2
THE ALLIANCE -INDEPENDENT.
Lili
CAP TAL
A Nebraska Lady Discusses the Prtsent
Conditions, and tho' Development
of a Better System.
LABOR CREATES ALL WEALTH.
How Capital Oppresses Labor Hew
Men Become Millionaires The
Problem Must be Salve i
in tb United States.
The Present Wage System.
"Through labor to rest, through com
bat to victory." Thos. a' Kernitis.
Labor was fcaid by the ancients to be
tho price which the Gods eet upon every
thing worth having.
The important place wLich industiial
affairs hold in mcdern thought is one of
the peculiarities of the age. Itcvolu
tions'can be trac:d by indications which,
to the observing, point out with toler
able clearness the character of tho com
ing order.
Ours is the cgeof investigation r n all
subjects, which proves that new and im
proved conditions are coming. The
present labor system is the chrysalis
wherein is developed a higher order
of civilization.
Tho modern Sphinx is propounding
many questions, all of which must, and
in the probably near future, shall be
solved, for upon their adjustment hinges
tho weal of the race, and like Banquo's
ghost, will not down.
We may have been born a hundred
years too soon to realize the prophesied
Eutopian ago wherein all men shall
carry with them the Philosopher's stone
3and every beautiful woman possess the
Elixer of Life, and each wrong ba right
ed, but a better day is surely coming.
Our moro conservative people seem
satisfied with the existing order of
things, possibly indifferent to the in
vestigation of tho past, and plans for
tho future, but those who dream that
tho preseut economical order will en
dure, aro blind to tho signs of the times.
Other economical and industiial svs
terns have preceded the present; they
were probably necessary to prepare,
like a John tho Baptist, the coming of
tho present.
The very errors "and abuses of the
. present system are a necessary dici
plino to prepare mankind for a moro
equitable order.
The condition of man was primarily
barbarism; from that, strange to say, he
evolved to slavery. That abhorrent
f ystem initiated a sort of division of
labor.
Of course, when it came to the dis
tribution of the products of labor, the
owner deemed himself entitled to all
above that necessary to maintain the
slave's existence.
The ruling principle was depotism,
and the utter ignorance cf the slave
the essential condition to tho perpetua
tion of the system.
As a system chattel slavery has dis
appeared from our country, yet its
traces remain.
Is it not strange that in our free land
scriptures were freely quoted to prove
slavery a necessary and divine institu
tion? Provided always, that the slave
differ in color from his master; yet,
with all its hideous features, slavery
was basic to the present wage system
and commercial civilization.
The fall of the .Roman Empire and
sway of Northern Barbarism mrde a
new order of things inevitable, but
above all ol her benign influences the
spread of Christianity did most to iu
prove conditions.
Finallv came the fondal system cus.
attached to the soil and claimed sup
port from it.
Domestic and family life were pro
tected, and to the lowest classes many
privileges were accorded. The neces
saries of life were plentiful and cheap,
and wages or profit, even in years of
dearh were ample to fill the void, and
to the poorest there were no insupera
ble bars to ?ome progress.
Men thought of Heaven ai organized
on a fendal basis, yet the march of pro
gress sweeps away that system when it
has fulfilled its mission.
The invention of the steam engine
and the print;ng press; and the discov
ery of America with its subsequent
growth of commerce were basic to the
present wage system with its feature of
pri vato enterprise and capital. Wealth
of course controlled tho world under
tho slave and feudal systems, but never
In tho form of capital, as it doe3 today.
Wo have made wonderful advance
ment. In olden days, princes could not
alwa s obtain medical skill, now it is at
the command of tho poorest.
Squalid huts aro supplanted by cot
tages built according to -architectural
plans and san'tary science, and humble
laborers possess home 3 in which dwell
well-fed, elucatedand happy families.
The walks of literature are accsssi
blo to tho masses. They may enjoy
comforts that were the former luxuries
of the few wealthy and select.
Workers of today are men of liberty,
free to work for whom they pleise, pro
vided they can find employment.
Labor is a dignified commodity, sold
in the world's marts for what wages
tho law of supply and demand may fix.
Tho laborer may own land if he can
pay for it.
Ilis ballot is free, and may be cast in
secret, precluding his emp'oyer from
bartering on his workman's political
creed.
