Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1889-09-14

use that machine, which is the 0cCupa-
ton, until he has provided the qualifca-
tion to work, and the opportunity to
work, and SO to live, to those who have
hitherto lived 10y that occupation which
is now merged in the machine. When
he has done that the poSSesSOr may
claim d right to own the machine. Until
he has done this he is bound either not
to Use the machine, or, using it, to divide
with those who have hitherto pursued
the occupation the production of the
machine. The inventor is entitled to a
easonable reward for his invention.
: ay him reasonably if he is benefac-
cor, Whoever utilizes the dumb forces
of nature and thereby saves human toll
is public benefactor. Pay him well
for it. But society has right to the
benefit of what he has done, and not
solely any one individual or few who
may have the ready cash to satisfy him
Tor his discovery.
Columbus might Just as we'll have
claimed the Western World because he
had discovered it, or Ferdinand and
Isabella the whole as their personal es-
tate lecause they fitted out the three
miserable little ships.
"sOCIAL DUTIES.
Society owes to all men an occupa-
tion and the opportunity for its exercise.
70 provide these things is the first great
duty Of society at large, and no system
of things, no relations between capital
ind labor, no rights of individual own
STship IN property, or arrangements
between employers or others, which
shall divest labor of its necessary op-
Fortunities, are just or obligatory, un-
less society or the individuals who are
benefited by the contiscation of the oc-
cupation shall place the despoiled in
possession of as good as that which has
been taken away.
"There is limit to the right of prop
erty, or rather to to the acquisition of
title to and control of property. That
limitation is as well defined by the term
the general welfare" as by any known
| form of expression. No one human be-
| ing has right to control or to possess
all the beneficial consequences of his
| own action. All men are under obliga-
| tion to do their best in the world for
| the common good, as well as tor their
own, and no human being is entitled to
! L We beyond that which for the general
welfare it is best that he should control
Beyond this he cannot claim even
to live, but he must die on the battle
field or elsewhere whenever the com
mon good requires the sacrifice of his
life. Still less, can his right to property
extend SO far as to injure his fellow
men 1t is the duty of the thinker to
think, the author to compose, of the
inventor to invent, of the employer to
manage, and of the laborer to toll in his
| sphere, and for what he does each also
should receive whatsoever is necessary
for the enjoyment of his life.
Certainly some labor is more impor-
tant and should be paid better than
other labor, but only within the limita-
| tions Of that excess which is permissible
for the promotion Of the general welfare.
"THE MACHINE.
THE machine is the great problem of
society. | believe that its true solution
Is Indicated in this letter. If so, the
letter is long enough, and it is best, my
dear reader, that you should now think.
You may conclude that | would have
done well to have taken my own advice
before writing HENRY W. BLAIR.