The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-02-09
calth :;:;:' . ':::'; IL: ''':

and impulse; but a more intimate ac-.
quaintance must convince anyone tina:
each stage of human development is the
logical sequence of the preceding ones,
and that all through the civilized fabric
uns an unmistakable and an immutable
principle that controls and determines
the customs, laws and institutions of
each era. The human race is primarily
and essentially animal, and in spite Of
all the intellectual and moral and spir-
itual attachments, the material being
must first be sustained. In truth, the
manner and means of procuring sus-
tenance determines the degree and
character of intellectual development.
1t may thus be seen and explained
that civilization up to this time has
been for, of and by a dominant class.
Why should history care for or take
cogniZance. of the slave, the serf, or
wage Garner other than incidently. And
a strange thing it is that the exploited
classes have always tactily assented TO
laws and institutions that have been
inimical to their interest-it is SO fell
citous to have some one else toll and
strive and do the unpleasant things OF
life for one; it gives leisure an oppor-
tunity to enjoy the better things of
life.
In the early stages of human society,
when the races support was obtained
by direct contact with nature, the earth
was comparatively sparsely settled,
leaving abundance of free opportuni-
ties for all. AS control of the land was
| impra cticable, control of the person
was necessary in order to secure bread
out of the toll Of another. 1t may be
easily seen how the strong dominated
| over the weak and compelled subju-
CATION This earliest and crudest form
of spoilation characterizes all the an
cient societies, and although we now
view it with horror and revulsion, it
| was in it's day eminently proper, legal
and moral, to own and despoil slaves.
| It was at the time the only way to get
from another all he produced, except
enough to barely subsist on. A more
subtle, yet just as iniquitous a method
prevails at this time, and during the
period when chattel slavery existed
laws were enacted protecting the right
of property in human flesh, and, pre-
sumably, the slaves themselves deemed
their thralldom a just one. And thus
we see how very elastic our moral and
legal standard has been, that the most
hideous and revolving institutions was
reconciled to it. Let us inquire further
and see if an improvement in the stand
ard of right succeeded the earlier one:
We may at this distant day fancy
THAT slavery received its death in the
growing enlightenment of the race, and
that religion and morality discomfort
Ianced it's continuance. Not at all, as
"a close analysis will reveal.
The organization and segregation Of
the various peoples into the different
forms Of government, together with the
multiplication of the race, diminished
the free area and enabled those who
dominated the soil to exercise mas
|tery over those who worked upon the
land. The peculiar forms of society
that marked the middle ages gave rise
Ito series Of superiors and .ssinferiors
down to the serf who actually titled
the soil. Without dwelling too long OH
this period Of social development, it
lmay be said that it's institution crum-
bled and disappeared before the re-
lmorseless force of industrial develop
|ment. AS feudalism declined, conditions
gave rise to the existence of a form of
the working class, which had ultimately
attained a large measure of freedom
despite the fact that they were re-
strained by legal and trade regula-
lions.
The opening up of colonies, the break
ing up of old institutions, and the phil
|osophies and opinions of reformers char
acterized the period antedating the
present one of capitalism. 1t would
seem, at last. that the race had re-
cognized the principle of human equal
lily, and that special rights and privil-
eyes would forever be abrogated and
|equal, and exact justice should be metel
out to all. This period gave birth to the
American and the French declaration
of human rights. It was considered
sufficient if men were given equality of
political rights, ignoring the fact that
political equality is incompatible with
economic equality. It did not require
long to demonstrate that the hopes and
Inspirations of the advocates of political
|equality were dreams, as the impulse
industrial development received in
augurated a force that defeated the
very ends sought in according to all
|equal political rights.
At the beginning of the present era
of capitalism the production of COM
modities was carried on by small pro-
ducers, and private ownership of lanl
was the only barrier to almost conf
plete equality of opportunity. The i'm
plements Of production consisted Of
simple tools, and every workman either
|owned or controlled, or could easily
do so, whatever was necessary to en-
ploy himself. If the master, such as he
was, wished to employ a workman, he
was obliged to pay him an amount
equivalent to that which the workman
could make If he employed himself. The
ease with which one could become his
own master enabled the craftsman to
secure almost the entire product of his
labor from his employer. AS the process
through which commodities passed from
producer to consumer was simple one
there was little or no chance to fleece
the worker. OF course, the jugglery of
the money mongers made the value of
all forms of wealth more or less un-
n NJ k1 ~