National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-04-30
11xco1N,s VIEWS on LABOR.



SPRINeFIELD, ILL, April 15,--Services
commemorating the death Of Abraham
Lincoln, on the 18th Of April, twenty-one
years ago, were held in this city to-day
under the auspices Of the local post OF the
Grand Army Of the Republic aud a volun-
teer organization formed several years ago
under the title Of the Lincoln Guard OF
Honor. Appropriate music, original
poems, and invocations OF divine grace
were interpreted through the programme,
with address by the Hon. James A. Con-
nelly and the reading OF a selection by Mr..
Clinton L. Conkling, an attorney Of this
city, who was an intimate personal friend
of President Lincoln before he attained
public prominence. Mr.. Conkling read as
follows: "On the 2lst Of March, 1864, a
committee from the Workingmen's associa-
tion OF New York waited upon the Presi-
dent and delivered an address stating the
general objects and purposes Of the associa-
ton, and requesting that he would allow
his name to be enrolled among It's honorary
members. From the Presidents reply to
this address make the following extracts.
He himself quotes largely from his message
In December, 1861:
"'GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMITTEE: The
honorary membership in your association
so generously rendered Is gratefully ac-
cepted. There is one point to which ask
your brief attention. II Is the effort to
place capital on an equal footing, II not
above, labor In the structure Of govern.
ments. II is assumed that labor is available
only in connection with capital; that mo-
body labors unless somebody else, owning
capital, somehow by the use OF IL, induces
him to labor. This assumed II is next con-
sidered whether II is best that capital shall
hire laborers and thus induce them to work
by their own consent, or buy them and
drive them to do IL without their consent.
Having proceeded so far, IL is naturally
concluded that all laborers are either hired
laborers or what we call slaves;
and, further, IL Is assumed that who
ever is once hired laborer is fixed in that
condition for life.
"'Now there is no such relation between
capital and labor Us assumed, nor Is there
any such thing as q free man being fixed
for life in condition Of a hired laborer.
Both Of these assumptions are false, aud
all inferences from them are groundless.
Labor Is prior to and independent Of capl-
tai. Capital is only the fruit OF labor, and
could never have existed II labor had not
first existed.
"'Labor is the superior Of capital and de-
serves much the higher consideration. Capi-
tai has its rights, which are us worthy OF pro-
lection as any other rights; nor is It denied
that there is, and probably always will be, a
ing mutual benefits. There is not, OF neces-
sty, any such thing as the free hired laborer
being fixed to that condition for life. Many
independent men everywhere In these states,
few years back In their lives, were hired
laborers. The prudent, penniless beginner
In the world labors for wages while, saves
a surplus with which to buy tools or land
for himself, then labors on his own account
another while, and at length hires another
mo hau tn hal AZ
and generous and prosperous system which
opens the way to all, gives hope to all, and
consequent energy and progress and i'm
provement Of condition to all. .
"'No men living are more worthy to be
| trusted than those who toll up from pow
erty none less inclined TO touch or take
| ought which they have not honestly earned.
| Let them beware OF surrenderipg politi-
| cal power they already possess, which, IL
surrendered, will surely be used to close
| the door OF advancement against such as
| them, and to fix new disabilities and bur.
| dens upon them till all Of liberty shall be
lost. None are so deeply interested to re-
| sist the present rebellion as the working
| people. Let them beware OF prejudices
| working division and hostility among them.
selves. The strongest bond OF human sym
| pathy, outside Of the family relation, should
be one uniting working people OF all ma.
| tions and tongues and kindreds. Nor should
this lead to war upon property or the
owners Of property.
"'Property is the fruit Of labor; property
is desirable. 1t is positive good in the
world that some should be rich, for 1t
shows that others may become rich, and
hence 1t is just encouragement to industry
and enterprise. Let not him who is house
less pull down the house Of another, but
let him labor diligently and build one for
himself, thus by example assuring that his
own shall be safe from violence when
| built"