In the consideration of, tho wage
system wo must be true philosophers;
be fair, calm and charitable, and not
allow our sympathies with either labor
or capital, to warp our judgment. .
Tho most glaring evils, carry the
seeds of their own destruction with
them.
A better order will replace the
present system, as soon as society will
be prepared for the change.
Both millionaire and pauper are
creators and results of the present sys
tem. At present both classes must co-exist.
In the vast difference between the
product of labor, and the wages paid
the laborer, lies the secret of vast for
tunes and widespread poverty.
The more equitable adjustment of
this matter is the problem and dream
of eyery school of eonomists.
Capitalists, of course, claim that
their success is duo to the natural pro
ductiveness of capital; but capital, left
to itself, never increases more than the
talent hid in the napkin.
For instance, a number of wealthy
men agree to invest their capital in the
woolen industry; they form a joint
stock company, elect officers and hire
a superintendent to manage the busi
ness. A factory is bought or rented; ma
chinery and raw materials are pur
chased; labor is needed, and bought.
Buildings, etc., are paid for tit the
time of purchase or delivery, but
labor is hired by day, week or month,
and always paid for after it has been
used.
Tho cloth is sold or exchanged in the
markets of Uhe world; it has value, or
it could not be sold for money, or ex
changed for other goods; what gave it
this value? Why, two primo factors
enter into the problem, nature and
labor.
Nature, per se. makes no charges for
her materials, but human labor, under
the present system, is a commodity
having money value.- -
Labor is the unit by which all other
products are measured.
Tho term labor includes mental as
well as manual work.
1 1 havo not the f pace to enter statis
tically into the compensation of labor,
and the vast profits af capital; in short,
labor produces all the surplus for
which, in all business, there are two
claimants, viz; Labor and invested
capital.
Of this surplus, wagp-workerg re
ceive, on an average (in country)
U cents a day. V
89 nm VM prQyid4 he opJci
every day in the year, and never loses
time through sickness or recreation.
Statistics show that capital reaps a
harvest of 50 per cent, on money in
vested.
In this difference between the pro
duct cf labor and the wages paid, lies
the secret of vast fortunes and wide
spread poverty.
Capital ia really created and stored
up by labor; and the latter is today
like the man in the Arabian Nights,
who let the genii out of its little box.
You remember, the genii expanded in
to a vast cloud, and no suasion could
Induce it to return to its original
limits.
Capital is the genii of America.
Legitimate business is, in many in
stances, superceded by commercial
speculations that pervade almost every
branch of trade.
This speculation probably causes 90
per cent, of the failures in business.
Vast monopolies like the Standard
Oil trust, drive weaker firms to the
wall.
The whale grows fat and large, the
minnows perish. At present, ethics
and morals are but slightly regarded
in business life.
Capital will, of course, ba a principal
factor in any system that may evolve
out of the present, but attempts to ex
plain away the centralization of capital,
are vain, and insults to observation.
It is amusing to hear millionaires tell
how they ''caved their vast fortunes by
industry and frugality;" millions never
accumulated that way; hundreds may.
Millions pile up when capital has
control of vast natural opportunities,
and can employ many laborers.
Capital, whenever invested in that
way, is in position to levy a tax on tho
entire consuming population that uses
its products.
It refreshes one to hear laborers ad
vised to
"save"
their earnings, and
thus become millionaires. Suppose a
man is paid $2 per day, or twice tho
average wages paid; he never loses a
day, is never sick, lives as stingily as a
Chinaman, and saves $1 per day; put
ting this on interest, it would require
over a thousand years to save one
million dollars.
Have our millionaires acquired their
millions by sucn a process? -
Among them are thirty-five, tho
poorest of whom is quoted at $30,000,000,
and the wealthiest at $150,000,000.
The number of unemployed men in
this country is estimated at 600,000;
much of this is involuntary idleness.
With no avenues of employment open
to this vast army, what will be the re
sult? Farmers are struggling with mort
gages, and many are becoming the
tenants of money loaners.
The average income of a farmer, ac
cording to the U. S. census, is about
$310 a year. Women and children drag
out a pitiable existence in factories and
workshops.
These are hasty glances at both
sides of the existing system, and truly,
sharp are the conti asts viewed.
