The Nevada Democrat., 1856-08-27
Origin of the .Ten Cent? SANDER.


which have been brought against the Demo-
cratic nominee for the Presidency, is the SIAN
derous statement that he has advocated the
reduction of the wages of laboring men to ten
cents day. This charge, which has long since
been exploded and almost forgotten, had its ORR
gin in debate in the Senate in 1910, on the
independent treasury bill, in which Mr.. Clay,
Mr.. Buchanan, and John Davis of Massachusetts,
participated The foundation Of the charge is
contained in the following extract from Mr.. Bu-
chanan's speech, in answer to Mr.. Clay, who
contended that if the Independent treasury bill
should become law, the effect would be the
reduction of the wages Of laboring men. In
answer to this Mr. BUCHANAN said
ave are also charged by the Senator from
Kentucky with a desire to reduce the wages of
the poor mans labor. We have been often
termed agrarians on our side of the houst. 1t
is something new under the sun to hear theSen-
ator and his friends attribute to us a desfe to
elevate the wealthy manufacturer at the eXpnse
| of the labOrng man and the mechanic. From
my soul | respect the laboring man. Labor is
| the foundation of the wealth of every country;
and the free laborers of the North dtserveres-
pect both for their probity and their intlli-
gence. Heaven forbid that | should do item
wrong OF all the countries on the earth,we
ought to have the most consideration for the o.
boring man. From the very nature Of or
institutions, the wheel Of fortune is constantly
revolving and producing snoh mutations in pr
perty that the wealthy man Of to-day may bt
come the poor laborer of tomorrow. Irul
wealth often takes to itself wings and flies away
A large fortune rarely lasts beyond the third
generation, even if it endure so long We must
all know instances of individuals obliged to la
Dor for their daily bread whose grandiathers
were men of fortune. The regular process of
society would almost seem to consist Of the eff
forts Of one class to dsspate the fortunes
which they have inherited, whilst another class,
by their industry and economy, are regularly
rising TO wealth. We have all, therefore, a
common interest, as it is our common duty, to
protect the rights Of the laboring man; ald If
believed for a moment that this bll would prove
injurious to him, it should meet my unqualified
opposition.
"Although this bill will not have as great an
influence as | could desire yet, as far as it goes,
it will benefit the laboing man as much, aid
probably more, than any other class Of society.
What is it he ought most to desire? Constant
employment regular wages, and uniform. rea-
sOnable prices for the necessaries and comforts
Of life which he requires Now, sir, what has
been his condition under our system Of eXpan-
sions and cOntractions? He has suffered more
by them than any other class OF society. The
rate of his wages is fixed and known; aid they
are the last to rise with the increasing eXpa.-
sion. and the first to fall when the correspond
ing revulson occurs. He stu continues to
receive his dollar per day, whilst the price Of
every article which he CONSUMES is rap dly
rising. He is at length made to feel that, al
though he nominally earns rs much, or even
more than he did formerly, yet, from the in
creased price of all the necessaries of life he
cannot support bis family. Hence the strikes
for higher wages, and the uneasy and excited
| feelings which have at different periods existed
among the laboring classes. But the expansion
at length reaches the exploding point AID what
does the laboring man now suffer? He is for Il
season thrown out of employment altogethcr,--
| Our manufacturers are suspended; our pubic
works are stopped; our private enterprises OF
different kinds are abandoled; and, whilst 9TH
crs are able to weather the storm, he can scarce
| iy procure the means OF bare subsistence"
Mr.. Davis, in speech in answer to Mr.. Bu-
chanan assumed without foundation that the
latter advocated the Independent treasury be-
cause he was in favor of an exclusively metallic
currency. He then conteud~d that the cstlb-
lisbment Of purely mctalic currency would
reduce the wages Of labcriug men in this eoun-
try to the standard Of labor in the countr es Of
Europe where the currency was gold and silver.
An appendix was published with the speech
showing the prices Of labor in the different Eu-
ropean countries and in some, where the cur
rency was exclusively metallic laborng men
only received ten cents day for their work.
This speech of Mr.. Davis in connection with
the appendix, was considered sufficient TO CON
Wet Mr.. Buchanan of being in favor of reducing
the wages of laborers in this country to ten
cents day, and the subject was barpcd on in
order to raise a clamor against the Independent
treasury measure.
In speech on the Sd of March 1910, Mr.. Bu-
chanan denounced the charge made against him
in the strongest language, saying:
"Self-respect, as well as the respect which |
owe to the Senate, restTains me from oivinp
such contrad ction to this allegation as 1t de-
serves. 1t would surely not be deemed impro
per, however, in me, If were 10 turn TO the
Senator and apply the epithet which he himself
has applied to the proposition he imputes to me.
aud were to declare that such aa imputation was
'Hagitous' Misrepresentation OF my remarks
After restating the arguments in his former
speech, he said in reference to the reduction of
the price of labor
Il contended that it would not miure but
greatly benefit the laborng man to prevent the
violent and runous expansions and contractons
to which our currency was uc dent. and by in
d!eious bank reform to place it on a settled
basis, Ii this were DONE what would be the
consequence? That if the laboring maa could
not receive as great a nominal amount for his
labor as he did in the days of extrayapant ey-
paasIoa,' which must always under our present
system be OF short duratiod, he would be idem
nllied. and far more than identified. ly the
constant employment the regular wages, and
the uniform and more moderate prices of the
necessarics and comforts of life, which more
stable currency would produce Can this pro-
! Inc