Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-11-05
INDIAN TERRITORY, THURSDAY. NOV s. 1891


~ AhhoAlOii1 VI lfNAAbAOAA NRNhRtAJ -
should be borne IN mind that the terms
used receive moro strict Specification
sAan Is usually bestowed upon them IN
everyday modes OF speech. Tho term
land has often served as an illustration
Of this particularly which thoroughly
necords with scientific mothod. In this
instance, however. the science requires
an elimination whero usage has Jumped
together tho original spot Of the earth
with notifications achieved by human
industry. On tho other hand, as TO la
Dor, as a technical term, tho scientific
method requires a correction Of popular
usage In the opposite direction, for
popularity labor is distinguished from
dlscernmont, direction, skill, inventive
Intelligence, courage aud enterprise,
which nevertheless arc variously com
bincd with mere manual labor and
and qualify II and render 1t more effect
I've than it would be with n minimum Of
these qualities necessary TO sustain life
In primitive conditions. Indeed mere
toilsome exertion without Intelligence
would effect nothing Of value; would
fall to safeguard It's accidental results,
and would not sustain an artificial OK
istence or avert famine from tho homes
OF men established for the greater part
in climates naturally inhospitable to
the untortured human being. In the
September number Of tho Social Econo.
mist there Ia thoughtful and some
what original article, Public Obstrnct-
Ion to Industrial Progress" In which
the writer. Henry Powers, dcnics that
labor produces everything" and con.
tends that profits Of capital are not
drawn from tho earnings OF laborers,
but from forces Of nature that work for
nothing under application OF superior
instruments and methods. IL will be
perceived that the question turns up
what labor Is. No sane man would de-
ny that the forces OF nature ure con-
stantly working to create and also to
destroy the fruits Of the earth, includ-
Ing animal organizations and 10 level
down tho structures created by the in
genuity and toll OF mankind. The logic
Of the liberal school OF political econ
Omy Is all one with the logic Of
the liberal school of politics Ito the
effect that an equal claim OF participa-
tion In tho bounties of nature may 5c
predicated for all men. Nature WORKS,
and man takes occasion to utilize natu-
raj processes, whether growth, fcrmen-
tation, gravitation or what else. Has
any class a superior claim over another
TO appropriate such working unless IL
asserts tho right OF force, the claim Of
war? Approximation itself Is labor, is
Ii not? The savage begins to labor when
he gathers Wild fruit and stores it, pro
tecting II fror1 the rain and insects. In
vontion which produces superior instru-
ments is labor, perhaps chiefly intellec-
tual. The general plan Of governments
has boon TO protect the owners OF new
appliances aud create monopolies. Hen
ry George was betrayed by a sophism
stating the superior productiveness of
individual labor plus the labor saving
tool into allowing that the difference In
excess OF profit belongs to the lender OF
the tool But consider the desire OF
mankind TO participate in profit, and
then determine whether, In tho absence
OF monopoly, any gain by lending tools
will not turn competition into the man
ufacture OF tools for hire until the profit
on tool making will annihilatc the profit
on lending tools and on itself the mun-
uiaeture OF toolsl rs nearly rs other
profits go the same way. Effective la
Dor is always more or less intellectual,
and somo labor is constantly necessary
to reap any benefit from nature. In fact
great deal OF labor is necessary to
counteract the destructive effects Of the
elements. IL is only by taking narrow
and unscientilic view Of what consti-
tutes labor that ono can pretend tOdcny
that humanity is indebted TO its powers
Of labor for ali that II Possesses not
properly designated ms land, or natural
opportunity; In other words, for all
profits In the economic sense. Indeed,
this is bringing the conclusion TO IAN al
most tautological statement, inasmuch
rs product In the economic sense is un-
known until labor enters the natural
world to constitute product as such, /.
C., the product OF man as an iudustri-
al being g.-Dallas TEX News