The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-26
The National Labor Congress.

The National Labor Congress.
A congress Of operatives of different trades
and occupations has been in session in this
city for several days past. 1t is somewhat re-
markable that convention representing such
important interests, sitting in our midst,
should have excited no larger share of public
attention than it has. Closely examined it
will be found that the proceedings of this
Labor Congress possess more vital interest
and more general Importance than those of
any convention, political or otherwise that
has assembled in this country for many years.
The relations of labor and capital here have
never been properly understood. For years
there has been a struggle between the two
interests, and both have suffered more or less
in the encounter. In the deliberations of this
Congress, however, we discover the existence
of spirit among the intelligent aud influential
of the representatives Of labor at once broad,
LIBERAL enlightened and philosophical. They
display loftier appreciation of the question
than was evinced by the proceedings of the
European Labor Congresses which have been
lately held, particularly those in Germany.
This American Labor Congress spurns the
tricks and cIaptrap Of demagogues who go
about the country in the pay Of political par
| ties arraying the laborng man against his
| employer, creating i'll feeling, exciting jeal-
Ouses and prejudices and getting up strikes
which end in running the employers, starving
the workingnan and paralyzing business gen
orally Their principles discard all these vexa-
tious and disturbing elements. In their plat
form and resolutions they take siatesmanlike
views OF the whole subject of labor
and its relations to capital, and while
vigorously sustaining the claims of the former
do not hesitate to accord proper consdera-
ton to the rights Of the latter. They take u
president view of the financial questions
| of the day, the connection OF the national
banking system with the burdens the work
| ingman has to bear, the necessity of taxing
the non-producing equally with the industrial
classes in the support Of the government and
the payment of the public debt; favor the
taxation of government bonds, denouuce land
monopoles, deprecate strikes, encourage CO.
operation between workingmen, pledge their
support to the working women. advocate in
tellcctual Improvement as well as improve
ment in the dwellings OF the laborer. recon.
mend settlement upon the public lands as a
remedy for insufficient work. demand the
adjustment of convict labor, and that the gov
eminent shall give the working woman the same
wages it gives the workingman for the same
service. declare that Congress has no const-
tutioual power TO charter emigrant companies
to control the price of home labor, and finally
advise the formation of a new political party
based upon the principles set forth in their
platform. We are glad to witness this sensible
movement on the part OF the workingmen Of
the country. They have the power to iberate
trade from many of the encumbrances that
embarrass IL, and they have wisely determined
to use that power discreetly and prudcntly
Their philosophical and statesmanlike views
of the great industrial question might be adop-
ted by our Soons at Washington and polit-
clans generally with infinite benefit To the
trade and business prosperity of the whole
| country.
A southern Man ON the Late Georgia Riot.
A Southern gcnllcman-H. b. lliil-has
written letter concerning the late riot at
Camilla. Ca. which has the merit of being
very bold and honest in its utterances. Ac-
cording TO his statcment--aud the writer seems
to speak of whai he knows--the white portion
OF the population had been long aware that the
negroes were being armed and drilled for the
double purpose, IL would appear, of opposing
the democratic party az the coming election
and of creating disturbances which might war
rant the employment of military force upon the
plea Of keeping the peace. but really to control
the elections IL is the especial interest Of the
democratic party. says Mr.. Ill., to keep the
peace, because it is the families and the pro-
perry of the white democrats that would suffer
most from the prevalence of violence and riot.
If the negroes are to be occupied with politico-
military organizations the crops would not
be gathered in, and as il is democrats who
own the crops, they would be utterly mpover-
ished IL they are not secured.
The writer honestly admih that the South.