The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1901-07-17

greatest human lawgiver the world has
ever seen, was ignored, and there was sub
stituted for this enduring basis the sandy
foundations Of pagan philosophy and
heather mythology. For this reason all
these governments in time tottered and
crumbled into ruins.
THE ERA OF WAR SUCCEEDED BY ERA OF
COMMERCE.
Ever since the foundation Of the civil
lied world the nations of the earth have
conducted their warlike expeditions
against other nations either through
pure love of conquest, or from motives Of
plunder. Within recent years, the civil
lied nations have begun TO recognize that
these methods are not in consonauce with
the principles of humanity. Their con-
quests have as rule been peaceful ones
during the past few years. made for the
purpose of extending their commerce.
The first department Of commerce es-
tablished by any country was inaugurated
by Germany, and since that time all OF
the nations have recognized the proprlety
of making the extension Of commerce a
national object. This new protection Civ
en- to commercial interest has resulted in
large extension Of such interest. The
International trade of the world to day Is
over twenty times as great as it was
century ago. 1t has increased out OF all
proportion to the increase of population.
1t has caused corresponding increase of
wealth. This condition has brought about
a new era in the worlds history, which
might 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. 1t has caused commerce to
be conducted upon a 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 ill.,
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
affordng 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.
1t is happy condition which benefits all
and is not a 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 capi
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 rrade solely
in the interest of the employer of labor,
and from the most ancient times the ma
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 inseparable from the person
ality of the laborer they did nothing TO
protect him in his labor. Under the prin-
ciples of equal justice to all, 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. 1t is to the in
terest Of capital to have efficient and con-
tented labor 1t is to the interest CT labor
IHaV Sapledi SHouI' oe pioLIlapil eiiPIoSeu
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 a system Of
legal arbitration. similar to the principles
governing courts of equity, that will de-
ter zine questions arising between labor
and its employers in such a manner as
will advance the interests of both.
1t was reserved for the christianized in
tellect Of the 10Th century to repudiate the
unchrs tian governmental systems of pre-
vious ages. and to construct an organized