Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-09-13
.ARE>WE DRIFTING
Gown the River Of Depression Into
the Stormy Sea Of Communism ? /.
One View of the Difficulties of Labor and
Capital and How to 0byiate Them
An Interesting Social
istic Paper.

To ne Editor Of he Sunday Register:
We are now in tie incipient stage oil
Socialism and Communism. The clouds.
though small, are oninous, and carry in
their bosoms the lightnings of destruction
and menace the security of our institu.
tons, both social and political The cause
of this spirit OF Communism may be easily
traced to the labor difficulties of the present
times. Strike succeeds strike, and sgits-
tons follows on the heels of former sgita-
lion, until The question, how Shall We
Hssmonize Labor and Cspitalf stands
before us the formidable problem OF the
hour, and which daily grows into more i'm
portsnce. A question which carries in its
solution the peace AID prosperity Of this
nation, or confusion, bloodshed and posi-
bic dissolution. When we regard the ma
tuIe and intent of our Government, and
heed warnings Of the past we csnnst look
at this situation as trivial and undeserving
Ct attention. We shall attempt to review
briefly
Some of the Factors
which tend to promote the growing spirit of
unrest and suggest factors that would tend
to subdue and eradicate this growing dan
ger. We live ia a Republic, at least so in
name where liberty and equality should be
the cardinal principles. A republican gov.
erpment which partakes more strongly Of
the Democratic than any other form, should
approximate more closely TO that state, and
adhere to the constituent qualities of that
particular form. If we be Republic, our
foundation must be virtue. If we still mean
to keep in existence as strong and healthy
Republic We must preserve equality and
liberty. If we wish to destroy, then we will
have merely to allow intrigue, luxury and
caste 10 gov and foster, and in time they
become the vines that cluster around no
BILE ruin-that ruin Republic that was, but
is no more. We have neither time nor in
cllpstion to set forth az fully as we might
wish the elements that go in gradual Sc
quence, that cause our present trouble con-
corning lako-. The basis OF all this. to be
briet-is our gradual departure from the
fundamental principles of Republic, and
growing violation Of our good forefsthers
intentions. Although presumed Republic
our laws permit
The Growth of Luxury and Monopoly.
Although we say we are equal, our laws
permit caste-socially and politically
nearly all elements which were considered
IS vital to the existence of a Republic grad
uslly grow less in ours; while the elements
ecesssry i 81 sris odsacy are gradually
,Uppanlng them. and the more rapidly W
tpprc ach these elements and adopt them,
the more VT peril al jeol a-dlze the exist
tnce OF tbs naticn as Republic. Unity,
harmony ard peace become strangers. aud
envy and discord take their places. The
cause being that odiousDess Of comparison,
which creates envy; envy producing hate,
hate discussion, and dissension war
One of the greatest and best Of our former
statesman who spent his labor and brain
upon the formation of this cherished Re.
public, sadly said after the constitution
had been accepted as an actual living thing,
that he feared for the future safety Of this new
fcrmed Republic, saying that if their policy
we're carried out it would be the greatest liv.
ing naion on the globe, even to the day Of
the millennium; but fearing that mans
passion and avarice would smother in time
the nobler feeling OF patriotism and equal
ity-that our country would dissolve as
louise divided against itself, saying that in a
little more than century this new born re-
public of our will fall, and perhaps throne
stand where DOW does our Magistrates
CHAIR
This latter prediction would seem now of
omiGcus import if We were to regard our
history in the light OF the past. Nations
rise and fall as men and plants. The rapid
to gain perfection ore the early to die That
nation which has Jumped into state OF
great and apparent perfection is that one
which sleeps in an earl grave. Unseen
changes spring forth and consume if no
wasting diaease encumbers its Vitals Inc
unseen danger is feared with US; but dan.
ger visible and darkening casts a dull
shadow upon the interests OF the coun-
try. If prevention be better than cure,
the time for State and National legislation
is at hand. Powerful monopolies aud colos-
sal corporations, are sapping the VITAL fluid
which gives our nation its strength, and
their course is unchanged. The political
power lies yet with the masses, and could
be exertcd if the rapid argument Of unprin-
cip'e1 demagogues could De avoided. The
financial power, (the power which gives a
nation its stable prosperity is
In the Hands of Few.
This, according to Mont .squieu, must be
locked upon with alarm. The more equal
tie wealth, the more perfect the Republic
and more contented it's inhabitants Cen.
ter the wealth ia few hands, and you place
TIE destiny OF the nation there, likewise the
destiny OF the laborer. They control that
res ponsive chord tha' gives u,terGnCe in con-
cord with bouuti.ul harvest, but allow
that untain 10 close, and the fairness OF the
harvest lay garnered and idle, and the Ia
bortr no money TO buy. WeEe the laws diff
terent, the situation ght be different. How
does this accumulation Of capital occur?
Knowing that all wealth must come either
from the land or the sea- and that it takes
labor to make that wealth, thereby making
labor the basis Of all wealth, II would seem
that be who lsbored hardest aud longest
would be wealthiest, bat such is not the fact
CC33pital has 60 encroached upon this right
fol domain of labor that it ass arts al undue
profit, which, being thrown into the monop
o'is.ic Golfer, swells into accumulated CAPT
tal. making a powerful lever with which the
destiny and wages Of labor is controlled
not only of the particular labor for that
particular company or corporation, but it
affects likewise labor that is remote aud dis.
taut. The labor in this case virtually
FORCES the chains that bind him. The cap
ital which swells the purses of the corpora.
| ton is his life blood aud sweat transformed
into silver and gold. The cause Of this IN
everness in the condition Of classes is dIe
solely to aggregate capital 1t is
tue that aggregate capital ia neces,
sary, aud that it supplies the labor,
err with employment. But the doctrine ia
as dangerous as it is false to suppose that
tie greater theaccumulation the more ben
efts labor will derive. After a certain
growth it becomes arrogant and oppressive,
and can then dictate and if it's terms are
rot accepted ii can apply to foreign fields,
70 the end of the globe, II necessary, aud
find labor that will accept. Even were ii.
gsntic aggregstions of capital the most