Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-01-19
TEE GROWTH OF WEALTH.

TEE GROWTH OF WEALTH.
The Chicago Iiines has been endeavor-
ing to tell the working men who has the
wealth the country has accumulated since
1860, the excess now over the sum at that
date being laid At not less than S30,000,-
100000. Its explanation is of charac-
ter to lead the laboring classes to believe
its accumulation has benefited the few
rather than the many, and that they have
had very little to do with it. The truth
is that It's distribution has been general,
and it has gone into the hands of workers
and producers most largely. The Inter
Ocean takes occasion to point out that the
Times itself in 1860 was properties, but
now has million Of values that millions
of it is found in the buildings erected in
Chicago by the hands of skilled Iaborers
at good wages. That city in twenty-four
years has increased 100000 in population.
About S6,000000000 have been expended
in railroad building and furnishing, while
not less than S60,000,000 has its place in
increased farm values. In fact, more
working men have become wealthy in that
period than in any other in the history of
the country. 1t has been an era of good
wages, large employment and great immi-
grafton. Tens of thousands of men who.
in 1860, were just laying the foundations
for competence have come to be independ-
ent by reason of the disbursement of in
creasing wealth and the growth of oppor-
tmity. The Inter- ocean is sound in the
Statement that the greater portion of the
increase i'll national wealth has found rep
resentation in homes of the people, which
have multiplied marvelously. 1t is also
very clearly pointed out that the largest
part of the employing capital of the coun-
try is held in corporations, and these are
composed Of men, women and children, CO.
operating in enterprises which single
handed they could not undertake. These
corporations employ more than half the
laborers Of the country, ard give sup
port to quite half the people Reproduc-
tive wealth, as represented in railways and
like enterprises, as Mr. Mil points out, is
most largely in the possession and use of
the workers. "The capitalist who buys
their shares gets a claim on their divi-
dends and part in their management, but
the operatives who work them have their
entire possession, the public have their
service and the so-called owners get merely
a contingent lien on their property"
Enterprise has been the great wealth
winner, and it is fact incapable of dis
proof, that it has its origin and success
with poor men, and tina, the wealthy men
Of to-day began, in the main, as small
wage-winners. The Socialists who parade
the streets of Chicago to-day and demand
that the rule of Saturday-night division
shall be established, would be found on the
setting Of the next Saturdays sun pre-
cisely where they are to-day, at the bottom
of the ladder; enterprise, Prudence fnan-
cial courage and employment of labor
placing their fellows where they belong
above them, and in possession of greater
wealth, because OF the capacity to earn it.
The wealth-winnerS are the men who have
been great wage-payers, and always will be
in this country. The only error the Inter
Ocean makes is in attributing these results
to the high-tariii schedules. Protection
has not been the cause Of the growth of the
country, nor would free trade affect the
vital principle underlying the subject
considered. What would be wealth under
. protective system would represent no
less enterprise, and no less the results ofthe
wealth under Il frec-trade system But
that system would enlarge our opportuni-
tie, to use the wealth of the country and
make Us something worse than provincial
lists. Enterprise with all It's great achieve
mentS has, nevertheless, lacked for room
under 4 system which Mr. Wells has aptlv
described Is applying tax as the remedy
for every economic evil. 1t is very true
that between 1860 and 1850 there was a
vast increase in values, but the capital
employed to that end was not the same
possessed in the period from 1850 to 1860.
which was less in volume by fourth than
that engaged between 1860 and 1880.
The question, SO far as this is concerned, is
one Of percentage, and by it the figures
show that the percentage Of increase in the
earlier period was greater than in the lat
ter. From 1850 to 1880 was a period of
general prosperity, but the latter score of
years were only more prosperous ones in
the aggregate, and was attained upon the
wealth won in the earlier period in which
men were no less industrious or frugal.
and in which they laid the stbstructure Of
the greater enterprises of the later period
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