The Penn's Grove record., 1897-02-12
LNCOLN'S Birthday.
Labor and Capital.

q holiday, because it Is the birthday an
niversary of Abraham Lincoln. 1t Is
customary with some to recall his MEM
DRY while but few of his views are time
" because all the issues OF the war have
away, excepting that Oh the
money system begun then and its reia-
ton to labor. On March 18th, 1864,
Mr.. Lincoln while in New York City
spoke to the Workingmen's Democrat
ic Republican Association, of which he
had been elected a member, as follows:
"GENTLEMEN OF TIE COMMITTEE
The honorary membership in your AS
ISOLATION so generously rendered is
gratefully accepted. You comprehend,
as your address shows, that the existing
rebellion means more and tends to more
than the perpetuation of African slav.
eTy-that it is in fact a war upon the
rights of all the working people. Partly
to show that the view has not escaped
my attention, and partly that l cannot
better express myself, 1 read a passage
from the message TO Congress in Dec.
ember, 1861:
"'It continues to develop that the
instruction is largely, if not exclusive
ly, a wal upon the first principles of
popular government-the rights of the
people. Conclusive evidence of this is
found in the most grave and maturely
considered public documents as well as
in the general tone of the insurgents.
In those documents we find the abridge.
ment of the existing right of suffrage,
and the denial to the people of all rights
to participate in the selection of public
officers, except the legislative body,
boldly advocated with labored argu-
ments, TO prove that large control of
the people in government is the source
of all political evil. Monarchy issome
times limited at as a possible refuge
from the power OF the people. In my
present position, l could scarcely be
justified were 1 to omit raising my voice
against this approach of returning de-
spotism.
"'It is not needed or fitting herethat
a general argument should be made in
favor of popular institutions, but there
is one point with its connections, not
so hackneyed as NEST others, to which
l ask a brief attention. 1t is the effort
to place CAPITAL on an equal footing
with, if not above, LABOR in tile struct
ure of government. 1t is assumed that
labor is available only in connection
with capital; that nobody labors unless
somebody else owning capital somehow,
by use of it, induces him TO labor.
"'I'his assumed, it is next consider.
ed whether it is best that capital shall
HIRE laborers, and thus induce them to
work by their own consent, or BUY
THEN and drive them to it without
their consent. Having proceeded SO
far, it is naturally concluded that all
laboreTs are either hired laborers or
what we call slaves. And, further, it
is assumed that whoever is once a hired
lab0rer is fixed in that condition for
life. Now, there is 10 such relation
between capital and labor as assumed
nor is there any such thing as ii free
man being fixed for life in The condition
of a hired laborer. Both of these as.
sumptions are false and all differences
from them are groundless.
"'Labor is prior to and independent
of capital. Capital is only the fruit of
labor, and never could have existed if
labor had not first existed. Labor is
the support of capital and deserves
much the higher consideration. Capt.
tai has lis rights, which are as worthy
of protection as any other rights. Nor
Is 1t denied that there is, and probably
always will be, a relation between lab.
or and capital producing mutual bene
fits. The error is in assuming that the
whole labor of community exists with
in that relation. A few men own CAPT
tai, and that few avoid labor themsel.
yes, and with that capital hire or buy
another few to labor for them.
Again, as has already been said
there is not of necessity any such thing
as the free hired laborer being fixed tc
that condition for life. Many indie.
pendent men every where in these States
a few years back in their lives, were
hired iaborers. The prudent, penni.
less beginner in the world labors for
wages a while, saves a surplus with
which to buy tools or lands for himself,
then labors on his own account auoth.
er while, and at length hires another
new beginner to help him. This is the
just and generous and prosperous sys.
tenn which opens the way to all-giyes
hope to all, and consequent energy, and
progress and improvement to all. No
men living are more worthy to he
trusted thai thUse who toll up from
poverty-none less inclined to take or
touch aught which they have not hon.
estly earned. Let them beware of sur.
rendering a political power which they
already possess, and which if surrender.
ed, will surely be used to close the door
of advancement against such as they,
and to Fix new disabilities and burdens
upon them till all of liberty shall be
lost
1.-The views then expressed remain
unchanged-nor have l much to add.
None are so deeply interested to resist
the present rebellion as the working
people. Let them beware of prejudices
working disuniOn and hostility among
themselves. n n The strongest
bond of human sympathy, outside OF