THE LABOR-QUESTION. 611 



violence, to maintain high prices upon their wares. No more have 

 working-men this right when selling their labor. When they find it 

 necessary to employ each other, they are just as exacting as tlie capi- 

 talists in demanding well-done work at low rates. 



The capitalist will gladly welcome all unemployed laborers when 

 the prices of his goods can be regulated by the demand for them, in- 

 stead of, as now, by the high wages he is compelled to pay his men 

 and high prices for his raw materials. He will have no fear of over- 

 gtockino; the markets of a world where men's wants are so numerous 

 and insatiable. But it will not do to let him toy with men's wages 

 at every whim he has. Men must seek for the highest remuneration 

 without combination, compulsion, or restriction. Business-men must 

 seek the highest prices in the same way. Excessive selfishness on 

 the part of employe, as well as employer, lies at the root of the mat- 

 ter. When this is toned down, and each works for the other's interest, 

 things will go better with both. Till then we may expect to see mis- 

 ery, and hear the wail of want from many quarters. Relieve this by 

 giving the laborer something to do, however trifling, and not by alms. 

 Ask the state to do nothing, or you will impose extra burdens upon 

 the worthy, and sink them to pauperage. Teach working-men to live 

 more economically, and practise self-restraint. Advise them to com- 

 pete with each other in doing the most and best work they possibly 

 can for their employer while in his employ. Teach them that they 

 bring down their own wages, and that this is not their employer's 

 doings. Show them that, if the wages descend slowly and steadily, it 

 will avoid a crash of business, and, making goods correspondingly 

 cheap, do them good rather than harm in the end. Train them into 

 that true spirit of freedom and faith that will enable them to allowfel- 

 low-workmen, who are in need, to sell their labor for what they choose. 

 Teach the employers to work for the interests of their men. Teach 

 them to be less avaricious in demanding high profits for themselves. 

 Teach them to give the working-men the highest wages the market 

 will allow. Teach them to be honest and truthful with each other, 

 and the public. Teach each class these points, and the highest sub- 

 stantial advantages to the working-class will soon be realized as a liv- 

 ing fact. The present and past troubles are the legitimate fruits of our 

 social immorality. The poor are not the only sufferers. Things, as 

 they now exist, are about the best possible to our present stage of 

 development. With improvement of men's natures will come a cor- 

 responding improvement of society. All that we can do is to search 

 after the laws governing such matters, and remove obstructions from 

 the way. With this done, leave all else to the vis medicatrix naturm. 



