The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1867-08-17
From the 81. Louis Tisesl.
To the LnbOPing Men and Contrac-
tors OF the city OfSf, Louis.

Society is in its most perplcxing condi-
tion-just verging upon anarchy; those
elements that nature has placed in bar
mony arc now in unnecessary conflict,
and threaten to destroy each other. The
laboring masses are weary Of perpetual
toiling with but little recreation, Ike cat
tie in the treadmill, aud desire shorter
periods of labor and longer periods of
rest. recreation and instruction. This IL
not only right, but it is eminentiy desira.
bic. Very naturally have they looked TO
the melioration OF their own condition,
and quite as naturally they are seeking
the means and time for the support aud
instruction of their families. The con.
tractors, OF course would like to have ~
much work done as they can get for the
amount of money paid, and shrewd busi-
ness men generally j calculate these things
with exactness. aud no legislative inter.
ference ia fixing times Of labor ever eau
remedy evils so deeply rooted as the one
which now afiiicts aud threatens TO over
whelm us.
In all conflicts Of labor and capital.
capital gets the better, because il strikes
quickly, but hurls It's deadly blows with
vehemence unseen, aud ten to one the Ia
borers are set TO quarrcling with each 9th.
er, while capital goes on eating up their
substance.
Somebody has struck terrible blow at
the laborer, and he is staggering under it.
and rccliny upon the verge of ruin. You
can see it manifest in the high rent oil
poor houses-in the high rates of poor
living-in the high prices Of fimsy cloth
ing-in the extravagant fares on the rail.
roads, steamboats, aud stage coaches-in
the coarse raiment Of his children-in
the general poverty Of his life.
But in all this the contractor suffers
with the mechanic, aud il is always un-
fortunate that they who have common
interest and common suffering should fall
out by the way at n time when they
ought to unite against common enemy
which lies in wait to destroy them. This
is not all In the present state of affairs
both workirgnen and contractors will
soon fall to the ground together unless
there is change in our affairs.
! First-We have debt which, with all
It's responsibilities and ramifcations, ac-
eording to the estimate Of Thaddeus Ste
yens, 81, 900 100000. This debt is draw.
ing a heavier interest than any other
similar debt under any other government
in the world This interest has to be
paid 1t has to be paid with money.
This money has to be earned by the men
who labor aud create property because
The Government receives no taxes from
the bonds or other forms of capital en-
ployed in It's security. This money has
to be raised by tariffs and direct taxes In
their various forms. The laboring men
who are complaining of the contractors
are now paying full one hundred per cent
upon all they eat wear and consume. This
seems hard, and hard it is. The laborer
is complaining of the contractor, but the
contractor is paying just the same exhor.
bitant rates and is in danger of soon be.
ing unable to carry on his work Then
the laborer turns around to complain o
the farmer, but the farmer is the victim
of the came oppression. He pays taxes
stamps, tariffs and incomes, until it is with
, difficulty be lives. Then all combine tc
complain Of railroads, steamboats,, etc.
but they are struggling with the same
monster, the great debt and all suffer to
gether. Then, particularly the laborer
works ten hours and gets pay for five, be
cause the other FIVE hours are given tt
the manufacturer and the tax1gatherer.
First-You have to pay this enormous
interest, which would support five sucf
Governments.
Second-You have to take the breaC
out Of your children's moush ethes OF
/ their backs, wood and coal - fire
and rent from your house zee
up the Negro Bureau, VIII y
much as the General Governmen s
cost in the best days of the RepUs
Third-You have to sharein like
ner with the standing army, appoinfsa s
trample down the Southern States, am
which is intended under the Pain Militia
Try Bill, to be employed to keep dowI
strikes in the Northern cities, coal mine
and manufactures. After you have mad
this defamation of your living, then yol
are called upon to give another portion t
keep up standing army of revenue off
: GERS
Fourth-You have to keep up an al
my Of Congressman, who, instead of re
lieving you of debtssis giving away tn
public lands,and accepting bribes to yot