to des-
pise labor, and who loses no opportunity
to domineer over the Industrious working
a is he who has ignorantly, yet sud-
denly, tumbled into wealth. He does not
appreciate the value or Importance of
money in it's legitimate employment for
the development, Improvement, and up
building of the commercial, manufacturing,
and mining interests of the country, but,
upon the other hand, egotistically and AFRO
gantly assumes that mis- suddenly acquired
riches are intended for no other purpose
than to elevate him to q higher plane in
life, where he can look down with contempt
upon his less fortunate fellow creatures.
1t is very clear that there are two distinct
classes among the wealthy, the first of
which is essential TO the material prosperity
OF the land and happiness of the people,
and the other to block the wheels of pro-
gress, engender discomfort and provoke dis
s~ensions among the poor and render their
unfortunate condition more irksome and
intolerable. The latter class is largely com-
posed OF those who AVE inherited wealth
from their ancestors and ave safely in
vested in National and State bonds the
greater portion OF their fortunes, while the
lesser part consists of railroad and other
great corporation stocks and bonds. To
this fact, more thai any other, may the
truism, that corporations have no souls"
be ascribed. Where corporations are com
posed of such men, it is a rule that labor is
unappreciated and the working man is
treated as an inferior being. Consequently,
labor organizations and unions have
sprung up, as il by magic, all over the land
-. <ho ~ro%oo:DD of %ho ,~o-lnu,o,-Sc -
terests against the encroachment of heart
less corporations. They have no heads,
they have no hearts, how then can they be
expected to sympathize with labor. In this
rich mining region, fortunately, the men
who supply the brains, the ability and the
principal part of the capital to carry on
the great Industrial operations, are active,
live, self-made business men who, them
selves, in the early part and meridian of
life, nave known what it was to labor with
their hands. They have shown in the past
their willingness to treat with their en- |
ployes upon equitable terms, and though
there are labor organizations here, there is
every reason to believe that SO long as the
great industries in this basin are conducted
upon the same principles OF justice and fair |
dealing there will be no cause for a conflict |
between capital and labor.
Wealth is essential to the successful prosecu-
ton and accomplishment Of all great enter
prises. The construction of railroads; the
building OF ships; the establishment of ex-
tensive manufactures; hedevelopment and
profitable operation Of mines and other
large individual and corporate enterprises
cannot be undertaken or successfully con-
without the investment and expen-
liture OF princely fortunes any more than
ian the great public business be transacted
the fundamentally of empires and
kingdoms in the old world, and National
and State Governments in this. These pro-
vide the means OF gaining u livelihood by
furnishing employment to IL large portion
pf the ~workingmen and wome in the land.
corporations have not only
spanned the continent, by bridging the
and tunneling the mountains, but
they have in the short space of half a GEN.
Jury constructed a complete network OF iron
roadways extending in every direction
the States and Territories. Tele-
have brought different portions of
the earth within speaking distance; steam
ships have shortened the time between the
hemispheres from months almost to days;
manufactures have built upgreat cities and
mining corporations have penetrated the
earth and extracted it's rich mineral depos-
a., N,,;%ol hos dopo oil @h;c onI |