The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1899-08-24
CAPITAL AND LABOR

The following interesting discussion
of the never-ending topic, capital and
labor, is from the pen of Abraham Lin
coln--his first message to Congress In
1861:
Monarchy itself is sometimes hinted
nit as a possible refuge from the power
of the people. I'D:
I'm my present position | could
scarcely be justified were | to- omit
raising a warning voice against this
approach of returning despotism.
SIT is not needed nor fitting here that
q general argument should be made in
favor of popular institutions but there
Is one point, with its connections, not
so hackneyed as most others, to which
l ask brief attention. 1t is the effort
to place capital OH an equal footing
with, II not above, labor in the struc'
ture of government. 1t Is assumed that
labor is available only in connection
with capital, that nobody labors unless
somebody else, owning capital, some
how by the use of it induces him to
labor. This assumed, it is next con-
sidered whether it is best that capital
shall hire laborers, and thus ...duce
them to work by their own consent, or
buy them and drive them to it without
their consent. Having proceeded so
far, it is naturally concluded that all
luborers are either hired laborers OF
what we call slaves. And further, 1t
is assumed that whoever is once
hired laborer is fixed in that condition
for life. ,..
"Now there is 10 such relation be-
tween capital and labor as assumed,
nor is there any such thing as free
man being fixed for life in this condi-
lii, lhI DAtl,
sumptions are false, and all inferences
from them are. groundless. Oh 80,
Labor is prior to and independent
of capital. Capital is only the fruit OF
labor, and could never have existed If
labor had not first existed! Labor is
the superior .Ot capital, and deserves
much the higher consideration. Capt.
tai has it's rights, which are as worthy
of protection as any other rights Nor
is il denied that there is, and probably
always will be, IL relation between Ia
Dor and capital producing mutual ben
eiits The error is in assuming that
the whole labor of community exists
within that relation. a few men own
capital and that few avoid labor them
serves, and with their capital hire or
buy another few to labor for them. n
large majority belong to neither class
NOTh lOE uOI IuNc
others working for them. In most
of the Southern States Il majority Of
the whole people of all colors are neith
er slaves nor masters, while in the
Northern large majority are neither
hirers nor hired Men, with their fam
lies wives. sons and daughters-work
for themselves on their farms, In their
houses, and in their shops, taking the
whole product to themselves, and ask
ing no favOrs of capital on the one
hand nor of hired laborers or slaves
on the other. 1t is not forgotten that
a considerable nuMber of persons min
gle their own labor with capital; that
Is, they labor with their own hands
and also buy or hire others to labor for
them; but this Is only mixed and not
distinct class. No principle stated is
disturbed by the existence of this
mixed class.
,rAgain, rs has already been said,
there is not of necessity any such thing
as the hired laborer being fixed to
that condition for life. Many ndepend-
em men everywhere in these states
few years back in their lives We're
hired laborers. The prudent, penniless
beginner i'll the world laborS for wages
awhile, saves Il surplus with which to
buy tools or land for himself, then la
DOrs on his own account another
while. and at length hires another new
beginner to help him. This is the just
and generous and prosperous system
which opens the way to all, gives hope
to ALL and consequent energy and pro-
gress and improvement of condition to
all No men living are more worthy
to be trusted than. those who toll up
from poverty; none less inclined to
hnx
not honestly earned. Let them beware
of surrendering political power which
they already possess, and which If sur
rendered will merely be used to close
the door or advancement against such
AS they and to fix new disabilities and
burdens upon them till all of liberty
shall be lost"