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to the question concerning its existence; that is, to say, such an institution must be supplanted by some other which will work “the greatest good to the greatest number.”Every political, social or religious institution will exist, until it no longer is adapted to the surrounding circumstances. Necessity alone created it; through necessity it must die.Assuming this as an axiom, the object of this organization, called social democracy, is to achieve for the oppressed and toiling masses of society a happier and better lot in life than they now, owing to imperfections in our industrial and political systems, obtain. Social democrats know that industrial and political systems can only be improved as fast as human nature improves, and that the defects in the system are owing to the defects in human nature.Stern necessity compells the masses to think; poverty, pauperism, oppression, all over the civilized world, is the stern necessity compelling the oppressed and toiling class to contrive means to relieve their pitiablelot. The social democrats hope thiscan be accomplished in the United States, in a peaceable and legitimate manner, through the ballot.Social Democracy is a political or-ganizati on: First to teach the people the cause of the prevailing misery; second, to show the people how to alleviate the evil. One hundred years ago the democratic party had an object, i. e., political liberty,—the secession of the United States from England.Thirty years ago the republicanparty had an object : the emancipation of the African from the bondage of chattel slavery. To-day the object of social democracy is to enfranchise the “wages slave” from the thralllt;lom of capital: the abolition ofpoverty by regulating the relation of capital to labor.In 'every industrial combinationthere must be a regulating agency; that regulating agency, whatever its nature, must be paid for. Our presentindustrial svstem is one under which%/the share that goes to pay for regulation is too large, or, in other words, labor does not obtain its just proportion of the wealth produced by the combination of labor and capital, or, by the present wages system, labor is not adequately paid for. The capitalist, the regulator, receives more than his share.In every political combination there must be a regulating agency. Our present political system is one under which the people have to pay too much for the regulation; in other words, our government costs too much. The system by which the representatives of the people are elected is too expensive. Men who are supposed to be our honest and faithful servants are forced to pay thousands and tens of thousands of dollars for official positions. Is it surprising that such a system is productive of evil consequences?These systems have the justification to exist because they are better than those which existed before (serfdomVand monarchy), and they will cease to exist as soon as the people become aware that they can be improved upon. The social democrat feels it hisduty to expose the defects, and advocate what lie considers a remedy.[The abive is taken from a communication in the Emancipator, furnished by Edw. Petersilea of Oshkosh,W is. It is temperate and well-written, but too in its statements.general and indefiniteLight is still needed as to the exact aims and tendencies ofSocial Demoeracv,” andwe readilv accept the author's offer tofurnish it.—Free Flag.lLABOR ITEMS.We are pleased to announce an instance of the success of the arbitration policy between employers and employed here in our own city. A difficulty concerning the price of work in the establishment of Messrs, Pingree Jk Smith, wholesale shoe manufacturers, has been amicably adjusted by a board of arbitration. Someconcessions were made on both sides, and all were satisfied. The workmen say the firm treated them like gentlemen. What an improvement on the old barbarous strike system! —Am. Workmrn.uIt is manifestly a primary duty of employers, to themselves and to society, to give preference to workmen of intelligence and morality.”—Sunday Vn't071.All very nice. But the average emploj'erdoes not care the snap of his fingers whether the employe is “intelligent” or “moral.” The man who will work for tho least money has the best chance.—Am. Workmate..[From the Labor Standard. ]Reports from Ireland, Germany, and France state that the trade unions are making rapid progress.The Vanderbilt family are fighting over the illgotten money left by the deceased robber Cornelius Vanderbilt.The Pennslyvania Railroad own 0,000 miles of road, employ 1.000 engineeis and 1,300 firemen, nearly all of whom belong to the Brotherhood.The salaries of conductors and engineers on the'Renssaelear and Saratoga, New York andCanada, and Glen’s Falls railroads were reducedlast week.The Paterson silk weavers have turned out en masse against another attempt on the part of the manufacturers to steal their meagreearnings.It is stated that there are 2000 unoccupiedbuildings in New Haven, one-half being stores.The population is also said to be considerablyless than it was a couple of years ago.The trouble at Indianapolis is assuming a threatening shape. There are thousands of laboring men in that city who are unable to obtain work enough to keep their families fromDuring this hot weather thousands of men and girls who work in close and ill-ventilated shops, are prostrated. No body seems to think that those poor men and girls are being mur- j dered by slow degrees. 