New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-04
THE INDUSTRIAL PROBLEM
AN GRAFTON BY STEPHEN B. ELKINs.

COLUMBUS, NO., June 3.-Stepnen d. Elhlho Wv
lvered an elaborate address thiseyoning before tne
Alumni Society of the State University here. He
| said in part
! Twenty-Five years ago, fred with inc on.
thusiasm OF youth uttered on this platform words OF
strong faith human progress The experience OF "a
quarter Of century only me to repeat TINS eon
viction: Mans from the beginning has been
marked by improvement. he Is now better, wiser ana
stronger than ever The history OF humanity is the
record OF gradual development from lower TO higher
organization obedient to this law OF evolution, society
has made like progress This advance has not been
constant. but IT has been cerainj made In circles ana
cycles through which ever upward steals the lie Of
| man."
The world was never 80 rich in Accumulated wealth,
comfOrtsof civilization culture, Intelligence ana chhrty
The average condition Of the people better than IN any
former period. Civilization reached higher point
and light Ia breaking all around the globe. The dark
regions of Africa discovered to-day, are Invaded Dy
trade and commerce India and the ISLANDS
OF the sea are yielding to the influences OF better
civilization than they have ever known In every lana
the people know more, have more liberty, and enjoy
| more rights.
The material progress made during the ninctoenth
century especially the last nifty years surpasses that
OF all other periods OF history. In Europe aud the
United staesweah has increased since $50 three times
faster than population. Machinery has multiplied uhui
It's productive power in this United states and England
alone equal to the power OF thousand million men,
Huxley says the 100000 workers. In England can pro
duce AZ much In six months would have required one
hundred years ago. the entire WORKING force OF the wofu
one year equal In tho United states wealth mas IN
creased from 1850 to l5si forty-tlree thousand TWO
hundred and forty millions Of dollars. According 10
MuhaI since 1880 Great Britain has almost trebled her
wealth. France has quadruTcd hers the Unite Sthtes
bias multiplied In wealth fold and at present we are
giowing nearly fonr millions richer ut sunset than sun
rise each day. The accnmulalions OF Europe aDd the
United States make NJ daily Sl1,0OO,OOO aud the IN
in population IL IL 900 daily IL Is estimated that
Il requires less than one-half OF the manual labor tat
was required in 1865 TO produce equal amount OF
subsistence The domain Of nature has been Invaded by
science aud her secret forces male subseryent to the
will OF man. until hey stand ready to serve him a.
"conrtiers surround a monarch" During this period
great progress has been made In political and intellectual
development The schools colleges asyiunls' hospitals
churches aad benevolent Institutions found everywhere
are the monuments Of increasing charity and philan-
thropy The nineteenth century Will Ne set down intbe
worlds history the contury % material progress
May we not believe that 80 will furnish the foundation
for moral progress Bot wonderful IA the twentieth
century In tie shadow OF whose portals we now stand
in which the moral will grow and be strengthened
and Will bs pade gentler. wiser and pnrer. =" that
stately PROCESSION Of centuries tho twentieth viii
take IT, place the century OF moral progress The
signs point This direction AMI encourage hiS Ooief
la This great march OF progress. the United states
takes load this rich world this Nation stands the
richest The valuation OF property in 1851 was
SjI.G7OoOOOOO In round numbers. that OF Great
Brtain m,thcr aud rival being more than SjOOO.oO)-
900 iess Gladstone. his article On Rim Beyond the
Sea-" declared that tho Of 1850 would exhibit
;he American Republic certainly the w"atArSt OF All
Nations" and he di not err. Bsrarck, ia a speech
made in the Rciachtis Iay If. 1857 used this Ian
euaee:
The success OF the United states in National develop
il he mn Of
American Nation has not only successfully borne AMI
-apprc.scI most gigantic AM expensive war OF al
history but Immediately auer~ari found employment
Tor all lie soldiers and mariaos paid oil most 81 the
debts, given labor AMI homes to all the unem 'loyed OF
Europe last they could arrive within ~ territory
and st by system taxation indirect a. not 10 Dc
Icrcoi, G !. much loss felt"
TRADE DEPRESSION AND ITS RESULTS.
