Year: 1869

THE IYR1NNI OF CAfIIdL.


To divide the fruits Of industry between the
capitalist and the laborer, that there might be
harmony, has been attempted from the first
organization of Society; and attempts are still
made, but without success, and there are
closing of workshops, and strikes, and appa-
rently never ending antagonisms.


In all the elaborate discussions, so far as we
have seen, no reference is made to an impor-
taut element in our social structure. and it seems
10 us that this should receive careful consider
alton as q preliminary to an understanding of
this question. We refer to the absolute need,
in society, that considerable portion of the
wealth created shall be reserved, that 1t may
be drawn upon in times of necessity, and for
the appropriation of another portion for pub
lie improyements-Dow become requisite for
individual well being, and for the maintenance
of the poor and the unfortunate; for, we may
think as we please, and protest as vehemently
as we will, society is unit, and 1t is as much
possessed Of individuality and power as the
most despotic emperor. That the required
wealth may be set apart it is necessary, as n
first step, that part of the individuals who
form society shall have the mental quality
leading them to save and to accumulate, and
rs we have such, this quality of saving may be
said actually to inhere in society. These
persons we call capitalists, whatever may be
their rank station, or culture, and, viewed in
the proper light, they are public benefactors.
Although they contribute all their powers to
the accumulation of wealth, with the idea that
what they save is wholly their own, still they
are little more than Stewards for whatever
disposition they may choose to make of their
wealth, it still will be used for the good of
society; and, besides, should the public
necessity ever require it, they may be dis
possessed of the last dollar. 1t is true that the
necessity must be very great before such
spolation would be permitted, for society
instinctively watches and guards reserved wealth,
aud its total extinction is as much dreaded
as is the death of the queen bee by her
subjects. When the laborer, and those who
sympathise with him, declaim against the
accumulation of capital, they do not consider
that without it neither themselves nor society,
except in a savage state, would exist. That
wealth engenders extravaganza and follies of
every name, is to be granted, but the evil
done is confined to unfortunate individuals
who, in our country, soon run their race
nor is this evil at all equal to the good
which accumulated wealth brings to mankind
at large.


1t must be seen, then, that the complaint of
the laborer that he is robbed of his earnings Is
not true, Mt least to the extent he alleges for
| he il made partaker of this wealth in many
ways, and, beside, it will be preserved for the
benefit of Lis children. The only real com
plant he can make is that lie is not permitted
to control it; but, as he has shown himself in
capable of keeping it, the control is placed in
more careful hands. ..


| When a man accumulates wealth he no less
| accumulates within himself qualities Of equal
indeed we should say of much greater-value.
| These are persistence, patience, foresight, and
| self-dcnal which contribute in marked de-
| gree to the enlargement of the mind, and hence
| such must, in the nature of the case, be supe-
rior to the laboring man who, with health and
| strength, consumes all he earns OF course We
refer to the condition Of things in this country,
where no real obstacles prevent development
and we may say, also, that all similar discus
siens should refer to society on this continent,
for their application to European society is out
| Of place, since barbaric institutions which should
| have died out during the last century really do
| oppose and Oppress the laboring classes.


Tho first thing which the laboring man is to
consider is, whether it is not practicable for
him also to become capitalist by saving a
part of his earnings, and, as n consequence,
acquire an enlarged mind, by which he will be
able to accumulate still more, for saving to
any great extcut is an intellectual achievement
| To spend the whole of ones wages at the close
of each week requires no skill, but tho saving
even of small portion actually brings ont
some high quality of the mind, and this will
be basis, and the only one possible, by which
ultimate prosperity is to be secured. Nor is he
to compare his poor attempts with others, ex-
sept to consider that the ability to acquire large
sums had q beginning as humble as his own
and that it was the natural outgrowth OF years
OF self-denial and wise management. IL he
should suspect that such power is heredi-
tary gift, he may as well suspect that he HIM
self has this hereditary gift. lying undeveloped


or it will not be less importaHt to know that
he can transmit such powers to his children