1i!istarving.American correspondents of foreign papers set the number of unemployed in the United States at 2,000,000. We should like to know how many employed men there are who do the work of three men every day.The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers’ | paymaster is more punctual than the paymaster of the Great Railroad Corporations. Cannot our readers see in the Trade Unions the seed of the futnfe co-operative system of society.A cabinet maker was arrested the other day in this city as he was leaving a cellar. He had forced the staple on the door. “I couldn’t help it,” he said to justice Wandall. “I had nothing to eat. I have been out of work for the last three months, and my family is starving. ” | He was held on $200 bail. Such cases are I brought to public notice all over the world.ICARRIAGE AND WAGON WORKS.There is not much activity reported. Western carriage factories are generally dull; andL.throughout the Middle States much depression prevails.Portland Mr.—Wages per week areas follows :Body makers .....................$15 00Wheelwrights ..................... 15 00Coachsmiths............................ 15 (X)Helpers.................. 7 00Finishers ........... 10 00Ornamenters...........................10 00Painters................................ 13 50Trimmers............................ 15 00Rates lower than last year; trade fair; prospect fair.Trade is reported fair at the works at SouthBend Ind. Over 700 men are employed.From W. W. Patton, D. Dm Editor of‘ The AdvanceChicago.uCo-operation is destined to an increasingly important element of social and national life. It will yet give law to multiform activities, solving many difficult problems which have hitherto vexed the wisest heads. Plainly it coincides with the democratic tendencies of the times, taking power from the few and distributing it among the multitude, thereby affording to the people larger protection and a better development. Surely, too, it bases itself on the Christian law of love, which rebukes selfish aims and method®, identifies all interests, teach- es that “no man liveth unto himself,” makes each helpful to his neighbor, and sets the common good before the private gain. Only by the application of this principle would there seem to be any hope of bringing to an end the ancient feud between the rich and the poor, so that “natural enemies” shall be transformed into permanent friends.From the “Science of Wealth,” by Amasa Walker, Lectnr r on Political Economy, Amherst College, Mass.“The description here given, by Prof. Fawcett, of co-operative sociaties abroad, furnishes satisfactory evidence of their feasibility, and the great advantages the laboring classes may get from them. If true to their interests they w'ill di-rect their attention to the formation of such associatious in this country. By doing so they will violate no legal enactment, in no w'ay disturb the public peace, or interfere with the laws of trade. They will simply avail themselves of their just rights, for the use of thepower which legitimately belongs to them .Prof. Fawcett also gives a statument of a very successful co-operative agricultural enterprise, commenced some thirty years since, in which the results were in the highest degree satisfactory.5From “Questions of the Day,” byDr. William Elder, Philade phia.uCo-operation is the marriage of labor and capital and they are beginning to perceive that bone and muscle must be able to say to capital, “bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh,’’ and let no man put them asunder, that the lawful fruits of the union may be jointly and justly enjoyed.The deadly action of competition, which isthe dominant force in trade, as trade now'exists,is in constant hostility to the co-relative and correct principle of co-operation. As an associative stimulus, it should take the name, as it has the character, of Emulation. So long as Cut throat competition is reigning spirit in the world's business affairs, it will beleaguer, invade and disturb the better order, and will compel more or less departure, for necessary accomodation .From Rev. Washington Gladden, ofWorcester, 3fass.“Co-operation is an expression in the termsof capital and labor of the Christian law'; it isbut the cuhui nation of iht mort no’nt whb'h ht-lt;jau vdtni Christ was horn at B* thlehnn.From Dr. Wm. M. Taylor, D. D.“There are many social subjects intimately connected with the welfare of the people, which ought to be treated by the minister. Among these mav be mentioned the co ndition of those who in popular speech, are called ‘the masses;' the growing conflict between capital and labor; and, at the ftther extremity of society, the luxury and extravagance, the heartless wrorldliness, and the utter selfishness which is so appalling to even' right-minded man. The life of the na-tion as well as the prosperity of the church, is imperiled by these things, and the preacher may not pass them by on the other side; the life of the church depends on its aggressiveness, and the ministers of the Gospel must lead in the new' crusade.”13ct- r• CtFrom “Hints Towards Reforms,” byHorace Greeley.But here, on the threshold of our survey, a painful fact confronts and startles us. HumanLabor is ejficie?U beyond example, bat the Laboring Class U hardly benefited thereby. Houses multiply with extreme rapidity, but the number of the houseless is not diminished.Each year produces more and more fuel and cloth, yet witnesses more and more shivering and nakedness. While new’ inventions and processes are daily rendering material life more smooth and comfortable to the affluent, the number of the destitute, squalid and miserable is steadily on the increase.Vt .From the Report of the Bureau of Stalliia:f(wtistics of Labor, Massachusetts.The great question to be considerid is, how to adjust industrial and social relations, so that labor and capital shall become vigorous and productive partners, instead of, as now, unproductive and w'asteful opponents; or, in other w'ords, how' to make co-operation possible and practicable.
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Minneapolis Free Flag
Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
Thu, Jul 05, 1877
Page 3
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USA 04 Apr 2022
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