Page:Alexander Jonas - Reporter and Socialist (1885).djvu/20

 well taken care of in regard to their safety from accident in factories, etc., than those of Europe; but we shall proceed to the principal point directly, to the alleged fact that Europe is over-populated, and that therefore the European nations must become miserable, while in America there is room for uncounted millions who could live in ease and superabundance.

But, you won't deny that Europe is overpopulated?

Of course, I will. Not to speak of countries like Russia, Turkey, etc., where overpopulation is out of the question, I shall but mention what Justus von Liebig, the celebrated chemist, who made agricultural chemistry a special study, said more than thirty years ago, that Germany, if it were cultivatad systematically after a certain scientific plan, could support seventy million people comfortably, while to-day there are but forty-five millions in Germany, and they don’t live very comfortably indeed! But, let us talk about America.

Indeed, that would be more important.

And now I ask you: Is it not a fact that in the United States are tens of thousands of workmen in all branches of industry daily clamoring for work without being able to procure employment? Is it not a fact that the number of unemployed workmen during the different periods of every year, when business is dull for the respective branches, increases tenfold? Is it not a fact that the workers of all branches in general receive miserable wages, as is shown by the figures given by the U. S. Census according to which the average amount of wages in the North Atlantic States is $1.19½ per day, in the Western States $1.61, in the Northern Middle States $1.18, in the Southern Atlantic States $0.76, in the Southern Middle States $0.93, and that the average amount in the entire United States—as far as industrial establishments are concerned—is $1.15½ per day? Is it not a fact that, from time to time, we have terrible economic crises, like the last one that lasted from 1873 to 1878, and by which perhaps half a million of honest, industrious, saving workmen were reduced to the condition of tramps who went down in misery, degrada-