Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-05-08

than those Of India and China because
they get more wages, but they get more
wages because they live on higher plane
OF civilization.
This explains the reason why American
capitalists import Chinese and Bohemian
laborers. They do not 20 TO Asia and
Europe for laborers because labor 4 |
scarce here, nor because the Asiatic IL a
better workman or citizen than the Amer. |
lean. They bring him here simply be-
cause he VIII work for less wages because
he can live cheaper. And he can live
cheaper because his wants are fewer, his
mode of life simpler and his civilizs.
ton lever than that of the American la
borer.
Consumption not only determines the
aggregate production of swealth, but II
also determines the cost OF producing IL.
A small quantity OF wealth can never be
| produced at so cheap rate as large
quantity, for the same reason that the
products of hand-labor are dearer than
those Of machinery.
Therefore, whatever tends TO increase
the wealth and develop the social char
acter OF the masses tends TO raise the
standard OF living, Increases wages and
enlarges the aggregate consumption of
wealth, and thereby simultaneously In
creases the quantity and reduces the cost
OF production.
That this Is what, through the silent
operation OF social and economic forces,
must In the nature Of things arise from
the general adoption OF an eight-hour sys-
tenn, must be manifest 10 any one famil-
lar with the principles OF social eoono-
mics.
The immediate effect OF reduction of
three hours labor day, would, as have
pointed out elsewhere (the Forum for
April, 1862 more than absorb
all the present unemployed labor.
But the more permanent and
universal economic and social in1n-
, ence Of the general adoption OF such a
measure throughout this country and Eu-
rope, would arise from the important
fact that the great mass OF lnborers would
, leave the ir work each day In less ex-
hausted state, with three hours extra
( leisure time on their hands; which means
so much positive opportunity every day
for social intercourse and development.
T When the laborer has but an hour or two
between weary work and sleep, all social,
intellectual and moral development Is
practically impossible, his exhausted en-
. ergles only suffice to take him to the rum
tinement put him to no disadvantage.
: But when with more leisure and less
= exhaustion he is every day (uncon.
q sciously) forced into new and varied
u social relations upon the streets, in places
!, of public entertainment, etc, the influence
J. Of custom will soon begin silently tt
g enforce upon him in a hundred different
n ways the necessity of wearing better
!. clothes, forming better habits, beng bet
IS ter informed upon matters of public In
IL terest, living In better houses and usinl
y more and better furniture. This, II u
?. needless to say, would necessarily tent
IS to produce permanent Increase in tn
le general consumption and therefore pro
l. duction Of wealth, and thereby stimulate
n industrial activity, increase the deman'
1t for labor and consequently tend to an ad
lie vance of wages. Thus the wealth Of tn
masses would be increased without re
sr ducing that Of any other class.
nc The reduction Of the hours OF labor
at politically feasible, because, unlike a
Oh other measures, its successful operatio
b. does not depend upon the intellectual an
moral character Of those to whom 1t al
u plies This has been demonstrated on
al small scale for half a century in Englan
rs and one-fourth OF that time in Mass
Sc chusetts, with such fiatterlng results a
'd no other industrial reform ever produced
"a 1t Is socially and politically indisper
tn sable, because with universal suffrag
III the safety Of the republic depends upo
ne the material prosperity and the social
1t intellectual and moral progress OF tn
tn laboring classes. When the seTvile an
r, pauper labor of Asia and Europe com
lie among us they may with perfect safet
lnypar dAnfol and nnlittrnl ms Al
g buttons, be restricted TO workin
OF eight hours day, but 1t Is doubtful
ly they can with the same degree OF safet
o. much longer be admitted TO citizenship
they continue TO work twelve and foul
rs teen hours o day Poor and ignoran
=, voters are incompatible with Democrat
be institutions. Either the opportunitie
d for social development of the masse
must be increased or the days of the II
All public are numbered.
ic The evil Influences of our industrl,
a conditions have already begun to perm'
or ate our political institutions. On ever
OF hand the handwriting on the wall is NOR
1t or less visible.
ed The poverty and consequently politics
u, ignorance and moral indifference Of tn
nj great mass Of laboreTs in the large elite
e. and industrial centers, has already, to
n large extent, reduced politics to trade
ne in which the politician buys votes an
o. sells legislation. The practice has be
come so pronounced that the cry of col
he ruption Is heard all along the line, froI
Sc the cabinet officer to the city alderman.
q, But the saddest feature OF all is in tn
Is fact that while the evil is everywhere OF
served Its real cause Is entirely ovel
It. looked. Instead OF endeavoring to purif
on our government by eleyating the charaC
nd ter Of the people by whom 1t is chosen
our statesmen, journalists and publ
IN teachers generally are everywhere Ell
'r- deayoring to white down our politict
ne institutions TO the dimensions Of GU
D. industrial and social conditions. Anon
MS the measures already adopted and pre-
n; posed 70 accomplish this result ar
II propositions for making popular election
ny less frequent increasing the appoin'in
NJ power OF executive officers, taking IN
exnenditurp of public moneys out OF tn