The People's friend., 1894-08-31
CAPITAL AND LABOR.

CAPITAL AND LABOR
TO say that labor and capital are de
pendent on each other is to utter a tru.
ism. well known and admitted by every
thoughtful observer. We believe, how
ever, that one of the principal difficult
ties in the discussion of the question of
labor and capital is the misuse of simple
terms and the perversiOn of familiar
facts of the demagogues and fanatics
who do such large share of the talk
ing. According to their presentation
OF the case, the only honest men are la
borers. and the only laborers are those
who perform strictly physical service.
They will not admit that it is possible
for integrity to coexist with the pos
session of capital, or that any kind of
work is worth considering except thai
which is done with the hands This is
a manifestlv false and misleading view.
and it's effect is seen in the generation
of envlous ard hostile feelings where
there shonld be amity and co-opera-
ton. The inequalities of fortune do
not justly the idea that those who
achieve larger degre. of success than
others are necessarily less virtuous and
deserving; nor is it reasonable to say
that the man who makes none, by
mental instead of muscular exprtion is
thereby taken out of the list Of labor
ers. Such theory of Discrimination
is opposed to logic and the facts; it i'm
plies a distinction where there is no
practical difference. There is monopo-
ly OF honesty on the part of the men
who wear overalls and carry tin dim
! ner-palls; and it is just as true that
| these men do not alone constitute the
labor element, and are not entitled to
exclusive consideration in that re-
spect.
1t is well known that in this country
every laborer is possible capitalist
No man is arbitrarily and permanently
condemned to an inferior or unsatisfac-
tory position. There are standing op-
portunities tor him TO improve his stu
alton, to become an employer instead
Of an emplove. to increase his gains
and to accumulate wealth. Capital is
nothing more nor less than the product
of labor, the fruition of energy dill
gently and effectively applied. Itdoes
not represent idleness and rascalitv. |
but intelligent industry and reputable |
management, The number of mer
who have made themselves rich by dis
honest means is small compared with
the number of those who have acquired |
ss - s5 So..f M =. IN = q
service. This fact is susceptible Of
easy confirmation in every community.
The successful men as "A class are re
spected and hOn' ed by their fellow
for their well established up
rightncss Most of them are known TO
have started at the bottom and worked
their way gradually upward, taking
ADVANTAGE of every chance to better ,
their condition bp correct business.
In some instances circumstances have
been specially favorable to individuals,
AS in the case of Mr.. Pullman and his
lucky invention; but such examples
only serve to emphasize the general
rule that are the result of honest and
strenuous endeavor and not of corrup-
lion and OPPRESSION
The fact IS not to be overlooked that ]
increase Of capital means an addition to
The facilities of personal success in the
way of multiplied industries and new
sources of employment. men who have
capital do not bury it in the ground
They put it where it will earn some,
hing, which is to say where 1t Will per-
orm Il useful function by extending r
he sphere and augmentlng the pro ,
leeds of labor. This is stmkingly 7
Illustrated in our great railroad lines,
lOt one of which would have been con
if there had been no capital
sts to take the risk and furnish the re-
Iuired financial skill and enterprise
Granting that an enormous private
'rotit was realized. the gain to the .
country and to all kinds of labor was
greater. 1t is practi- {
ally impossible for man to get rich
without beneftting others more or
ess Even when his processes are in
efensibc, an advantage of some sort
ccrues in the course of his under +
akings. Boss Tweed at his worst was
Ot wholly useless to New York; Boss c
hepherd, was sore trial to WaShino
on, but he put it in the way of becom- q
ng the handsomest city in the world. t
The philosophy of the matter is that T
he growth of capital carries with it t.
ertain influence for good to society: I,
nd there is attached to it at the same