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s them for only a few years of the perpetual possession which they have abandoned to you。 Wages is the cost of the daily maintenance and refreshment of the laborer。 You are wrong in calling it the price of a sale。 The workingman has sold nothing； he knows neither his right； nor the extent of the concession which he has made to you； nor the meaning of the contract which you pretend to have made with him。 On his side； utter ignorance； on yours； error and surprise； not to say deceit and fraud。
Let us make this clearer by another and more striking example。
No one is ignorant of the difficulties that are met with in the conversion of untilled land into arable and productive land。 These difficulties are so great； that usually an isolated man would perish before he could put the soil in a condition to yield him even the most meagre living。 To that end are needed the united and combined efforts of society； and all the resources of industry。 M。 Ch。 Comte quotes on this subject numerous and well… authenticated facts； little thinking that he is amassing testimony against his own system。
Let us suppose that a colony of twenty or thirty families establishes itself in a wild district； covered with underbrush and forests； and from which； by agreement； the natives consent to withdraw。 Each one of these families possesses a moderate but sufficient amount of capital； of such a nature as a colonist would be apt to choose；animals； seeds； tools； and a little money and food。 The land having been divided； each one settles himself as comfortably as possible； and begins to clear away the portion allotted to him。 But after a few weeks of fatigue； such as they never before have known； of inconceivable suffering； of ruinous and almost useless labor； our colonists begin to complain of their trade； their condition seems hard to them； they curse their sad existence。
Suddenly； one of the shrewdest among them kills a pig； cures a part of the meat； and； resolved to sacrifice the rest of his provisions； goes to find his companions in misery。 〃Friends；〃 he begins in a very benevolent tone； 〃how much trouble it costs you to do a little work and live uncomfortably！ A fortnight of labor has reduced you to your last extremity！ 。 。 。 Let us make an arrangement by which you shall all profit。 I offer you provisions and wine： you shall get so much every day； we will work together； and； zounds！ my friends； we will be happy and contented！〃
Would it be possible for empty stomachs to resist such an invitation？ The hungriest of them follow the treacherous tempter。 They go to work； the charm of society； emulation； joy； and mutual assistance double their strength； the work can be seen to advance。 Singing and laughing； they subdue Nature。 In a short time； the soil is thoroughly changed； the mellowed earth waits only for the seed。 That done； the proprietor pays his laborers； who； on going away； return him their thanks； and grieve that the happy days which they have spent with him are over。
Others follow this example； always with the same success。 Then； these installed； the rest disperse；each one returns to his grubbing。 But； while grubbing； it is necessary to live。 While they have been clearing away for their neighbor； they have done no clearing for themselves。 One year's seed…time and harvest is already gone。 They had calculated that in lending their labor they could not but gain； since they would save their own provisions； and； while living better； would get still more money。 False calculation！ they have created for another the means wherewith to produce； and have created nothing for themselves。 The difficulties of clearing remain the same； their clothing wears out； their provisions give out； soon their purse becomes empty for the profit of the individual for whom they have worked； and who alone can furnish the provisions which they need； since he alone is in a position to produce them。 Then； when the poor grubber has exhausted his resources； the man with the provisions （like the wolf in the fable； who scents his victim from afar） again comes forward。 One he offers to employ again by the day； from another he offers to buy at a favorable price a piece of his bad land； which is not； and never can be； of any use to him： that is； he uses the labor of one man to cultivate the field of another for his own benefit。 So that at the end of twenty years； of thirty individuals originally equal in point of wealth； five or six have become proprietors of the whole district； while the rest have been philanthropically dispossessed！
In this century of bourgeoisie morality； in which I have had the honor to be born； the moral sense is so debased that I should not be at all surprised if I were asked； by many a worthy proprietor； what I see in this that is unjust and illegitimate？ Debased creature！ galvanized corpse！ how can I expect to convince you； if you cannot tell robbery when I show it to you？ A man； by soft and insinuating words； discovers the secret of taxing others that he may establish himself； then； once enriched by their united efforts； he refuses； on the very conditions which he himself dictated； to advance the well…being of those who made his fortune for him： and you ask how such conduct is fraudulent！ Under the pretext that he has paid his laborers； that he owes them nothing more； that he has nothing to gain by putting himself at the service of others； while his own occupations claim his attention；he refuses； I say； to aid others in getting a foothold； as he was aided in getting his own； and when； in the impotence of their isolation； these poor laborers are compelled to sell their birthright； hethis ungrateful proprietor； this knavish upstartstands ready to put the finishing touch to their deprivation and their ruin。 And you think that just？ Take care！
I read in your startled countenance the reproach of a guilty conscience； much more clearly than the innocent astonishment of involuntary ignorance。
〃The capitalist；〃 they say； 〃has paid the laborers their DAILY WAGES。〃 To be accurate； it must be said that the capitalist has paid as many times one day's wage as he has employed laborers each day；which is not at all the same thing。 For he has paid nothing for that immense power which results from the union and harmony of laborers； and the convergence and simultaneousness of their efforts。 Two hundred grenadiers stood the obelisk of Luxor upon its base in a few hours； do you suppose that one man could have accomplished the same task in two hundred days？ Nevertheless； on the books of the capitalist； the amount of wages paid would have been the same。 Well； a desert to prepare for cultivation； a house to build； a factory to run；all these are obelisks to erect； mountains to move。 The smallest fortune； the most insignificant establishment； the setting in motion of the lowest industry； demand the concurrence of so many different kinds of labor and skill； that one man could not possibly execute the whole of them。 It is astonishing that the economists never have called attention to this fact。 Strike a balance； then； between the capitalist's receipts and his payments。
The laborer needs a salary which will enable him to live while he works； for unless he consumes； he cannot produce。 Whoever employs a man owes him maintenance and support； or wages enough to procure the same。 That is the first thing to be done in all production。 I admit； for the moment； that in this respect the capitalist has discharged his duty。
It is necessary that the laborer should find in his production； in addition to his present support； a guarantee of his future support； otherwise the source of production would dry up； and his productive capacity would become exhausted： in other words； the labor accomplished must give birth perpetually to new laborsuch is the universal law of reproduction。 In this way； the proprietor of a farm finds： 1。 In his crops； means； not only of supporting himself and his family； but of maintaining and improving his capital； of feeding his live…stockin a word； means of new labor and continual reproduction； 2。 In his ownership of a productive agency； a permanent basis of cultivation and labor。
But he who lends his services；what is