The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1842-11-17
BY MITCHENER & MATHEWS
JUSTICE OF COMBINATION AMONG THE
LABORING CLASSES.

servaton Of their rights forsooth the community is in
dauger Property is no longer secure, aud life in eop
ardy This cant has descended to US from those times
when the poor and aborng classes had stake in the
community, and no rights except such they could ac
qulre by force. But the times have changed though
the cant is still the same. The scrip nobility Of this
Republic have adopted towards the fec people Of this
Republic the same language which the feudal burons
and tie despot who contested with them the power OF
expressing the people used towards their ser and uil
LeiRs, as they were then o2probriousY called.
These would be lordlngs of the county cannot per.
ceve that there is difference in the situation and
feelings of the people fhe United States and those of
the des3oc governments Of Europe. As to the INTEL
lgencs-we mean emphaticay of the class which la
bors with s own hands-let any man talk with them,
and if he does not learn something it is his fault
They we'll acquainted with the rights of persons
and property, and have just regard for them, as the
most illustriouS lordling of scrip nobility. And why
should they not Who and what the great majori-
~ Of the wealthy people of this country! Are they
not Eve say it not in dSparagement but in high cons
mendatlon, } are they not men who began the world
comparatively poor. with ordinary education and ordi'
nary meansl And what should make them much
wiser than their neghborsl Is it because they live in
better ttys ride in carriages, and have money!
at least credit than their poorer nelghbors!
Does man become WISER stronger, or mote virtuous
and patriotic, because he has fine house over his
headl Does he love his country the better because he
has French cook, and box at the operai Or does
he grow more learned, logical, and profound, by in-
tense study of the day-book ledger, bills Of exchange,
bank promises, and notes Of handl
Ofall the countries the face orthe sarth or that
eve: existed tho face of tho earth this ons where
the claims Of wealth and anstocracy the
founded, absurd, and ridiculous. With claim to
hereditary ds:nctions with exclusive rights except
what they derive from monopolies, and no power Of
pepetuatng their estates to their posterY the assump-
tion Of arisiocrac airs and claims 10 supemsy ridicu-
lous. Tomorrow they themselves may Sc beggars, for
aughtihey know, at all events their children may be
CSme Their posterity in the second generation will
have TO begin the world again. and work for their lw.
ing as didther forefathers And the moment man be
comes rich among he sets up for patriotism: he is
your only who has a stake in the community, and
therefore the only man who oughtto have voice in
the State. What folly is tbsl And how contempti-
bic his presumption He is not whit wiser, better,
or more patriotic, than when he commenced the world
wagon.driver. Nay not half so patriotic, for he
would see his country dsgraced thousand times, rah-
er than see fall of the stocks, unless perhaps he had
been specializing on such contingency. To him
victory is only ofconsequence, it raises and defeat
only to be amen,ed, as i. depresses loan His soul
s wrapped up in a certificate ofscrlp bank note.
Witness the conduct of these pure patriots during the
late war, when they. at least large proportion ofhem
not only Withheld all their support from the Govern
menG but used all their influence to preven. others from
giving their assistance. Yet these the people who
alone have lake in the community, and Of course
monopoIize patriotism and the privilege Of voice in
the State.
But let US ask what and where is the danger arising
from combination of the laboring classes in vlndcaN
ton ofher political principles or in defsuce of their
menaced ghts' Have they not the right to act in con
cert, when their opponents act in concert Nay. is it
not their bounden duty 10 comb ne against the only enc
my they have to fear yet in this Tree country, mos
nopoy and great paper system that grnds them to the
dusl This is a strange republican doctrine, and this
is strange republican country, where men cannot u
mite in one common effort in common cause with
out rousng the cry ofdange to the rights of person &
property. Is not this government ofthe people, Oun-
ded on The rights Of the people, and instituted for the
express object sfguarding them against the encroach
ments and usurpations Of powerl And f,hey are not
permitted the possession Of common INTEREST," the exer-
else Of common feeling; il they combine to
sst, by constitutional MEANS these encroachments; to
what purpose they declared free to exercise the
right of suffrage in the choice of rulers and making of
lnwsl N
And wnat we ask is the power against which the
people, not only ofths country but of almost all Eu-
rope are called upon to array themselves, and the
CrOachmenis thoir rights. they summoned to re-
aisl. it not emphatically. the power of monopoly.
and the encroaehments ofcOporae priv eges ofevery
kind, which the cupidiy oflhe rich engenders to the
injury oftho poor. 's. 'se .-,
1t was TO guard against the encroachm ents ofpower
the insaate ambition Of wealth, that this government
was instituted, by the people Themselves But the OBJ
iecs which call for the peculiar jealousy aad watch
thlness Of the people, are not now what they once
wsre The cautions of the early writers in favor Of
the liberties of mankind have in measure become
Ob-Olste and impraehcabIe. We are mennced by our
old enemies, ayarice and Ambitious under new name,
and form. The iyrant is changed from seelclad
feudal baron; minor despo al tho head of thou-
sands Of frnfian followers, to mighty civil gentleman,
who comes mlncing and bowing Il the people with
quill behind his ear, at the head of countless millions of
magnificent promises He promises TO make every
body rieh; he promises to pave the cities with gold; d.
he promises to pay, In short he is made I'D of prom.