Page:Alexander Jonas - Reporter and Socialist (1885).djvu/34

 knowledge that only honest labor entitles any one to the possession of labor's products, you must admit that the soil, the factories, mines etc., are not the products of the labors of their present possessors.

I acknowledge the soundness of that principle.

Well, then, we’ll soon come to an understanding. We already agree that all means of life, all merchandise, all things of any value, have been created by labor.

And not by capital too?

Capital alone cannot produce anything. But, what do you call capital anyway?

Well, money for instance — — —

Ah, you do? Money, you mean, is capital? Well, do take, for instance, a million greenbacks, or goldpieces, and put them upon a very big heap of leather. Do you think that that heap of leather will ever be transformed into boots and shoes by those greenbacks or gold pieces?

I forgot that money is really nothing but a means of exchange. But machinery, factories, mines etc., that can be bought for money, are capital ?

Very well; and do you believe that machines, factories and mines could produce anything without labor?

Of course not; but labor could not do so either. The workmen can't do anything without these factories, machines etc., that represent capital.

And will you tell me, please, who made the factories, machines, etc. Did the workmen, or did the capitalists do it?

The workmen did, but — — —

Let me enlighten you a little further: Suppose that all owners of factories, machines, mines, all landlords and capitalists in general should take it into their heads to emigrate to Europe, or say—to the moon. Let them carry with them all money, all stocks, mortgages etc.; let them destroy all factories and houses; let them fill up the mines; let them take everything they may claim as their "property," there is one thing they cannot take away—the land; they will have to leave