Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-08-23
LABOR AND PROPERTY.

One of the chief objects for which
governments are constituted is to in.
sure protection to the rights of property.
The security OF these rights is essential
to the welfare of the people, the in
fringement being the cause of nearly
all legal procedures. Such crimes as
theft, gambling, robbery. fraud in bust
ness, &C., consist in uniustly obtaining
property without rendering an equiva.
lent.
70 obtain labor without rendering
fair equivalent is violation of the
rights of property. Property is almost
entirely the product of labor, for even
food Of spontaneous growth cannot be
gathered without labor.
Labor has effected every improve
ment in our country, it has built our
cities, constructed our ships, railroads
and canals; cleared, fenced and i'm
proved the farms. Every comfort of
life is the fruit of past or present labor.
If any one is in doubt whether labor
is the actual producer of the wealth, let
him consider what would be the situa-
ton OF this or any other civilized
country if the laborers should cease
their toll for number of years. Let
man neither SOW nor reap. let nanufac-
turing cease, commerce be suspended,
and what would be the condition of our
country at the end of that time? Would
not a large proportion of the people
have sunk into their graves, from starva-
! ton, and would not those living be
| almost naked, like barbarians?
II the earth should open her chasms
a M ell n :
plenty as the rocks on the mountains, it
would afford no relief. Buff she should
| cast out wheat, corn and vegetables,
meats, garments, &C., the people would
be supplied with means of subsistence,
and in such case we might do without
| the labor of men. But if we had all the
gold and silver money, and all the
| paper obligations in the known world
at the present day, they would not be
the least substitute for the productions
of labor, and yet our laws make those
legal instruments money and money
obligations in the hands of the few To
trample in tho dust tho rights of the
laborer, on whom we depend for all we
eat and wear.
A moderate amount of labor readily
produces an abundant supply of neces-
saries and comforts for man, but the
present distribution caused by the many
ills with which we are afflicted, is such
that n large number of those who labor
much more than their share in the pro-
duction, receive a very small proportion
of the products. The industrial poor as
class, do not even get a competence
Their restitution often induces them tc
trespass against the laws, to obtain a
small proportion of that which, under
just laws, would be abundantly awarded
TO them as fair compensation for theil
labor.
The laboring people have it in theil
power to make just laws, but before
they can arrive TO an understanding 81
what justice really is, and how to get it
they must investigate our many ills, ant
find out their cause, and when dis
covered, throw party and prejudice tt
the dogs and apply the remedy.
1.-THE Lord only helps those who hell
themselves" In conclusion, would say
that there is a true and certain remedy
that will forever do away with trespass
} ing against the laws, and that is, fill
mans stomach and his pocket, and yo,
leave no inducement for crime.
Iwould like to see it applied.
Rusty Cuss
WILMINGTON, August 10Th, 1894.