The record-union., 1897-06-03

society is an integral portion of the
governing sovereignty.
l appreciate fully the desirability of
relieving, even by temporary eXpedl-
ents, immediate distress; but measures
which alleviate but do not effect a rad
ical cure of the system to which the
suffering is referable only retard the
establishment of radical reforms.
The colonization of labor proceeds
upon the theory of it's utter want of in
dependence-in fact, its helplessness.
1t has in it the disagreeable suggestion
of the colonization of those who have
been doomed by the inherent attributes
of mind and character to the chronic
condition of poverty. This is certainly
not the highway upon which labor is to
be ennobled and its rights respected.
If the proposition looking TO the re-
lief of the congested condition of the
labor market had possessed some at
tribute of cooperation, the scheme
would have presented the one invalu-
able feature of comforting upon the
colonists eventual independence self
reliance and helf-helpfulness. But l
fail to find in it any tribute of broad
philanthropy. There is not accompany
ing it any proposition to share the vast
profit arising out of the article pro-
duced. The producer of the raw mate
rial is not to be a prCfit-sharer. His
share is to be sufficient to afford sub
sistence, with little or no provision for
allowing that margin arising from the
joint effort which would enable him to
participate in any of the embellish-
ments of civilized existence Civilized
want must be supplemented by civil
lied wage. The shadow of a fixed linn
ltatlon at the point of a mere subsSt-
ence rests on the whole scheme. Cap
ital is to afford that reward only which
will incite the producer to make sue
cessiye crops.
The depressed condition through
which the whole world now appears to
be passing has not arrested the tenden-
cy of equalizing the distribution of
wealth The vast advantages of as
sociated capital have not been dis
turbed. The underlying evolutionary
force of the existing system has suf-
fered no change. The largeness of life
which appears to have been the patri-
mony of one class has not been dimin-
ished Hardships attendant upon the
stringency of the times have been ex-
perienced only by one class, and that
class the producers of raw material:
and especially have these hardships
fallen with oppressive weight upon the
agricultural classes.
The earth is the source of all wealth.
From its bosom is taken annually all
the wealth which has been accumulated
by the accommodating classes. The toilers
in hn 5rny1
cultivators in the fields, the orchards
ana the vineyards, have felt the op-
press1Ve weight of the stringency of the
times; but no evidence is presented
that these hardships have been shared
by the accommodating classes If, there
lore, these classes are to reorganize a
labor system on the plan of colonizing
the HELPLESS, | fail to see in this the
prophecy of any ultimate relief.
l confess with sincerity the embar-
rassment which attends the expression
of these thoughts, an embarrassment
arising out of the consideration that
even temporary relief is a godsend to
those who are suffering Objection to
this relief is amenable to the charge in
the minds of the thoughtless of reflIs-
ing the half loaf which in proverb is
said to be better than no bread. To
alleviate the suffering of the slave was
no boon TO the captive It only relieved
the institution of some of it's revolving
features and secured to it a new lease
of toleration.
The land system of this country. as
OF other countries, is hopelessly and in
humanity wrong, and this wrong will
not lind ultimate remedy through any
plan which has for it's underlying mo-
tive the augmentation of the fortunes
of millionaires by merely proposing
temporary relief for the sufferings of
the poor.
II honest toll was the only title to the
earth-the sole source of wealth-then
honest toll would have within it's own
control the creation of its own fortunes.
the alleviation of its own misery. Under
that condition every attribute of slay-
cry would disappear. Industry alone
would hold the key to fortune and
mendicancy could exist only when self
imposed. Very respectfully yours.
WILLIAM H. MILLS.
San Francisco, May 24th.