Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-04-24
LINCOLN AND LABOR.
A NEGLECTED CHAPTER IN THE
CAREER OF THE GREAT MAN.

Lincoln's anecdotes, speeches and
messages are generally well known,
but his words touching the labor
question have never yet received the
prominence they deserve. In fact
very few know that he ever an
nounced any opinions on The sub
ject. But in his first annual message
to congress, dated December 3, 1861 ,
the following passages may lie
found:
1t continues TO develop that the
Instruction IS largely, II not exclus-
lively, a war upon the first principle
Of popular gOvernment-the right Of
the people. Conclusive evidence Of
this is found in the most grave and
maturely considered public docu-
ment, as well as in the general tone
of the insurgents. In these dOcu-
ments We find the infringement Of
the existing right of suffrage and
the denial 10 the people Of all right
10 participate I'm the selection Of
public officers, except the legislative,
boldly advocated with labOred argu-
ments, 70 prove that large control Of
the people in government. is the
source OF all political evil. Monarchy
itself Is sometimes limited at as a
possible refuge from the power Of
the people.
In my present position. ! could
scarcely he justified were | 10 omit
raising a warning voice against this
approach Of returning despotism.
1t Is not needed nor fitting here
that n general argument should he
made in favor Of popular Institutions;
but there is one point with its con-
nectiOns, not 50 haekneyed as most
others, to which ask brief atten-
ton. Ii Is the effort 10 place capital
on an equal 70 ting with, Il not above,
labor in the structure Of government.
Ii is assumed that labor is available
only in connection with capital
that nobody labors unless somebody
elese, owning capital, somehow by
the use Of it, induces him 10 labor.
This assumed, it Is next considered
whether it Is best that capital shall
hire labsrers, and thus induce them
10 work by their own consent or
buy them and drive them
10 Ii without their consent. Having
thus proceeded 70 iar, Il ielnaturally
concluded that all laborers are eith' r
hired labOrers or what We call slaves.
And further, it is assumed that who
ever i once hired laborer is fixed
in that condition fOT life,
Now, there is no such relation be-
tween capital and labor as assumed;
nor Is there any such thing as a free
man being fixed for life In the con-
dition OF hired labOrer. Both these
assumptions are false, and all in
ferences from them are ground
less.
Labor is prior to and independent
OF capital. Capital is only the fruit
OF labor, and could never have exist
cd IL labor had not first existed.
Labor is the superior Of capital, and
deserves much the higher consideR-
ton.
Capital has its rights, which are
as worthy Of protection as any other
rights. Nor is il denied that there
i, and probably always will be, a
between labor and capital
mutual benefits. The
error Is in assuming that the whole
labor Of the community exists within
that relation. a few men own ca
pital and that few avoid labor them
selves, and with their capital hire
or buy another few to labor for
them. 4 large majority belong 10
class-neither work for others
nor have others work for them. In
most Of the southern states a ma
iOrity OF the whole people Of all
cOlors are neither slaves nor masters.
while In the northern q large ma
jorily are neither hireTs nor hired.
Men, with their families, wives.
sons and daughters work for them.
selves Oh their farms, in their houses /
and in their shops, taking the whole |
product TO themselves and asking no /
favOTs OF capital on the one hand, I
nor Of hired labOrers nor Of slaves 4
on the other. 1t is not forgotten |
that considerable number of per-
sons mingle their swn labor with !
capital; thGtis, they labor with their ]
own hands and also buy or hire /
others to labor for them. but this is I
only a mixed and not a distinct |
class. No principle stated Is dis
turbed by the existence Of this |
mixed class
Again, as hss already been said,
there is not OF necessity any such /
thing as the free hired laborer being
fixed TO that condition Of life. Many |
independent men everywhere in
these states, a few years back In |
their lives, were hired labOrers. The
prudent penniless beginner in the
world lalIors for wages awhile, saves
a surplus with which to buy tools or
land for himself, then labors on his
own account another while, and
az length hires another new be-
gInner to help him. This is the
Just and generous and prosperous
system, which opens the way to all
gives hope 10 all, and consequent
energy and progress, and improve
Ineut Of condition to all.-E1cha age.