按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
price； will nevertheless strive to attain the closest possible
approximation to them。 A practically serviceable approximation he
can obtain。 It is easier to determine scientifically what a man
ought to have for his work； than what his necessities will compel
him to take for it。 His necessities can only be ascertained by
empirical； but his due by analytical； investigation。 In the one
case； you try your answer to the sum like a puzzled schoolboy
till you find one that fits； in the other； you bring out your
result within certain limits； by process of calculation。
Supposing； then； the just wages of any quantity of given
labour to have been ascertained； let us examine the first results
of just and unjust payment； when in favour of the purchaser or
employer； i。e。 when two men are ready to do the work； and only
one wants to have it done。
The unjust purchaser forces the two to bid against each other
till he has reduced their demand to its lowest terms。 Let us
assume that the lowest bidder offers to do the work at half its
just price。
The purchaser employs him； and does not employ the other。 The
first or apparent result is； therefore； that one of the two men
is left out of employ； or to starvation； just as definitely as by
the just procedure of giving fair price to the best workman。 The
various writers who endeavoured to invalidate the positions of my
first paper never saw this； and assumed that the unjust hirer
employed both。 He employs both no more than the just hirer。 The
only difference （in the outset； is that the just man pays
sufficiently； the unjust man insufficiently； for the labour of
the single person employed。
I say； 〃in the outset；〃 for this first or apparent；
difference is not the actual difference。 By the unjust procedure；
half the proper price of the work is left in the hands of the
employer。 This enables him to hire another man at the same unjust
rate； on some other kind of work； and the final result is that he
has two men working for him at half price； and two are out of
employ。
By the just procedure； the whole price of the first piece of
work goes in the hands of the man who does it。 No surplus being
left in the employer's hands； he cannot hire another man for
another piece of labour。 But by precisely so much as his power is
diminished； the hired workman's power is increased； that is to
say； by the additional half of the price he has received； which
additional half he has the power of using to employ another man
in his service。 I will suppose； for the moment； the least
favourable； though quite probable； case that； though justly
treated himself； he yet will act unjustly to his subordinate； and
hire at half…price； if he can。 The final result will then be；
that one man works for the employer； at just price； one for the
workman； at half…price； and two； as in the first case； are still
out of employ。 These two； as I said before； are out of employ in
both cases。 The difference between the just and unjust procedure
does not lie in the number of men hired； but in the price paid to
them； and the persons by whom it is paid。 The essential
difference； that which I want the reader to see clearly； is； that
in the unjust case； two men work for one； the first hirer。 In the
just case； one man works for the first hirer； one for the person
hired； and so on； down or up through the various grades of
service； the influence being carried forward by justice； and
arrested by injustice。 The universal and constant action of
justice in this matter is therefore to diminish the power oF
wealth； in the hands of one individual； over masses of men； and
to distribute it through a chain of men。 The actual power exerted
by the wealth is the same in both cases； but by injustice it is
put all into one man's hands； so that he directs at once and with
equal force the labour of a circle of men about him； by the just
procedure； he is permitted to touch the nearest only； through
whom； with diminished force； modified by new minds； the energy of
the wealth passes on to others； and so till it exhausts itself。
The immediate operation of justice in this respect is
therefore to diminish the power of wealth； first in acquisition
of luxury； and； secondly； in exercise of moral influence。 The
employer cannot concentrate so multitudinous labour on his own
interests； nor can he subdue so multitudinous mind to his own
will。 But the secondary operation of justice is not less
important。 The insufficient payment of the group of men working
for one； places each under a maximum of difficulty in rising
above his position。 The tendency of the system is to check
advancement。 But the sufficient or just payment； distributed
through a descending series oF offices or grades or labour；（11*）
gives each subordinated person fair and sufficient means of
rising in the social scale； if he chooses to use them； and thus
not only diminishes the immediate power of wealth； but removes
the worst disabilities of poverty。
It is on this vital problem that the entire destiny of the
labourer is ultimately dependent。 Many minor interests may
sometimes appear to interfere with it； but all branch from it。
For instance； considerable agitation is often caused in the minds
of the lower classes when they discover the share which they
nominally； and to all appearance； actually； pay out of their
wages in taxation （I believe thirty…five or forty per cent）。 This
sounds very grievous； but in reality the labourer does not pay
it； but his employer。 If the workman had not to pay it； his wages
would be less by just that sum： competition would still reduce
them to the lowest rate at which life was possible。 Similarly the
lower orders agitated for the repeal of the corn laws；（12*）
thinking they would be better off if bread were cheaper； never
perceiving that as soon as bread was permanently cheaper； wages
would permanently fall in precisely that proportion。 The corn
laws were rightly repealed； not； however； because they directly
oppressed the poor； but because they indirectly oppressed them in
causing a large quantity of their labour to be consumed
unproductively。 So also unnecessary taxation oppresses them；
through destruction of capital； but the destiny of the poor
depends primarily always on this one question of dueness of
wages。 Their distress （irrespectively of that caused by sloth；
minor error； or crime） arises on the grand scale from the two
reacting forces of competition and oppression。 There is not yet；
nor will yet for ages be； any real over…population