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characters； and will stand confessed a war of honest industry
against the idle profligacy which has so long ruled the affairs
of the political world with undisputed authority which has；
for its own security； added honour and political power to wealth；
and has conjoined exclusion and disgrace with the poverty it has
inflicted on the labourer。 On the side of the labourers there is
physical strength； for they are more numerous than their
opponents。 They are also fast losing that reverence for their
opponents which was and is the source of their power； and they
are daily acquiring a moral strength which results from a common
interest and a close and intimate union。
The capitalist and labourers form the great majority of the
nation； so that there is not third power to intervene betwixt
them。 The must and will decide the dispute of themselves。 Final
success； I would fain hope； must be on the side of justice。 I am
certain； however； that till the triumph of labour be complete；
till productive industry alone be opulent； and till idleness
alone be poor； till the admirable maxim that 〃he who sows shall
reap〃 be solidly established； till the right of property shall be
founded on principles of justice； and not on those of slavery；
till man shall be held more in honour than the clod be treads on；
or the machine he guides there cannot； and there ought not to
be either peace on earth or goodwill amongst men。
Those who of late have shown themselves so ready to resist
the just claims of labour； who； under the influence of interest
and passion； have hurried into the arena with their penal laws；
and have come forward； brandishing their parchment statutes； as
if they； poor beings； could whip mankind into patience and
submission； when these weapons of theirs these penal laws and
parchment statutes derive all their power； whether for evil or
for good； from the sanctity with which we are pleased to invest
them； and as if they also did not know that they are as powerless
as the meanest individual whom they are so prompt to scourge；
except as we are pleased to submit and to honour them they may
thank themselves should their haste and their violence beget a
corresponding haste and violence in others； and； should the
labourers； who have hitherto shown themselves confiding and
submissive losing that reverence by which laws are invested
with power； and to which Government is indebted for its existence
turn their attention from combining for higher wages； to
amending the state； and to subverting a system which they must
now believe is intended only to support all the oppressive
exactions of capital。 Ministers are undoubtedly； for the moment；
very popular； but it does not require any very enlarged view to
predict that by openly committing the Government during the last
session of Parliament； when the great mass of the community are
able both to scan the motives of their conduct and its
consequences； and zealous in doing it； to a contest between
capital and labour； taking the side of idleness against industry；
of weakness against strength； of oppression against justice； they
are preparing more future mischief than any ministry this country
has ever seen。 They profess liberal principles and they make
laws to keep the labourer in thraldom。 By their innovations they
encourage inquiry； and convince us the system is neither sacred
nor incapable of improvement。 They have practically told the
labourer there is nothing deserving his reverence； and have
excited his hostility both by insult and oppression。
I do not mean； on the present occasion； to point out all the
consequences which result from this view of capital； but there is
one so important in a theoretical point of view； and so well
calculated to relieve the wise system of the universe from the
opprobrium which has been cast upon it in these latter times；
that I cannot wholly pass it by。 An elaborate theory has been
constructed to show that there is a natural tendency in
population to increase faster than capital； or than the means of
employing labour。 In Mr Mill's Elements of Political Economy； a
work distinguished by its brevity； several sections and pages are
devoted merely to announce this truth。 If my view of capital be
correct； this； as a theory of nature； falls at once baseless to
the ground。 That the capitalist can control the existence and
number of labourers； that the whole number of the population
depends altogether on him； I will not deny。 But put the
capitalist； the oppressive middleman； who eats up the produce of
labour and prevents the labourer from knowing on what natural
laws his existence and happiness depend； out of view put aside
those social regulations by which they who produce all are
allowed to own little or nothing and it is plain that capital；
or the power to employ labour； and co…exiting labour are one； and
that productive capital and skilled labour are also one；
consequently capital and a labouring population are precisely
synonymous。
In the system of nature； mouths are united with hands and
with intelligence； they and not capital are the agents of
production； and； according other rule； however it may have been
thwarted by the pretended wisdom of law makers； wherever there is
a man there also are the means of creating or producing him
subsistence。 If also； as I say； circulating capital is only
co…existing labour； and fixed capital only skill labour； it must
be plain that all those numerous advantages； those benefits to
civilisation； those vast improvements in the condition of the
human race； which have been in general attributed to capital； are
caused in fact by labour； and by knowledge and skill informing
and directing labour。 Should it be said； then； as perhaps it may；
that unless there be profit； and unless there be interest； there
will be no motives for accumulation and improvement； I answer
that this is a false view； and arises from attributing to capital
and saving those effects which result from labour； and that the
best means of securing the progressive improvement； both of
individuals and of nations； is to do justice； and allow labour to
possess and enjoy the whole of its produce。
The End