The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-15
INVENTION AND INJUSTICE.
Impossible for a Good Man to Be Salts.
fed With the World as II Is.

Robert g. Ingersoll in Twentieth Century.
Invention has filled the world with COM
petitors not only of iaborers but of me-
chanics-mechanics of the highest skill.
Today the ordinary laborer is. for the most
part, cog in the wheel He works with
the tireless-he feeds the Unsuitable. When
the monster stops. the man is out of en-
ployment--out of bread. He has not saved
anything. The machine that he fed was
not feeding him-the invention was not for
his benefit. The other day ] heard man
say it was almost impossible for thou
sands of good mechanics to get employ
ment. and that in his judgment the gov
eminent ought to furnish work for the
people few minutes after I heard an
other say that he was Aling a patent for
cutting out clothes: that one of the ma
chimes could do the work of tweI~y tall
ors. and that only the week before he had
sold two TO a great house in New York,
and that over forty cutters had been dis
charged The capitalist comes forward
with his specific. He tells the working
man that he must be economical-and yet,
under the present system. economy would
only lessen wages. Under the great law
of supply and demand every saving. fr7i-
gal. self-denying workingman is uHcon-
sciously doing what little he can TO reduce
the compensation OF himself and his fell
lows. The saving mechanic is certificate
that wages are nign enough.
Capital has always claimed, and still
claims. the right TO combine. Manufact-
urers meet and determine prices, even In
spite of the great law OF supply and de-
mand Have the laborers the same right
10 consult and combine? The rich meet
in the hank club house. or parlor. Work
ingmen, when they combine. gather in the
street All the organized forces of society
are against them. Capital has the army
I H. ccrsG 81 hn IFfd in
and executive departments. When the
rich combine. IL is for the purpose of EEK
changing ideas" When the poor combine,
IL is conspiracy" II they act in con-
cert, If they really do something, II is
mob" If they defend themselves, II is
treason" How is il that the rich control
the departments of government There
are times when mendcants become revo-
lutionists-when a rag becomes a banner,
under which the noblest and the bravest
battle for the right.
How are we 10 settle the unequal con-
test between man and machine? VIII the
machines finally go into partnership with
the laborer9 Can these forces of nature
be controlled for the benefit OF her suf-
fering children? VIII extravaganza keep
pace with ingenuity? VIII the workmen
become intelligent enough and strong
enough 70 become the owners OF ma
| chinese Can man become intelligent
| enough 10 be generous. TO be just; or does
| the same law or fact control him that
controls the animal or vegetable world?
I In the days OF cannibalism the strong de-
voured the intellectually ate their flesh.
In spite Of all the laws that man has
made. in spite of all advances in science.
the strong. the heartless -Ifll live on the
weak the unfortunate. and the foolish.
when I take into consideration the agony
OF civilized life-the failures, the ankle
ties the tears the withered hopes. the
bitter realities. the hunger, the crime.
| the humiliation. the shame am almost
forced 10 say that canninalism. after all,
IS the most nerciful form in which man
has ever lived upon his fellow man.
It is impossible for A man with a good
| heart % b satisfied with the world as II
| now is No man can truly enjoy
what h. earns what he knows 20 he his
own-knoR1nE that millions Of his fellow
men are II misery and want. When We
think OF the famished We feel that i is
almost hear,less 20 eat. To meet the
ragged and shivering makes one almost
/ ashamed 10 we'll dressed and waru-one
/ feels as though his heart was as cold as
! their bodies.
Is there 20 be no change Are the laws
Of supply and demand" invention and
/ science. monopoly snd competition. capital
/ and legislation always 20 be the enemies
1 OF those who tails VIII The workers al
ways DE ignorant enough ana STUPID
enough 10 give their earnings for the
/ useless VIII they support millions Of
/ soldiers 10 kill the sons Of other work
ingmeu? VIII they always build temples
| and I've in huts and dens themselves?
| VIE they forever allow parasites and
| vampires % live upon their blood VIII
I they remain the slaves OF the beSEars
/ they support? VIII honest me- stop TAX
Ing Of their hats 70 successful fraud?
/ VIII industry. in the presence Of crowned
( tdleness. forever fan uron its knees VIII
they understand that heEgars cannot DC
+ generous. and that every healthy man
must earn the TiEht 10 liveg WIN they
finally say that the man who has had
equal privileges with ali others has no
/ right 20 complain. or Will they follow the
example that has been sex by their op-
Pressorsc VIII they learn that force. 70
suN~eefi must have thought behind IT,
and that anything done IN order that 4
may endure must rest upon the corner
stone ~ JuSfjcts
II you would have an abundance OF dark.