The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-07-28
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
The Democracy and the LabOring Men.

''' From the Cincinnati Enquirer
The Democracy and the LsbOring Men
}, We rejoice to see the present concort
which prevails between the democracy an
q the laborlng mems organization. 1t wa
evinced in their common support Of Genera
). +. Gary, the working mems nominee fol
. congress in the second district Of Hamilton
county last fall. 1t WAS still further exhibi
ted in the conventions OF the two parties
held at the city Of New York on the 18th O
July, 1865, for a common purpose. More
than all, n homOgenity Of sentiment was
displayed in the platform of the two parties
which, in substance, upon the points to
which they allude, are almost identical
Thus on the question of the public debt and
the public lands, the democratic convention
resolved as follows:
Payment Of the public debt Of the United
States ~ rapidly as practicable all moneys
drawn from the people by taxation, except 20
i much rs Is requisite for the necessities Of the
government, economically administered being
| honestly applied 10 such payment: and when the
obligations Of the government DO not expressly
state upon their face, or the law under which
they were issued does not provide that they shall
be paid IN CON, they ought, in right and justice,
to be paid in the lawful money Of the United
States.
Equal taxation of every species of property
according tO its real value, including government
bonds and other public securities.
one currency for the government and the pco-
pie, the IabOrcT and the office holder the pen
sioncr and the soldier, TIE producer and the
bondholicr.
That the public lands should be distributed a.
widely a. possible among the people, and should
be disposed Of either under tho pre-cmpton of
| 4 Iav l. a.1l To-. u
and to none but actual occupants, at tho minimum
price established by the government. When
grants oithe public lands may be allowed, nee
essary for the encouragement Of important pub.
lie Improvements, the proceeds Of the sale of
such land, aud not tho lands themselves shall be
so applied.
These points have long been cardinal
ones with the laboring mems organization.
They touch the working men in the most
vital part-relief from oppressive taxation
and from the evils of land monopoly. The
| democracy have also been, in all the states |
| the champions of u limited number Of hours |
! for days work, to be established by legis
IatIye enactment, as q check upon the ayar.
icous and grasping cupidty and power of
| capital. 1t was in the democratic admins.
! tratou Of Martin Van Buren,, thirty years
| ago, that the ten hour system Was substitu. |
ted for the twelve for the government works, |
and little respite thus afforded 10 the tired |
and exhausted labOrcr. The elements which |
! compose the democratic and the laboring |
! men organizations are, in most respects, |
the same. They are each constituted of the |
bone and siuew Of the country--of those who |
rely upon manual labor for their support.
Each is Interested in resisting the encroach.
ments Of capital. Each is opposed to ia.
vored and privileged classes, of whatever
degree or kind. Each will wage an unceas.
ing war upon monopolics, the vampires of
the laborng classes. The democracy be.
licve that the money which pays the labor.
ing nan is good enough for the public cred.
itor. They believe that the public lands
should be held in sacred trust Tor actual oc.
| cupants, instead Of being squRndercd upon
| corporations, and divided between public
and private spectators. They are opposed
to the national banking system, by which a
few thousand capitalists are enabled to make
large dividends out Of the duty of the GOV
eenment to furnish the people sound cir,
culating medium. They are opposed to
what is called high tariffs, which are simply
q tax upon the laboring industry of the
coantry, for the benefit of capital engaged
IN certain and particular branches of trade.
They are in favor of cheap and economi.
cal government; opposed to large or even
considerable military or naval establish
ments in times of peace. They believe that
the bondhoding capitalist as well as the Ia.
borer, should be compelled to pay his equal
share Of taxation, and that if any discrimi.
nation is made in the favor Oft the govern.
ment, il should be for the benefit of the
sons of toll.
The democracy have no affinity with
what is called the aristocrscy--an aristoc.
racy based upon wealth or pride of BIRTH
On the contrary, it has always, during its
past history, encountered the active opposi.
ton of this powerful class; and when it
ceases to have it, it will be untrue to its or
igin and history. {
Especially are the democracy and the la.
boring men acting in unison in their efforts
to properly adjust, at an early period, the {
question of the national debt, which, until it |
is liqudated, will bear SO heavily upon the i
aboring masses. One.fourth or one.ffth t
Of all the laboring men earn has to be now f
yiven to the government for the uses of the '
public creditor. 1t pinches him in his pecu. Il
mary affairs, and seriously distresses his c
family in their living. To honorably dis a
pose Of this public debt, with due regard il
Tor the public faith, and yet to stop this ex. a
laustlng interest, which is draining the life. n
blood OF the country, is grand object, both "
with the democratic and laboring mems or n
9enzaton. The democracy as we'll as the Il
Ia,t1onng men, are in favor Of additional ia. d
cli''ies to trade and industry, to be effected tt
ny al increased and expanded currency. rC
ana 10 reAeye the pressure Of the time, which IL
Is bearing SO heavily upon the poor man n
Animated BY common object, and com.
posed of the same material there il every
-eason Why the democracy and the difTeren, 6,
rndes' unions and labor organizations NJ -
the country should unite together upon one "
ncAet and so defeat that party which is run m
Altogether IN the interest of capital and the II
privileged class
IANlC-STkUCK REAUTY 1t 10 tarrill W