The strife that is being urged to create divergence between the
interests of these bases of society is purely the result of ignorance of
the first principles of constructive use on the part of their
representatives. Instead of an endeavor to demonstrate to the
understanding of all, the true principles which underlie these
interests, which would effectually unite them, those who have selfish
personal ends in view seek to further them, by engendering a spirit of
bitterness and a desire for strife. There are those who cherish the
ideas of aristocracy who have no wealth, on the one hand, and are too
indolent to endeavor to attain their desires by active labor, on the
other, who think to create some serious diversion, and upon it to ride
into place and power. This class of individuals are ever busy stirring
the coals of dissatisfaction into flames of rebellion, thinking thereby
to become the acknowledged representatives of the labor interest. It is
generally true that a cause supported by such means has no principles
upon which to base its claims; but in this instance the most absolute
and just principles are ignored, while cant and bombast usurp their
proper sphere.
It is quite true that there is a growing tendency to centralize capital,
and that consolidation of monetary interests is the rule; but the fault
of this does not lie in capital or capitalists—it is farther back than
it or they. It is in the people themselves, and in the fundamental
principles upon which society is built, and those which the people allow
government to be administered upon. If the laws of a country permit the
doing of a certain thing, which it is for the interests of a certain few
to do, and they chose to avail themselves of it, there are many to be
found in these times so much governed by the desire for the public
welfare as to take the advantage offered them by the people, for it
comes down to that at last. The labor class have it in their power to
send to Congress just those who shall fully represent their interests;
but they do not do this; most of them are found actively supporting
those whom Capital selects and holds up for their suffrages. The remedy
lies with the people, and they must make use of it before they can ever
expect to see their rights adjusted.
There is, as was said above, no conflict between Capital and Labor. The
conflict is among their representatives. On the contrary, there is an
entire harmony of interests between them. The true interests of each are
best promoted by rendering justice, full and complete, to the other, and
in the understanding of this lies the _only_ solution of the Labor
Question. Strife may continue, war, even, may come of the strife, but
finally the settlement must be made upon the principles of justice,
which underlie their relations. One comes from the existence of the
other; this, when created, should ever acknowledge its paternity, and
never assert supremacy, nor be allowed to do so; to be so allowed shows
that defects exist in the fundamental principles of government, or in
its application to existing things. These defects it should be the duty
of those who prate with so much volubility to discover and proclaim, to
the end that they may be understood by the people. The people in turn
should send as their representatives to frame laws, such persons as
shall make it their business to attend to their duties rather than those
who allow themselves to become immersed in the schemes of plotting
politicians who seek eternally to continue themselves in place and
power, and who lose all sight of, or care for, their constituency, in
their necessarily continuous efforts to secure that end. Such
representatives should be religiously ostracized by the common people,
and none tolerated but such as understand the relations which the
interests they wish fostered bear to those they feel they are becoming
subjected to, and who will unflinchingly advocate them at all proper
times and in all proper places. The durability of government rests upon
the entire harmony of all the interests it is framed to protect, and no
country can ever become continuously prosperous that has within it the
elements of discord; no country can endure for any length of time that
does not seek to eradicate all causes of dissatisfaction, and to so
adjust its interdependencies that they shall be mutual and just to each
as individuals, and to all as the public.
NEW YORK, July 20, 1870.