56 WisconsiJi Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. 



manual labor is irksome, and they will seek exemption from 

 it as soon as their increase of capital enables tliem to do so. 

 Others find the care of manas-inar business no less distasteful 



O O 



and so put their accumulating capital into other hands. Then, 



3. Many forms of production, most essential to a state of 

 highest civilization, must be carried on in large establishments 

 which shall combine great capital and great numbers and di- 

 vers grades of laborers. The most economical division of 

 labor can be secured only through such establishments. 



Hence there is a strong tendency to a separation of the two 

 elements, so that the capital will be the chief concern with 

 some and the labor with others. This disturbs the abstract 

 equality and mutual dependence just spoken of. Perhaps 

 with respect to actual increase, capital alone is most helpless. 

 But in the meeting of persons to enter into contract, the capi- 

 talist has the advantage because he can live on his capital with- 

 out labor, but the laborer cannot live except he earns his neces- 

 sary food by working with somebody's capital. Under the 

 sway of short-sighted self-interest, therefore, capitalists are in- 

 clined to use this advantage to domineer and oppress laborers. 

 I say short-sighted self-interest, for in the long run and in the 

 broad view, such oppression reacts upon the oppressors. When 

 laborers are held down to starvation wages, capital must be 

 heavily taxed for the support of paupers, and in time there 

 must come an insurrection which will make capital insecure. 

 On the other hand, the consciousness of dependence tends to 

 make laborei^ sensitive to the least real wrong and suspicious 

 of wrong where none exists. Against their own true interests 

 on both sides the parties are thus led into a partial antagonism. 

 The fact of these tendencies must be recognized. They are 

 not so strong in our country as in England. Yet enough is 

 apparent here to awaken thoughtful consideration. The prob- 

 lem is to guard the rights of both parties so that they shall be 

 bound by their natural common interest in harmonious union 

 with each other. 