while We With rrldc and pleasure thc progress
mac 10y the Nations Of EgrpIe AMI particularly by tile
United stafe.. cannot FORGET uInt uudrrone Of
discomfort Teaches ns which 80 us pane IN ihe very
S4-as where tI.8 advance ha, been so gross. tcr, Is
ede.rr,aI depression in trade and commerce ANA do
.-fisf.r.o lon among tl' people. While ma.ns all these
splendid truaphs In material progress. IN works %
charity and brucyucnre. conditions necessary 10 the
h.sne., social progress. hlyo bo'u neglected
ia, great .u,roa-6 900 population. large immigration
from Europe. amounting in fonr Yeas 10 over 2iO0ooD
people, oyorcrowIns % cities iurr'lse IL maHuiart ~
inr establishments RAPID absorption OF public lqni'.
consolidation OF w"u h. fmp1rttton or contract la'Jf
and other causes. reproducing 300 Ncwiuei ,nd and
In some 81 The Middle and Western states many Of Tie
rcuuluc ami tpct. condition. %. Luropt IN tho midst
of grt wealth. with lower. OF production unsurpassed,
with mncrd success Unparalleled ihoe j., neterthe-
lees. del res-iOn 90 trade and collin roe Ina ii- ll oi
plenty There is IN phase, tao beginning oI Want; JO)uVJ
| wofArrs without employment, anon whose Labor
| more than a million women AMI children dcprhI ioi
food shelter ami clothing How m1ny are wo4AihE on
Iaf t.mc ngh,iuE hunger, and la this way supporting
ar o Un existence sud tue existence 0f those dc"nins
upon tLrin cannot bc estimated ms great army OF
stands and waits ia VAIN Tor tue "pi' 20
earn py honest toll tue nccessarcs of lir. Many Who
have employment are forced bJ comeutoi, 20 ACCEPT
raj. ol wages ycd-a bare subsistence The gap ihat
divides ricl and the poor grows wider AMI dccer
daily. with unm'taAaDIe Signs IN 'he lHrsri Tow 81
tendency tu c.a-,ts an 0i' cl'' "'iA't' ar" "i'"
into packed and crowded tenement houses where tonl
ar breeds di-e''e .lil &C.. s''i -, M IN,
rs tha NJ Chicago, and larger than that Of Il Louis
Boston Cincinnati la Tue lenth ward there are aoout
pDD tenement houses. In 200 uf them from nlteen 10
twentl aii ~ Iu9 nl3 naive add % III foreign
born-thS most tncsy populated district world
II IA, nineteen churches 1nd MISSIONS one FOR every
q 10 ~ population aud $40 drinking houses one Tor
cyerv - 81 population. The tendency 81 population
la The United States h to large centres ono hundred
vrlfs 20 thrtirth al tho population IN towns;
nov more than one-ntth Is IN towns anu cities.
THE RISKS or INDIFFERENCE.
These evils have grown with our growth They arc
LARGELY the outcome. here in Europe, Of the existing
industrial system. Tley call for no sudden outbnrsl Of
condenna indignation against wealth, capitalists
~ corporations It would be folly to condemn whole
a SYSTEM which, with all Its faults, has merits, and
which mas brought thus far onward march.
Bnf I'm "a century the Untel states Will have popula
zion of 2OJOO)COO. Il bchOoyes u.s. therefore. TO
seriorsly consider whether should take the risk OF
niug ON under system that permits suCh evils
yl.t and encourages industrial war between employer
and employed, which In other nations has gathered
moro victims through want than all that
cir.ad the world. Whenever the people have not had
sufficient food, shelter ahd clothing, death has reaped
rich harvest.
me question Is both industrial aud social, and
,.rus not the capitalist nor the wAgc-recnlyer eX
cl-ively nor than tue other but ihc whole
n,dt of .ucr aud the stale Itself II Involves great
uncp!c tur presence OF MhicI individual uterebt5
icrDmr usign hcaut.