The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-11-11
THE ATTEMPT AT INTIMIDATION.

II or publication, should be addressed toy
{ 'ErAaH. Proprietor nArIorAL RsrupLfoIr.
" sshiuEton. D. q.
THE ATTEMPT At INTERPOLATION.
We hear lntimationsi In some quarters that |
a war Of determination Ia to be waged
against the REPUBLICAN, by local politicians
who have become soured and dissatisfied
because we do not conduct II exactly as they
would have II, and because we do not cut |
aud trim our editorials to suit their peculiar |
and In exact obedience to
their dlctation.
We have done and said no more In our
and discussions Of corporation
matters than 1t was our legitimate province
TO do as good Republicans and as honest
and faithful public journalists. 1t Is not
our province to deal In meaningless plati-
tudes, or 10 shut our eyes to public transact
tions transpirlng around us. This will do
for mere hirellngs and hangers-on, who
never dare to have opinions of their own;
bu. 1t will not do for US, nor Is 1t what our
readers and our party expect Of us. Neither
is 1t our duty to indorse every particular
thing that our Republican officials do, or
swallow down all their opinions and official
acts. They are expected to conduct them
selves In their Official station In such way
as to deserve approval, and we expect to
sustain and defend them accordingly.
Now, Ii Is all nonsense to think Of pro-
scriblng US for this. It may do to whisper
about In local circles and among cllques and
purblind partisansj but beyond this 1t will
not succeed. We do not accept the soft i'm
parchment which our over-seusitive friends
would seek 10 fastcn on the REPUBLICAN.
We stand on common ground. We are
peers, aud do not yield one jot or little to
any corporation politician in devotion TO Re-
publican principles or In regard for tried aud
trusted Standardized Our general course
attests to all we say; and this we prove,
from day to day, In discussions Of party
measures and support OF the policy OF Re-
publican Administration.
1t Is a common right to express opinions,
aud even criticisms, on all current topics re-
lating TO measures aud administration 10 q
loyal spirit within the reasonable limitations
Of party feaity. We have gone no farther
10 any article to which exception has been
taken. II this forfelts the esteem OF any OF
our friends, 1t Is a matter Of regret; but 1t
cannot be avoided. We simply stand where
we have ever stood, to advocate correct prin-
ciple and digniaed aud reputable admins
tration Of corporation affairs. In doug so
we may differ in some respects from some
OF our friends, and, indeed, we expect they
will from Us. 1t Is q common privilege to
do SO; but 1t appears to US that no liberal,
Just man will make this q cause of personal
offence and deliberate antagonism. But we
do not count on such narrow mlndedness; at
least, the number must be small that will
yield to Its influence. We dare assert the
freedom Of opinion, and mean TO defend Its
expression, fully believing that he "who is
true to himself cannot be false to any mnu."
In this connection We may be permitted TO
add, In view Of the fact that something we
have said relative to municipal affairs has
given offence to the Mayor, that although a
morbid degree Of sensitivcucss may have
caused him to insist on placing US in a con-
dltion Of antagonlsm to himself, so far as he
stands as the representative of the Repub-
lIcan party In the city government, we shall
not recognise his right or authority to do
so, only so far as his own private feelings
are considered. or course he will feel and
think az he pleases-that Is his privilege /;
but he 10 not the arbiter Of our party rela-
tions, and he cannot control the general duty
we owe to the interests and success OF oui
party. We shall direct our efforts, as hero
toforc, In the common cause which all gooC
Republicans have at heart. We shall no
go out of our way to attack or offend him oil
account of this little "onpleasantness." Thit
is not, and never has been, a characteristic
of this journal. We simply say our say, al
we do now, and pass on to other matters
pursuing the even tenor Of our way, and
hoping "to do the State some service"
THE EIoHT-HouR LAw.-The following
interesting correspondence In relation to the
eight-hour law explains itself;
.NEw. YoRE, Oct. q, Isds.-Hon, George S.
Boni0eR, Secretary ofme TrtGsury, Warrington,
D. C-Sini Learning that the new post Office
erected by and under the direction OF the
Treasury Department, ! have been Instructed
sy, ,hs se so9 hox wo.hs%e6S
various trades Of the eity,) at meeting he'll
on the evening OF October 10, 1900, to write
men Of New York whether work on the new
post ONCE IA national bui!ding) Is not beins
eight hours days labor on all Government
work wherever located The hours now
worked thereon being ten instead OF, as the
law presoribes, eight hours.
we respectfully call your attention to this
matter, believing that as you have Jurisdic.
tion In the case you desire to do no Injustice
SboS So2s ,Ss them to
m MAJ d. Ihe proper enforcement o. the law
garding 1t thus, we respectfully solicit your
Intervention In having the building eonstfust.
ed In accordance with the national eight hour
law. By so doing you Will confer a l.stinI
favor, for which the workingnen Of the En-
pire State will ever be grateful ,,
Corresponding Secretary New York Working
men,s Union, No. II Norfolk street, New
Gan. wAs ~ NSyyssn6,r 9, $50 :,
refer does not IL the hours OF labor on woTL
performed BY contractors for the Government
This Department has. therefore, no control
over the hours Of labor Of persons working for
Its contractors.
Since the passage OF the eight.hour law all
mechanics and laboreFs employed by this DE.
pArtment have been required to work but
eight hours for days labor, except In such
cases as the exigencies Of the public service
!
special agreement with the persons so EN-,
ployed, the compensation being rated accord.
ingly
Very respectfully,
GRoRGE s, boutwell,, Secretary.
Wm ! Jsssup. tsg,, ryrrespDndlH1 Secretary
Mrhr,ngmshs UaioH' No. II, Norfolk street.
1t is understood that Mr.. A. B. Mullett,
supervising architect of the Treasury De.
partment, will recommend In his forthcom
Ing report u modification of the eight hour
law, as far as 1t relates to the employment
oil mechanics on public works under the di,
rection OF the Treasury Department. lie
claims that the law In Its operation make.
Determinations embarrassing to the Govern,
ment. While he earnestly advocates the
payment ofthe very highest wages to thos
employed Ia the construction OF Government
buildings, he believes 1t would DO just ia
regulate the wages and hours Of labor OF
mechanics so employed by the rules gov
ernlng that class Of mechanics employed by
others,
SALES OF PCBLIC LASus.-The following
sales OF public lands during the mouth of
October were reported at the General Land