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Labour Defended against the Claims of Capital
Or the Unproductiveness of Capital proved with Reference to the
Present Combinations amongst Journeymen
by Thomas Hodgskin
1825
NOTE
IN all the debates on the law passed during the late session of
Parliament; on account of the combinations of workmen; much
stress is laid on the necessity of protecting capital。 What
capital performs is therefore a question of considerable
importance; which the author was; on this account; induced to
examine。 As a result of this examination; it is his opinion that
all the benefits attributed to capital arise from co…existing and
skilled labour。 He feels himself; on this account; called on to
deny that capital has any just claim to the large share of the
national produce now bestowed on it。 This large share he has
endeavored to show is the cause of the poverty of the labourer;
and he ventures to assert that the condition of the labourer can
never be permanently improved till he can refute the theory; and
is determined to oppose the practice of giving nearly everything
to capital。
Labour Defended Against the Claims of Capital
Throughout this country at present there exists a serious
contest between capital and labour。 The journeymen of almost
every trade have combined to obtain higher wages; and their
employers have appealed to the legislature for protection。 The
contest is not only one of physical endurance; or who can stand
out longest; but of argument and reason。 It is possible for the
workmen to force their masters into compliance; but they must
convince the public of the justice of their demands。 The press
has; at present; a great influence over public questions; and by
far the greater and more influential part of it is engaged on the
side of the capitalist。 Through it; however; and through public
opinion; must the journeymen find their way to the legislature。
They may possibly terrify their masters; but they can only obtain
the support of any influential persons by an appeal to reason。 To
suggest some arguments in favour of labour against capital; is my
chief motive for publishing the present pamphlet。
The labourers are very unfortunate; I conceive; in being
surrounded by nations in a worse political condition than we are;
and in some of which labour is still worse paid than here。
Labourers are still more unfortunate in being descended from
bondsmen and serfs。 Personal slavery or villanage formerly
existed in Britain; and all the living labourers still suffer
from the bondage of their ancestors。 Our claims are consequently
never tried by the principles of justice。 The law…giver and the
capitalist always compare our wages with the wages of other
labourers; and without adverting to what we produce; which seems
the only criterion by which we ought to be paid; we are instantly
condemned as insolent and ungrateful if we ask for more than was
enjoyed by the slave of former times; and is now enjoyed by the
half…starved slave of other countries。
By our increased skill and knowledge; labour is now probably
ten times more productive than it was two hundred years ago; and
we are; forsooth; to be contended with the same rewards which the
bondsmen then received。 All the advantages of our improvements go
to the capitalist and the landlord。 When; denied any share in our
increased produce; we combine to obtain it; we are instantly
threatened with summary punishment。 New laws are fulminated
against us; and if these are found insufficient we are threatened
with laws still more severe。
Combination is of itself no crime; on the contrary; it is
the principle on which societies are held together。 When the
Government supposes its existence threatened; or the country in
danger; it calls on us all to combine for its protection。
〃Combinations of workmen〃; however; it says through Mr Huskisson;
〃must be put down。〃 Frequently has it contracted alliances with
other governments or made combinations to carry on war and shed
blood; frequently has it called on the whole nation to combine
when the object has been to plunder and massacre the unoffending
subjects of some neighbouring state and frequently have such
combinations had heaped on them all the epithets of the
vocabulary of glory。 No other combination seems unjust or
mischievous; in the view of Government; but our combinations to
obtain a proper reward for our labour。 It is a heinous crime in
the eyes of a legislature; composed exclusively of capitalists
and landlords; and representing no other interests than their
own; for us to try; by any means; to obtain for ourselves and for
the comfortable subsistence of our families; a larger share of
our own produce than these our masters choose to allow us。 All
the moral evils that ever plagued a society have been anticipated
by the ministers from our persevering in our claims。 To put down
combinations they have departed from principles held sacred for
upwards of two hundred years。 They have made also a law handing
us over to the magistrates like vagabonds and thieves; and we are
to be condemned almost unheard; and without the privilege and
formality of a public trial。
All that we are compelled to suffer; all that we have had
inflicted on us; has been done for the advantage of capital。
〃Capital〃; says Mr Huskisson; 〃will be terrified out of the
country; and the misguided workmen; unless they are stopped in
time; will bring ruin on themselves and on us。〃 〃Capital;〃 says
the Marquis of Lansdowne; 〃must be protected。 If its operations
be not left free; if they are to be controlled by bodies of
workmen; it will leave this for some more favoured country。〃
Capital; if we believe these politicians; has improved England;
and the want of capital is the cause of the poverty and
sufferings of Ireland。 Under the influence of such notions; no
laws for the protection of capital are thought too severe; and
few or no persons; except the labourers; see either impropriety
or injustice in the fashionable mode of despising his claims; and
laughing at his distresses。
In fact the legislature; the public at large; and especially
our employers; decide on our claims solely by a reference to the
former condition of the labourer; or to his condition in other
countries。 We are told to be contented; because we are not quite
so badly off as the ragged Irish peasants who are suffering under
a more grievous system even than the one which afflicts us。 By
them also we are destined to suffer; for they are imported here
in crowds; and beat down the wages of our labour。 We can have no
hope; therefore; either of convincing the public or of calling
the blush of shame into the cheek of those who are opulent by our
toils; and who deride the poverty and sufferings they cause; by
referring to the customs of any other society; either in times
past or present。 To obtain better treatment the labourers must
appeal from practice to principle。 We must put out of view how
labour has been paid in times past; and how it is now paid in
other countries; and we must show how it ought to be paid。 This;
I admit; is a difficult task; but the former condition of the
labourer in this country; and his condition at present in other
countries; leaving us no criterion to which we can or ought to
appeal; we must endeavour to perform it。
The claims of capital; are; I am aware; sanctioned by almost
universal custom; and as long as the labourer did not feel
himself aggrieved by them; it was of no use opposing them with
arguments。 But now; when the practice excites resistance; we are
bound; if possible; to overthrow the theory on which it is
founded and justified。 It is accordingly against this theory that
my arguments will be directed。 When we have settled the question;
however; as to the claims of capital or labour; we shall have
proceeded only one step towards ascertaining what ought now to be
the wages of labour。 The other parts of the inquiry will; I
trust; be entered into by some of my fellow…labourers; and I
shall content myself at present with examining the claims of the
capitalists; as supported by the theories of political economy。
I admit that the subject is somewhat abstruse; but there is
a necessity for the labourers to comprehend and be able to refute
the received notions of the nature and utility of capital。 Wages
vary inversely as profits; or wages rise when profits fall; and
profits rise when wages fall; and it is therefore profits; or the
capitalist's share of the national produce; which is opposed to
wages; or the share of the labourer。 The theory on which profits
are claimed; and which holds up capital; and accumulation of
capital to our administration as the mainspring of human
improvement; is that which I say the labourers must; in their own
interest; examine; and must; before they can have any hope of a
permanent improvement in their own conditions; be able to refute。
They; indeed; are so satisfied that by their exertions all the
wealth of society is produced that no doubt on the subject has
ever entered their minds。 This is not; however; the case with
other people; and whenever the labourers claim larger wages; or
com