Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-10-24
For the Express.
-7|II.7" fOf Eh6 ENpfcst.
The Interest of Laboring Men Ina the
Presidential Election.

II
Presidential Election.
ID has been always matter of surprise
TO me how men who work for living could
assimilate with the Democratic party and
vote for its candidates. while that party's
professions Of being the working mans
friend are only in theory. not in practice. |
Democracy makes great pretensious in ia
vor of the laboring man. but does not live |
up to them when it has the power TO DO so.
The Democratic party has always opposed
a Protective ariff. by which the mechan-
ical industry of the country could be fos-
tered and immense numbers of artisans
fnd employment. 1t also has for its creed
and determination 10 action, opposition to
internal improvements system that
would furnish occupation and subsistence
to myriads Of laboring men. and particu-
larly to the vast number who come from
foreign shores to seek livelihood upon
public works. The laboring men who mi
CRATE from one section Of the country TO
another in search Of work, have poor en-
couragement from the Democratic party
Nearly the whole, il not all. the lines of
railroads in this country were originated
by the enterprise of men opposed to De-
mocracy, and have been completed or ad-
vanced by their capital. and given employ
meot to laboring men to support them
selves and families. Take for instance The
railroads centering at Teue Haute, nearly
every one of them. and l don't know but
all, have been built by the energy and cap
ital Of individuals opposed in political
sentiments to the Democratic party. Thou
sands Of laboring men have been furnishe
with employment by these roads. Mechan
les and laborers now have steady work
and the comforts of life, by means of these
enterprises.
The Democratic party is opposed to the
improvement Of the rivers aud harbors Of
the country, work that would require the
labor Of large forces Of artisans and labor
ers. The Republican party is in favor Of
such improvement. so that commerce may
be benefited and men out of employ may
have work.
How many men are there in this country
who find themselves out Of employment,
and 60 seeking after work." thankful il
they can get something to do, willing and
content to give honest toll for compensa-
ton that will enable them to feed the body
and clothe the back In country like
this there should be work for all. The
country is large enough, the soil is produc.
tive enough, the civilization aud enterprise
of the age are sufficient, under proper
policy, to afford every man employment
1t is time in the progress Of such a
country for men to be idle for want Of
work. The development Of the industrial
interests Of the country has scarcely begun,
great future is before us, workmen are
wanted in every field. 1t needs but the
attention of the people to be applied to
this subject to set the machinery in motion
and conduct il to profitable operation. La.
Dor will have employment and be reward
ed. The party that favors free labor and
fair wages should be the party Of the la
boring man. Every laboring man is inter
ested in this matter. He should remember
that every vote cast against free labor is
cast against his interests. He should re.
fleet upon matter OF such vital impor.
lance to himself. and know that the cause
of free labor is his cause. III he con-
suits his position properly he must
determine that ito earn his bread by
the sweat Of his brow" there must be work
for him to do his welfare requir ing that
there should be work demanding his ser
vices, il he has an opportunity by hts own
voice or action to keep up his supply Of
work, it is an all-wise policy in him to act
for his own benefit.
| In the coming Presidential election the
interest of no man 10 more at stake than
the interest OF the laboring man. But he
will have a voice in determining what
shall be the fate Of that interest. BY the
election it's fate will be decided. Before
you. laboriDg men, are two Democratic
candidates for President. One OF them,
Mr.. Breckenridge, is in favor of '.profeet-
ing" an interest opposed to yOurs-he is
for protecting negro labor against the labor
OF the white man; the result Of which will
be as elsewhere. the reduction OF the white
mans wages-for instance, Georgia. where
negroes on the railroads get $50 q month {,
and white men but from $40 to Sl2 per
month. The other Democratic candidate,
Mr.. Douglas, is so Indifferent to your in
terests that he "don't care whether slavery
is voted up or voted down"-he "don't
care" whether the work to be done in the
Territories is done by negroes or s0hite men.
yet be wants the votes of mechanics and
laboriug men to elect him President. In
the Territories new States will have to be
formed, farms cleared, railroads laid down
and towns built, opening n nav field for
artisans and laborers, but Mr.. Douglas
"don't care" whether it is done by negroes
or phife men. How do you like it 2 Is it
the interest. policy or duty Of working
men to vote for such a mani
On the other hand, the Republican party
has placed before you. ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
| himself working man, who knows what
il is ITO earn his bread by the sweat OF his
brow" He is for free labor. for the labor
OF the white man; he believes the white
mar should have supremacy over the ne
gro i'm the Territories; he is for the white
man having a home upon the public do
main; for the laboring man having piece
of land that he can call his own to live
upon and enjoy himself, independently
and happily; he is for the white man erect
ing free STATES, laying down railroads,
building towns. improving the country.
cultivating the soil. and enjoying the
blessings thereof. free and untrammelled'
by the interposition of the negro.
Is it not then, wise. in laboriDg men TO
sustain their own interests, by supporting
Mr. Lincoln His pol icy is the best, of