The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-10-02

we hear our men Of capital abused,
especially the planters, and that by
men who lay claim to the title oil
workingmen. | lay particular stress
on the name of workingman, for
can there he more honorable vo-
cation then the one whereby a per-
son earns an honest living Ivy |
conscientiously performing his duties
whether by mental or manual, skilled !
or unskilled labor? Capital and
Labor have to go certainly hand in
hand, for neitherone could get along
without the other. This fact is
generally acknowledged but it must
also be acknowledged, that Capital
can dispense during longer period
with Labor, while the latter can not
hold out for any length of time
against the former.
There is no doubt that we can
trace the direct cause of difficulties
between Capital and Labor to those
European countries that have been,
and still are ruled by despots and
tyrannical Governments. What can
be the moral and physical standard
of workingmen in country where
caste and aristocracy hold sway,
where man as soon as he inherits
q title, has nothing else to do but to
glory in his newly acquired position,
or to go on iunketing trips, instead
of fulfilling his duties towards the
people, who support such dignitaries
by payment of heavy taxes? And
again l ask, what can we expect of
men who on all sides hear the con-
temptuous expression: "Only COM
mon Werkingman." Only common
Workingmen, not to be recognized,
owing to their vocation, except as
food for cannon.
Is it a wonder, that people in
those countries acquire socialistic or
nihilistic doctrines? or attempt to
obtain that liberty which an allwise
Providence has destined for them !?
Can we blame these people for try
ing to throw off their. expressions,
by taking united action to have their
rights and liberties recognized? !?
Certainly not! Every fair minded
and justice-loving mans sympathies
will be with these people, if they try
to obtain their cause by fair and just
means.
But then again where there is too
much liberty, this privilege is liable
to be abused. For example, in the
United States, where workingman
is considered and treated on equal
terms with the rest of GO millions of
his fellow citizens. There it does
not infrequently happen, that some
of the working classes play the part
of Tyrants and Oppressors. Is there
anything more unjust than trying TO
force employers to concede to their
right or wrong demands, by placing
q boycott on the business of such
employers, or worse still by attempt
ting or inficting serious injury to
life and property, as is only too
often the case? No honest man, nc
matter how strong his sympathies
are for the labor element, can Justify
such proceedings, whereby working
men only load themselves with well
deserved contempt.
No doubt much of this abuse of
liberty and infringement on personal
rights is due to the judicial system
in vogue in the several states. These
abuses would not be as fragrant, if
Judges, District Attorneys. and all
judicial officials were either appoint
ed by the Governors, and confirmed
by the Legislatures, or elected by
the people as at present. Either
way the incumbents to hold office
, for life, or until removed by i'm
parchment.
As workingman has the indis.
, putable right to fix the value of his
labor, just as much right has the
employer to accept or refuse ser
vices at such rates. The employer
must certainly know what expenses
: his business allows him to make
g and the amount of wages he cal
| afford to pay. The workman is a
} perfect liberty to accept or decline
work for the wages as offered by thi
| employer; but should the forme
e accept, then he ought to fulfil hi
: duties conscientiously, or else place
e himself on the level of thief, fo
e it is certainly just as much cas-,
e of theft by not doing that amoun
e or quality of work that has beel
Z? agreed on to be done in considera
e ton of a mutually agreed on rat
e of wages, as it is to pick anothe
? mans pockets.
y 1t is only by fair and conscienti
+? Gus couduct that workingmen cal
It claim the respect due from employ
e ers and others, while the latter ais
:, ought to hold sacred the individua
|, rights and liberty of their employees
d An agreement to work is certainl
q nothing else than matter of bus
!, mess. One party agreeing to pei
+ form the work in consideration of
/, fixed sum, about just the same as
: merchant expects to obtain his re
S gular price for delivering his goods
while on the other hand the employs
$ expects to have the work done salts
r