The New York herald., 1869-06-08
The Administration and the Trades Unions--
Another ssIrrepressble CouGict.v


The negro question is coming up in a new
shape. 1t will not stay down. 1t threatens
another ''irrepressible conflict, involving new
political elements which have only to combine
in politics to sweep the country. Fred Doug
lass, as an American citizen of African descent,
has, through his son, printer by trade,
raised an issue with the Printers Union at
Washington which may result in arraying all
the Trades Unions of the United States against
the administration. The issue is clearly
stated, er parte, in letter given elsewhere in
these columns from member of the printers
union of Washington. OF the order of the
Trades Unions generally, they are close cor
porations for the protection Of the members
Of the various trades concerned, and such is
already their power that 1t is generally losing
game for the employer or emplol who under
takes to resist them. The young Douglass has
tried in several places for admission into
membership with the working printers society,
but has been refused on account of his color.
Superintendent Clapp, of the national office,
regarding this exclusion an unjust thing, has
given Douglass employment without the con-
sent of the printers union directly concerned,
and hence the new issue raised or about to be
raised between the printers and Trades Unions
generally and the administration on ''the ever
lasting Niger"
Our volunteer correspondent on the subject
says that an article was recently published in
the Cincinnati Gazette, the evident intention
of which 'is to carry this matter into the halls
of Congress-" and ''to array the dominant
political party against all trades organiza-
tions." If this be true single campaign will
be apt to demolish the dominant party; for in
such contest these Trades Unions can proba-
bly, bring, In response to the first long roll Of
the drum, half million of voters to the polls,
ignoring all other political distinctions The
general objection advanced to the admission
Of negroes into these Trades Unions Is that the
introduction of the black man will demoralze
the societies and break them up. Into the
philosophy Of this proposition we care not here
to enter. 1t Is sufficient for our present pur-
pose that the prejudice of color, If you please,
which has operated against young Douglass in
the printers unions pervades all the Trades
Unions of the land, hardly excepting Boston.
How, then, is the administration TO bridge
over this difIicultyp General Grant, In his
appointments Of colored men as ambas sadors
to foreign governments, as assessors of the
internal revenue, as postmasters, &C., has
fully committed his administration 10 the doc
trine Of equal rights" to white men and
black meu in the government service. Tho
employment Of the printer Douglass In
the government office is perfectly con-
sistent with these other appointments.
He could not be denied under the gen.
eral rule adopted. Here we are reminded
Of the sagacious views of Abraham Lincoln
touching the impending conflict. He thought
that the only way to avoid II after the abolition
Of slavery was to provide for the removal
Of our black population to some locality by
themselves, In the West Indies, Central or
South America, and, as last resort, in Liberia.
He undertook the initiation of new coloniza-
tion experiment, but so signally failed in IL
that We have heard nothing since upon the sub
ject. The idea seems 10 have been dropped as
hy general consent. Here our African element