24 HISTORY OF THE WHEEL AND ALLIANCE. 



and transportation fails "at the moment something is 

 expected of it," because it leads to combination. In 

 proof of this theory we have only to point to the numerous 

 trusts that have sprung up in our country within the past 

 ten years, and to the consolidation of numerous railroad 

 companies. In the latter part of Dr. Smith's proposition, 

 however, we most heartily concur; "Any invasion of this 

 principle (competition) is contrary to the law of nature and 

 of sound political economy." And right here we might 

 as well add, that the violation of this principle is one 

 among the many causes which are responsible for the 

 present condition of American labor. Competition is killed 

 by combination, and the laws of trade are perverted to the 

 end that the few are enabled to enrich themselves at the 

 expense of the many. Having briefly considered some of 

 the elementary principles relating to labor we are enabled 

 to make the following general deductions. 



First. Man is naturally disposed to take pleasure in 

 remunerative employment. 



Second. He is justly entitled to the fruits of his 

 own labor. 



Third. Any violation of this natural law will breed 

 social disorder, and an universal violation will bring national 

 calamity. Add to this that labor creates all wealth and 

 provides not only the necessities of life, but all the com- 

 forts and luxuries; that wealth is only past labor power 

 over nature crystalized into tokens of value, called 

 money, and controlled in many cases by those who have 

 performed but little labor themselves. The wealth of the 

 Vanderbilts, Rothchilds and Goulds is but the accumulated 

 labor of millions who have received but a part of a just 

 reward for their services. The individual laborer is not 

 the master of his own actions. He must work or suffer 

 and is therefore compelled to submit to the exactions of 

 his employer who is also his master. He is but an integral 



