The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-08-08
THERE'S NOTHING IN IT.
A FOOLISH SENTIMENT THAT Is
WITHOUT FOUNDATION IN FACT.

A Way to End Wars Between Nations.
Powderiy, Parsons and Quay-A Labor
Paper That Is Appreciated-A Training
School as the Manufacturer of Scabs.
For want of room in my last letter l
was compelled, in noticing Lyman Alb
bolts article on "The Wages System"
| which appeared in The Forum, to pass
over one assertion that ought not to go
unchallenged. 1t will be remembered
that Mr.. Abbott did not attempt to de-
fend capitalism, but he did constitute
himself wholesale apologist for the
capitalist. 1 believe I voice the senti-
ment of the labor movement when say
its grievance Is against the system and
not the individual; but just as men in
| labors ranks are selected for especial
praise or condemnation, as the case may
| be, because of their conduct as individ-
uals, so are some employers who are
avaricious, vicious and cruel held re-
sponsible outside of the system of which
| they are a part. And to the credit of
humanity let it be recorded that there
are also exceptions on the other side
men who are humane and just in their
dealings with employees.
But DR.. Abbott strains point in the
following words: "They have tossed I'M
easily on hair mattresses many night
while their workingmen slept unbroken
sleep on beds of straw. They have
pushed away the untasted delicacy at
the breakfast table while their working
men ate with hearty appetite less
luxurious meal. They have fought
bankruptcy for the sake of the men de-
pendent on them, and with nervous
susceptibility, which muscle can never
comprehend, have suffered vicariously
in apprehension all the pangs of poverty
of those whom they were, in vain, per-
haps, endeavoring to supply with work,
and so with bread"
1t is not pleasant duty to find fault
with the pretty sentiment found in the
above extract, and there is the surety OF
being misunderstood for him who does it;
but the time has come to inject a little
solid truth into the sentiment. Men
who study the labor question in their
own rich and comfortable parlors, like
those who discuss it with their Medoc,
fall often deeply into error; and it is
only natural that he of the tender heart
and philanthropic nature, well fed him
self and surrounded by those who show
him only their best side, should overflow
with charity toward that class in which
he holds his closest personal friends.
Men of lifelong experience with the
employers of labor fail to find one who
has fought bankruptcy solely for the
sake of This" workingmen. know we
often hear talk of that kind, but it is
buncombe. 1t is unnatural, no sensible
creature expects it and it isn't business"
When mines or factories become I'M
profitable and wages cannot be further
reduced work is stopped, as it should be.
This for the sake Of labor as well as cap
ital. Then why quarrel with DR.. Alb
bolts charitable utterances? Because the
labor problem Is not to be solved by sem
timent, but by science, and because such
statements are of the class that tend to
make the wronged depend upon chart
| ldUlcI6SS ldIilC1 tiltti1 JlSllCCs anu
away from capital the iniquitous props
which subsidized legislation has given
it, remove the burdens placed upon the
provider, give every human being fair
show and an equal chance, practice lib
erty, equality, fraternity, and there will
be no need for one man to bankrupt
himself to provide another with bread.
|
DR.. Abbott must have made a slip
when he said nervous susceptibility
which muscle cannot understand" The
men of muscle have nerves and brains,
and If their nerves are not so suscepti-
BILE as the capitalists it is because they
have been hardened in the fight for
bread, where men must pocket every
thing that doesn't go to make sweat. AS
for the employers apprehension of the
pangs of poverty" there can be no ques-
ton as to the truth of the statement.
More unhappiness is caused by the fear
of want than by want itself. When
those who are in want and those who
dread and would avoid it join hands not
one civilized being will be left out of the
circle, and it will not take long to change
system that makes contentment an alb
solute impossibility.
There are rumors of war with Eng
land over the Behring sea troubles. Of
course they are only rumors, and there
is not one chance in ten thousand that
anything will come of them; but it is in
order, all the same, to say that the work
ingmen of this and other countries
should give notice to the rulers that
they will have to fight their own battles
hereafter. Opposing capitalists eager
for the shekels to be coined out of the
skins of the seals of Behring sea quarrel
over the division of plumber; ministers
and cabinets are appealed to to defend
1.-THE rights of citizens" of their respect
i've countries; there is squabble-the
money grubbers fall out-and gunboats
are ordered to the ''scene of the trouble;"
"the flag is fired on" and the call goes
forth for a million men to put down
this foreign invasion" The million
men come from the mines, workshops
and fields, and as they shoot down their
brothers from other mines, workshops
and fields the money grubbers and
statesmen" look on-at long range.
This is war.
If ever an international labor alliance
is consummated its first business should
be the adoption of an iron bound pledge
that under no circumstances will the
Worldngmen of one country take up arms