New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-07-09
THE LABOR QUESTION.

The LABOR QUEbTlUN.
The question of labor, always interest
ing because it is the groundwork OF well
regulated and prosperous society IN all
countries, is most important under re-
publican form of government. Here the
sovereign power.being temporarily vested
in representatives elected by citizens, il
becomes the solemn duty of the govern
ment to study and protect their interest;
and whatever tends to secure ''the great
est good of the greatest number" should
be regarded as the salD,nal7n bonu'a-the
chief good of society regulated by repub-
ican institutions.
The labor question is causing some
agitation at this time. in consequence OF
the introduction of what is termed ''coolie
labor" into the country. A mass meeting
of the workingmen of New York was held
there on the evening of the thirtieth OF
June last, and was addressed by Mayor
Hall, Sheriff O'Brien, Mr.. Alexander
Troup, Nelson w. Young, Dr. Adolph
Adonai, Mr.. C. Hornrighausen and Mr..
Conrad Kuhn, the tenor of whose speeches
was strong opposition to Chinese labor,
when introduced as an injury to American
labor. The speeches made and resolu-
tons passed upon that occasion, the 1r'-
6,lne does not hesitate to say, ''display a
plentiful lack of sagacity and sound
Judgment" and while the Herald
is disposed to think 1.-THE extensive advent
of Asiatic laborers into countries of
Christian civilization an occurrance that
is not to be considered altogether in its
relations to the small disputes between
cobblers and tailors over rates of wages, ="
the 1ribane regards the whole state Of the
labor question as ''disgraceful, notifying
and unworthy of the usually admitted in
telligence Of this age, and particularly Of
this Republic" The labor question is
not confined to any particular species of
work. It is a question in this country
that can be made to affect seriously the
working classes generally, and as they are
the bone and sinew Of the land-the
ruling power through the ballot-they
should be regarded as something more
than laboring men in China and other
countries of the Eastern Continent, where
the laboring classes are ground to the
dust, and have no voice in government;
where the heartless and hnseled drones,
the titled aristocrats are ruling class.
The question of labor should not be
dependent on party success. 1t is ques-
ton that might well excite the sympathies
and encouragement of all parties in this
country, for it is the corner stone of the
wealth and prosperity; and SO
long as the government remains republic
can it will not be safe for any party that
desires the elements of success to run
counter to the true interest Of the great
army of workingmen who perform the
labor of the country and are the source of
Ill its wealth and power. Mayor Hall
understood this perfectly well when he
said, addressing his fellow-citizens of New
York, Il am not here as a
politician, or, as some of my
ill-natured friends-for friends are
often more ill-natured than enemies
designate me as demagogue, to use this
question for an Interior purpose. The
question of labor rises superior to party,
and the party that would turn its back on
the working people could have no hope Of
success in this country so long as its insti-
tutions remain republican. AS Demo-
crat, the Mayor of New York knows and
will admit this to be the truth, and al
though his party at one time was in favor
Of slavery, the following extract from his
recent speech to the workingmen plainly
indicates that he is too sagaciouYand wise
to favor any form of slavery at this time:
At a meeting of your friends, held in the
city OF Boston, or in that vicinity. few
evenings since, it was very well said that
the American people would not and ought
hui " ODlcCt " dllt hluu tOiuutdTN GILL
grafton into this free country. That, as a
general proposition, no one would more
heartily approve than l would. and be glad
that he who had fallen victim to any des-
pOtism should come to this land to better
his fortune. hit he must come voluntarily,
and then no one would have any objection
to it. There never was any opposition to
gentleman from Africa coming here to bet
ter his position if he wanted to. The Objec
ton was to patriots and money Spectators
going to the coast of Africa, and bringing
men here to overcome labor. The recent
assumes this fact. Men who
are debased in race, who are debased in re-
igiOn, are, like the slaves of the South,
brought over to compete with white labor. i
If this country and the working men of this
country are going to tolerate a new kind of
of class and system by
which labor will be chearened, and its rela-
ions be disturbed, then will the people of
he United States be substituting one kind
If slavery for another.
The United States stands in need of
more population-morel abor-to develop
heir vast resources in all branches of in
lustry. The millions of acres of virgin
oil, through which ploughshare has
lever vet been run, have millions of wealth
n them, waiting for labor to take it out
put that party would be far behind the
spirit of enlightened progress in this
country, that would, in its eagerness to
bring these lands into cultivation, attempt
20 fasten anything like slavery upon us
again. The country needs labor, and in
Tites it to come here from every quarter
md partake of all the advantages of good
good soil and good wages
md in return it only asks from those who