85. UNION OF CAPITAL; UNION OF LABOR.— Man is of a social nature, and those persons who by similarity of work or business are exercised in like thoughts, feelings and habits, have a natural fondness for each other's company, because between them an interchange of ideas is comparatively easy; and too, the social nature is stimulated by the hope of advantage from a comparison of views, and their practical application in their business or vocation.

The union also tends to develop the better feelings of human nature in this: a selfish nature might argue thus: I know some things about my business that my business-fellows do not know; this gives me an advantage over them. I will hold on to it, by keeping my own counsel and secrets. But good-will and the social sentiments say: Let me impart to my fellows this knowledge, for it accords with the precepts of scripture, as well as with the law of nature, that a man should look not merely upon his own affairs, but upon those of his neighbor in a beneficent, not a meddlesome sense.

To the credit of business circles in the United States, this is almost the universal rule and practice. If a business man discovers an improvement or better way in his method of manufacture, it is a pleasure to him to make it known to his confrères; and, in fact, this is really his interest, for the moral consideration far outweighs the temporary money profit.

From natural and habitual abilities or defects there will be differences great and positive in men in the conduct of business, as well as accidental cir

cumstances, that result in success or failure; and these necessary differences should not be increased and aggravated by a disregard of the amenities of life arising from mutual counsel, advice, and even aid when needed, not from lack of industry and fair ability, but from unforeseen causes.

Herein, then, is the underlying ethic-principle in the union of capital or of labor. It must be grounded in the natural law of social fraternity, and of goodwill applied to beneficent purposes.

As an instance of the right kind of labor-union, we cite to that old "Society of Mechanics," organized 1784 in New York city for mutual aid and encouragement and assistance to members and to their widows and orphans in case of need. Since then they have accomplished other useful work, founded a mechanics' bank, a mechanics' school, library, reading room, courses of lectures -- all praiseworthy, legitimate and practical objects.

86. THE UNION AS A REGULATOR OF WAGES.Were men always actuated by enlightened views of their moral relations, there would be no need of any objects in the "union" other than those already named; but offenses will come.

The capitalist and the laborer should agree on fair terms without outside aid or interference, and, if let alone, almost always will. There should be no desire and no effort by either party to unduly reduce or advance wages.

In case, however, of individual disagreements, the "business circle "--the "labor circle " may separately

and mutually determine what is fair; and, if no agreement is thereby arrived at, the two parties must, in a spirit of good-will, agree to disagree, even though it may lead to a rupture of relations and change.

The regulative union must be a union limited to one locality and to one line of business. Under no circumstances would it be right to extend the circle of disagreement to include other lines of business in the same locality, or like lines in other localities. This would be combination and conspiracy on the part of capitalists or of laborers, or of both, to bring about a crisis and disaster in some one line, or in all lines of business, to the distress of the public at large.

If it be said that it would be as wrong for a small and limited union of employers and of employees to assume and maintain contra views as for a larger union, the easy reply is, that the conditions of the same trade differ in different localities, and hence a local question is not a general one, and neither local. parties nor outside parties have right to assume that it is; and further, the local dispute, though disagreeable and harmful, cannot result in great harm; and yet is harmful enough to serve as a lesson to all to avoid such disagreement if possible; but, on the other hand, for either capital or labor to enlarge the circle of disagreement manifests a deliberate intention to carry one's point by coercion and force, and has no moral standpoint. It would be an act worthy of public condemnation and stringent legislation, municipal, state and United States.

87. CAPITAL COMBINATION, AS ABNORMAL.— The combination of capital for the purpose of enhancing profits by means of too low wages, or by high prices for food, fuel, light and fabrics of any sort, are artificial organizations immoral in intent and in tendency, and destructive of individual and public rights. Chiefly is this true of monopolies ; specially so of those miscalled trusts. Such organizations should be tolerated only when under subjection to state legislation and the judiciary informed and advised by a competent inquisition.

88. THE LABOR UNION, AS ABNORMAL.

"Act well your part, there all the honor lies."

-Essay on Man.

A chief objection to organizations of this sort is that they deaden every sentiment like the one Pope gives us in the line here cited.

Naturally men are ambitious to distinguish themselves in competition and in comparison with their fellow men, and this ambition is a very proper and beneficial one, provided it be not conjoined with a feeling of triumph over those whom we excel. The desire to excel in everything laudable is itself also laudable, and without this desire we can have no hope of success in life. But this honest and necessary desire is repressed and trampled upon when men are banded together in a labor union that practically requires the employer to pay the same wages to each man without regard to the difference in the value of the work done in severalty. Thus it is that

the leading principle in the labor union is unnatural, abnormal and harmful to the well being of the social compact; and thus it is that the labor union as a permanent institution cannot last, unless it be put upon a natural basis. When men become educated by study and experience-even dear bought experience to their true relations, each to the other, "every tub will stand on its own bottom;" that is, in the sense of getting a living-and of “getting on in the world." Each man should hoe his own row; and if from inability he falls behind so far as to really need help, then help should be cheerfully given from a sentiment of charity-brotherly love-not from a pretense of his being entitled to it There are few men that would need help if they were not encouraged in idleness and inefficiency by being placed on a par with the skilled and the industrious. Good work is almost always in good demand. The manufacturer, the man of large affairs in whatever business, cannot do without it, and in general will pay well for it.

as wages.

In labor unions, abnormal, there is a subjection of individual responsibility to the dictum of the few or the many.

The result is arbitrary power and tyranny destructive of a proper self-respect and independence in the individual, and of all elements essential to the education of men in right ideas of freedom and civil liberty; and to the commonwealth, as well as to business prosperity and enterprise, they are as pestiferous as wild oats or Canada thistles in a wheat field.