The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-04-09

redltary; the OGner Is given, from
father to son, to idleness, improvi-
dence, and dissipation. The distance
that separates these families, small at
first, must go on increasing, till in
the natural course Of things, sooner
or later, there would come to be the
same inequality as between Roths-
child and a beggar. It would only
be question of time
Pierre's companions, who were lis
tening attentively to the discussion,
here murmured assent, or what would
correspond to the Hear, hearr' Of
more formal debates. Pierre, how
ever, merely remarked that this result
might seem opposed to his views, but
that he nevertheless accepted it.; "be-
cause" said he, sin this case the inc
quality Of riches would at least be
the result of work and Of the efforts
of each worker. There would be no
injustice"
''Pardon me, Pierre, but I think
that your motto is still causing you
to cherish some illusions. Let me
show you my way Of looking at it.
Il chechuR scion son t,'aUaI, you say,
To every one the product Of his own
industry. But what is the proprietor
to do with the product of his labor?
He will no doubt sell all that is over
and above what he needs for his own
use, and the price of what is sold will
form his income. But the price of
things depends on a variety of condi-
tions independent Of our personal
labor and our own will; such for in
stance, as the vicissitudes Of seasons
and the variations of the markets.
Out of a difference of ten francs in
the price of wine may result the for
tune or the ruin of proprietor, and
that proves nothing as to his having
himself labored we'll or i'll. The
revenue or net profit is rarely in exact
proportion to the labor bestowed, in
farming or vine-growing or any other
industry. What we call chance will
always play its part in the affairs of
this world, and in the new world
which you are planning you cannot
hinder Fortune from dispensing her
favors in an unequal fashion; it is not
without reason that she is represented
with bandage over her eyes!'
"Ah, bah" exclaimed Pierre; "you
disconcert me with your suppositions.
What do you want? I firmly believe
that in my colony, as everywhere,
there will be good and bad luck, but
while the chances are equal for all,
and there is no place for wrong-doing
or trickery, [ console myself. At
least you will admit that my principle,
4 chacup le produit de son travai,
will have this good result, that it will
render impossible the existence of
rich idle people who pass their life in
doing nothing"
Are you quite sure of that. Pierre? /?
lf any one after working ten or
twenty years has produced enough
property to suffice for his wants dur
ing the remainder of his days, do you
pretend to hinder him from spending
in his own way, in idleness if he
pleases, what he had amassed by his
labors ?"
Certainly not, because such a one
would be living on the product Of his
own toll. Let man rest in the even
ing after having worked hard in the
morning, and let him live in ease in
his old age after having produced
enough by the toll Of his youth; !
see no harm in that. ] have no wish
to condemn the members of my
colony to forced labor in perpetuity
The only idlers that I wish to exclude
are those who live without ever hav-
ing worked at all or produced any
thing-the renters, as they call them
or idle people who live on their.in-
come, or the interest of their money
"Stop now, Pierre; do you admit
that man who has obtained any.
thing by his labor has the right to dc
what he pleases with it?"
''Assuredly."
''Here is man who has made &;
loaf Of bread You admit his righ
to eat it all if he is hungry, or to SCI
part of it aside if he has not appetite
at the time for all of it, or even tc
throw some of it away, as he pleases.
"Yes, it is in consequence Of m,
principle, 4 chachun le produit de so,
travail. He who creates wealth ha
the right to dispose Of it as he pleases
But what has that to do with you,
argument?"
Just this. lie he who produces
thing can do what he pleases with it
he can surely give it where he pleases
If, then, it suits me to make every
day loaf for you, and to give it te
you; still more, if it pleases me tt
give to you out Of my property or to
bequeath to you after my death
enough bread, or, what comes to the
same thing, enough money to support
you during your life, you will have
acquired the means of walking about
with your hands in your pockets like
an idle gentleman. You will, in fact
have become RENTER"
Never" said Pierre, never. If
allowed such parasites to exist in my
new society it would be no better
than the DID,"
''Then don't talk any more about
your motto, 4 chacun le produH de
SON travaI. lie you adopt this princi-
pie you must adopt also its conse-
quences, whether you like them or
HoI. II, according TO your system,
you admit to every one the right of
disposing of the fruit of his labor,
you must admit the right to receive
as well as to give. Where the worker
is master of his own property it de-
pends ON him whether he will create
RENTER, and you cannot prevent
him except by decreeing that he is
incapable Of disposing Of what be-
longs to him. Beware of what must
happen otherwise. If in your new
society you prevented parents from
giving or leaving to their children
the property they have amassed, there
would be risk Of their amassing far
less or Of dissipating what they had
already been able to accumulate by
thoir indrSt,r and 4lriGt