The Relations of Labor and Ca])ital. 55 



One does good to laborers not by what he consumes on him- 

 self, but by what he does not so consume. This corrects the 

 very common error that the lavish expenditure of the rich is a 

 benefit to laborers. The distinction of wealth is in itself an 

 injury or loss. The only qualification of this view needed is 

 in the case of a class of rich persons who have no disposition 

 themselves to turn their wealth into capital. Their lavish ex- 

 penditure may bring their wealth into other hands, so that it 

 may be used productively. The whole community, laborers 

 most of all, are interested in the accumulation of wealth as 

 capital. Saved and so employed, it is multiplying ever the 

 sum of comforts in the world. 



It is very obvious that the principles stated confirm the gen- 

 eral view with which we started, that the true relation of labor 

 and capital is that of partners. We are prepared now, in a 

 few words, to define the conditions most favorable to their har- 

 monious union. They meet most advantageously in the same 

 person, i. e., when the laborer is owner of capital enough to 

 employ his labor. This brings both the elements under the 

 control of one and the same will, to be governed by one self- 

 interest. All rivalry and antagonism is excluded, and accord- 

 ing to the measure of his capital and his capacity, the man will 

 multiply products. 



But this adjustment cannot be made universal, because — 



1. Such is the tendency of capital to increase that the man 

 will soon find in his hands a surplus, to employ which he must 

 either bring in another who has only labor to work under him, 

 or lend it as capital to another independent worker, and so a 

 distinction between capitalist and laborer is sure to begin, 



2. But a greater difficulty comes from the fact that the ca- 

 pacities and tastes of men differ greatly. Some efficient labor- 

 ers lack managing skill and tact in saving so as to keep and 

 accumulate capital independently. Others j^eculiarly endowed 

 in these respests lack physical strength for labor. J |;To some, 



