The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-07-10

The 4rs5 department. of commerce es-
tablished by any country was inausurated
by Germany, and since that time all OF
the nations have recognized the proprlety
of making the extension Of commerce
national object. This new protection Civ
en- to commercial interest has resulted in
large extension of such interest. The
international trade Of the world today IS
over twenty times as great as 1T was
century ago. II has Increased out OF all
proportion TO the increase OF population.
It has caused corresponding increase OF
wealth. This condition has brought about
new era in the worlds history, which
nigh be termed the era of commerce, and
this bids fair to succeed permanently to
that of war, which has lasted throughout
the centuries preceding the opening of the
present one. This has caused the amalga-
nation of large corporations into still
larger ones. It has caused commerce to
be conducted upon scale never dreamed
of by our fathers.
While trusts are dangerous to the pub
lie welfare by reason of their purpose,
which is to increase prices by preventing
competition and limit production TO the
point Of the greatest possible profit, the
legitimate corporation, however large its
capital, having for its purpose great IN
crease Of production and the extension OF
trade instead of the sitting of trade, is
distinctly beneficial and assists in the diff
fusion of general prosperity.
The opening up of new markets will
create new lines of employment and In
crease the number OF men required to
conduct the old lines Of business, thus
afording to the man who earns his bread
by the sweat Of his brow the opportunity
to keep constantly employed and insuring
him against periods of enforced idleness.
It is happy condition which benefits all
and is not condition which should array
one class against the other. Trusts should
be stamped out wherever they may ap-
pear, whether their capital be large or
small, but the employment of large CAPT
tai, if used in the creation of new trade.
cannot fail to confer benefits upon the
entire people.
LABOR AND CAPITAL
And these ancient governments too
made the mistake of treating labor as a
commodity, without reference to the
laborers. This mistake was made solely
in the interest of the loyer of labor,
tions of the earth have treated the laborer,
with relation to his labor, as personal
ity. They have compelled him to dispose
Of his labor and have even at times, by
statutory enactments, compelled all young
men to learn trade. But while treating
the labor as mseparable from the person
atty of the laborer, they did nothing to
protect him in his labor. Under the prin-
ciples of equal justice to al, the laborer
Will be protected in his labor, as the en-
ployer is in his capital. The interests of
the laborer and his employer, if properly
understood, are reciprocal They are in
terested to bring about one result, the
profitable employment Of labor to the good
Of both labor and capital It is to the in
terest of capital to have efficient and con-
tented labor. It is to the interest of labor
that capital should be proftably employed
in order to increase the demand for labor.
Under the principles of equality and jus
tice, this relation will be so we'll under
stood that it will bring about system Of
legal arbitration. similar to the principles
governing courts of equity. that will de-
termine questions arising between labor
and its employers in such a manner as
will advance the interests of both.
It was reserved for the christianized In
teHect Of the 10th century to repudiate the
unchris tian governmental systems of pre-
vious ages, and to construct an organized
political system Of government which re-
cognized the truth that governments were
made for man. and intended to make him
responsible moral as we'll as intellectual
subject; that they were intended to secure
human freedom, freedom Of conscience,
freedom Of intellect. and freedom of ac-
tion; that they are to be founded on the
great moral law proclaimed from Mt.
Sinai, and that nations as well as individ-
uals were TO be subject to its commands,
and that they were intended to be the hu-
man agencies not only to bless their sub
iscts but the world. The republican gov
ernment of the United States is the most
perfect the world has ever seen. Il is q
government based upon the rock founda-
ton of the peoples rights to govern them
selves under the sanctions of an enlight-
ened conscience and of the moral law.
Perfect individual and national liberty
is guaranteed by it, and its great purpose
is to promote the general welfare. Truly
the hand of God has been in this wonder
full age of human progress, and has been
instrumental in raising up our republic as
beacon light to the world and the gov
ernmental instrumentality which is to
spread the blessings of human liberty and
civilization.
GODS PURPOSE IN EXPANSION.