The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1886-05-27

so too shall we abandon the state prisons, jails
and whipping posts. Murder committed in
temper is but small crime compared with en-
tombng man for life in a dungeon. 1t is more
important to know how to deal with the muir
terous clement that is not liable to conviction
than with those convicted. ''Forgyc us as we
forgive our enemies" we say. We may well
tremble in our boots if there is danger that this
prayer will be literally answered, forWe are all
guilty either by silence or by direct vote or ac
ton. Thoughtful minds are waking up to the
fact that it is time for general crusade for the
removal of the miseries of men. We are too
closely allied to each other to escape results
simply because we are able to keep our own
heads out of immediate difficulties. Great pub
he wrongs cannot long continue without affect
that they be righted. An illustration of our
difficulties will suggest the remedy. Crime
comes largely from poverty. and poverty comes
largely from an apparent over production, but
il Is not over production in fact, it is ill distr
button that causes the poverty. The industrial
producer, the manufacturer and the carrier
Let three persons represent each branch. A.,
b. and G. Granger will represent all the pro-
duccrs of the world. A., b. and q. Smith will
represent all the manufacturers; and A., b. and
{. Courier will represent all the carrying trade
The Changers produce all the food the Gran"-
ers. Smiths and Couriers consume. Now these
nine persons can eat no more than their grand
fathers could, for stomachs do not change, vet Il
machine has been invented by which A. and b.
Granger can produce all the nine can consume
This leaves {. Granger without employment
| and a consequent beggar. If A., b. and c.
Granger will 90 into copartnership then neith-
cr will have to work more than two-thir,ls of a
day and all will be well supplied and will real
lzc no over production.
The Smiths are also at work separately and
supply the whole nine. They manufacture all
things, hut no one can wear more than one
suit Of clothes at time, or live in more than
one house at a time, or read more than one
book ut Il time, therefore human requirements
are III some measure limited. Machines are in
vented by which a. and Is. Smith supply all
the requirements, thus leaving {. Smith with
out employment. An over supply has glutted
the market he says. He therefore became a
beg@ar. tramp and criminal. A. and b. Smith
viii! Get rid of this tramp and criminal by max
ing him a copartner. BY Il new steam machine
a. and B. Courier are doing all the freightng
and {. Is thus thrown out of work by this over
production and is consequent paupcr. A. and
b. must work all day and support him in idle
ness. TO get rid of this they make him Il CO.
partner with them and thus relieve themselves
Of onc-third of the work and all pauper and
criminal expenses. Now we have all the world
thus represented in three strong copartncr-
ships. Neither company can live without the
other two. yet they remain AS three separate
and distinct bodies each treating the other very
| much as enemies. each company trying sharp
bargains with the others. The Smiths say ::
We will encourage the Changers and CollrcrS
to buy more of our manufactured goods. and
we will eat less and travel less and in this WAY
we will @ct the surplus, or as the politicians
say, we will get the balance of trn,le in our
favor.
The Couricrs, equally sharp and ambitious.
will try the same experiment. They will trv
to encourage the Smiths and Gran.crH to travel
more and thus give them more work, while
they. the CourerS, will eat less and wear less
clothing, and by this economy and industry get
the surplus themselves.
The Changers, not willing to be outlonr will
try to encourage the Smiths and Coure's to
eat more while they, the Changers. will travel
less and wear less clothing. This is compete
ton. What has each done more or less than
imposed upon himself all the privation> he can
endure: This is the natural reward Of compe-
ttion. Common sense will in time teach them
that if they want to get rid of needless rivalry
and consequent privationS they will unite the
three departments in it. This is what in Labor
circles is understood as Il Cooperative Com
monwralth. This is the end of business rivalry
rs We'll as the end of paupers and criminals
Industry then will be encouraged simply by
what industry produces and by the natural
fact that it is less painful for healthy persons
to do something than it is to stand still. Work
was given to lis aS pleasure in itself. but per-
vcrlcd industry has kept this fact almost Who'll
~ hidden. People as a whole are ambitious in
proportion that they are free and laZv in pro-
portion to their slavery. Those who fear that
the world may become free that it will be
intoerably lazy. are >hivcring at bligbear
They should study humanity 4 little.