Of course there is much charity, but
this does not solve the perplexing
question of inequalities. Our Carne
gie's may bestow millions to found and
endow libraries and colleges, but our
wage-workers still believe that such a
course first fleeces them, and then,
mid heralding trumpets, bestows their
belongings, and baptizes them.
Chairity? The result is burning con
tempt f O) those who thus attempt to
appease concience, and become im
mortal as liberal christian spirits. Cap
italists combine to gain obvious bene
fits, and prompted by the twin motives,
self-preservation and revenge, the
wage-workers also combine; the result
19, bUUltHlLUCS, l iuo auu uiuiuci . xm
nresent the different classes are becom-
iag defined with startling, and possibly
menacing distinctness. ,
The grades of capitalist, farmer,
skilled mechanic and laborer, are be
coming as fixed as Castes in India and
Europe.
Wage-workers and farmers are com-
bininsr to limit the capitalist.
The demand is shorter hours, con
trol of products, and the mode of dis
tributing them.
The problem of present economics is
of the greater moment since the wage
plass la go largely in me majority,
ProDcrly 8ieakinff. professional men
atudftnta. acMBts. managers, clerks,
If tho people of Nebraska will liber
ally patronize responsible home indus
tries of all kinds, it would soon mako
money plen'y and easy to get at low
rates of interest, and an era of good
time) would at once dawn upon us, as
it is the want cf the money that is
drained from our state and sent east
that impoverishes the people an makes
hard times.
Insure in the Home Fire of Omaha, a
sound and responsibe Home Company,
and keep your money at home.
An important sale of Jersey cattle and
Poland China hogs, will be held at
Riverdale Stock Farm, one mile west
of the stato penitentiary on Nov. 22.
1892. 20 head of registered Jerseys and
To head of Poland Chinas will be sold
without reserve and an especially favor
able opportunity is thus given for buy
ing improved stock. The herd Is ex
ceptionally well bred and contains some
choice priza animals now owned and
bred by the Lincoln Jersey Cattle Co,,
Z. S Branson the jopular auctioneer
will conduct the 6ale which will bo one
of tho most important ones of the sea
son. Low Rates fop National Farmer's
Congress.
The Chicago, Rock Island and Paciffc
Railway will sell tickets from points in
Nebraska to Lincoln at low rates on
certificate plan. Ask Ticket Agent at
your station for particulars.
Jno. Sebastian, G. T.&P. A.
Chicago, U. S. A.
"Our Italy,"
So Charles Dudley Warner happily
terms California, and for a winter re
sort that glorious state is without a
peer. The dry pure air, soft and balmy,
is a joy lor the strong man ana a
wonderful strengthener lor the weaK
and suffering. The arrangements for
this fall and winter tour, via Union
Pacific and Southern Pacific systems,
are perfect, the journey being made
with the greatest ease ana comfort.
For Sale.
160 acres improved land in Webster
county, all fenced, good buildings, wind
mill and 13-acre hog lot, two miles from
Rosemont, six miles from Blue Hill.
Address, C. .LYON,
Rosemont, Nebr.
noxall INCUBATOR
is guaranteed to hatch a larger
percentage of
FERTILE ECCS
at less cost and trouble than
any machine in tho market.
Circulars froo. Address
G. W. MURPHY & CO,
Quincy, III.
Send ?ct. fur Catalogue.
1TJIII iimous o DOVIM.
GRANITE 4 MARBLE
MONUMENTS.
All Kinds of Cemetery Work.
KIMBALL & FR ALICE
1629 0 St : : : LINCOLN, NEB.
JAPANESE
IP!
CURE
A new and Complete Treatment, consisting of Sup
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a Positive Cure for External, Internal. Blind or Bleed
ing Itching. Chronic, Recent or Hereditary Piles, and
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ways a great benefit to the general health. The first
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a written guarantee is positively given with 6 boxes,
to refund the money if not cured. Bend stamp for
free sample. Guarantee issued by J. H. Harley, drug
gist sole agent. 11th and O streets. Lincoln. Neb.
Ihe LAIDLAV7 BALE-TIE CO.
ANtJNFACTURERF
ADJUSTABLE WIRE BALE-TIES.
Headquarters for this Class of Goods
WRITE FOR FRICES.
Station A Kansas Cffy, Mo.
I lYV wi. Bfor you bop,
liOFRLE
5reec! leader
S7.5C,
Bin.essj.co
WATCHE