Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-06-24

ground. Heidoes mot speak of the re
bellion he considers that disposed of. III,
does not-dwell upon reconstruction anC
itsipenalties: these are, in his opinion, set
tied, He proclaims himself Radical o
the breed that is always tar ahead. Tn,
war has brought the country up to hi
standard, in respect of Slavery and gJht
slaves; and not content with being In ad
vance on the subject of female suffrage, ht
proelaims that he is nov ready to, take
another jump forward, If necessary w
suppose he means necessary to justify hi!
title as an ultra r ldical. For conservatism
IN all its phases-constitution govern.
mental, financial, social-he has nothing
but contempt: it is all hypocrisy anc
cewardiee." - -
This time, Mr.. wade's 'jump forward
is into chaos. Hepasses over the heads o.
Stevens and Phillips at a single leap. He
springs from the domain of American re-
publicanism to the region of French
socialism. He does not in specific terms
indorse Proudhon and assert that s'proper-
ty is theft" but be assails the whole il :
dustrial and business fabric of the country,
and sends forth propositions involving a
general division of lands and goods, the
Limitation of capital, and the more ample
recompense of labor-an by acts of Con-
gress., .-.s-o,-. --.-or a., -,
.sThe terrible distinction which exists
not discovery of which Mr.. Wade can
claim the credit. It is fact which has
long engaged the attention of thoughtful
men, and sometimes of philanthropists by
no means profound in thought. Visiona-
r1es have proposed TO remove it by laws
and combinations, and more often by revo-
luton; but in vain. The fact remains and
grows in It's proportions. The folly of at
tempting to destroy it by legislation Is,
however, conceded even In quarters where
the most insane forms of agrarianism and
socialism once found favor. Instead of in
vading the sanctity of property, and so
uprooting the great incentive to thrift and
persevering industry; the philosophy of
to-day addresses itself to the power pos
sessed by organized labor to advance from
a condition of dependence and Insufficient
wages TO one of comfort and independence.
The cooperative principle is doing for la
Dor what violence or legislation never yet
accomplished. The ,laborers themselves
begin to comprehend the power which is
In their own keeping, and there are mani
fold indications of movement in this
country toward a state of things which has
already yielded wonders in England,
France and Germany. A3} soi ssH7
The cooperative movement, however, Is
essentially conservative movement. 1t
recognizes the rights and sanctity of pro-
perty, to begin with. 1t places no reliance
upon the threats and promises of dema-
gogues. 1t aims at the elevation and en-
richment of labor by wise use of the
strength and means which are at its CON-
mand. 1t has no need of sgitation or agi-
tators. 1t disclaims dependence on politi-
clans. And it works gradually, patiently,
aud withal peacefully, with a very proper
contempt for the men who would pervert
it to the purposes of q reckless PARTISAN
ship T ~ ......-.-r ~ .--
The President of the Senate, with all his
advanced Radicalism, is a long way be-
hind the cooperative workers in his politi-
cal economy and his sagacity.- Compared
with their, practical wisdom. his talk at
Lawrence is as the empty defamation of a
demagogue, who, consciously or uncon-
sciously, is endeavoring to raise spirit
which will not lie down at his bidding.
He calls for Congressional legislation that
shall shorten the hours OF labor and at the
same time increase its pay. He declares
that"a more equal distribution of capital
must be wrought out, and that upon Con-
gress devolves the duty of doing it. He
contends that the society which alIots ease
to some and hard labor to others is funda-
mentally unjust, and must be overthrow
by Congressional enactment. These are
the tasks which Mr.. Wade assigns to the
body OF whi, he is conspicuous mem
ber. These are the destructive, leveling
anu uGVerly dudIcnicaI prOpOSlClOnS Dy
which he hopes to commend himself to the
favor of the American people. -
We have tno much confidence in their
good sense to believe that they will witness
this "jump forward" with any other feel
iDgs than those of astonisbment and dis
gust Nowhere in the world is property SO
universally diffused as in this country, and
nowhere, therefore, will the protest against
every scheme for violating its rights be ut
tered with such heartiness and effect. But
Mr.Wade cannot be allowed to promulgate
policy which imperils the safeguards o..
society, ahd at the same time arrogate to
himselfauthority as a Radical Republican.
The views we have reproduced from his
Lawrence speech are the views, not of q
Radical Republican, but of a 1eveler and
reyOlutionist.a To these even the Radicals
of the North cannot be indifferent. Every
capitalist, every farmer. every lmanufac-
turer,8 every sober, honest and skillful
workman is interested in crushing them as
speedily as they are uttered. The question
Mr.. Wade has raised is not one of politics
but of order and peace. 1t is not one of
party, but one that concerns the whole
people. And it is incumbent upon the
Senators and others who are ordinarily
supposed to act with Mr.. Wade to disclaim
sympathy with his hostility to capital, and
to show that they have no disposition to
follow the Jump forward" which he has
taken. fi-ri+aa 3 a0fi...fz--a -,-1 fo s..r-.-