The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1870-07-02
What is the Prospect Of the American
Mechanic

In Looking to the future, and proposing
the question. What is the prospect of the
American mechanic two present facts stare
lis in the face, ard render outlook very
gloomy. These facts are, first, the grow
ing strength of free trade feeling in our
country; second, the disposition Of great
manufacturers and corporations to import
labor which can be had for services at
less cost than that for which American ia
bvr eau be had. Truly, here is a gloomy
prospect for the laboriug men aud mechan-
les cf this country. They are at the mer
cy of the great capitalists-capitalsts in
vested with special privilege which were
purchased from legislative bodies while
their laboring constituents were unconscious
of the chains being forged for their necks
If free trade policy prevails in Congress,
and our ports are open to the products of
the world, the result must be, of course, the
depression and destruction of domestic la
Dor if, on the other hand, we succeed III
securing protection for home industry, the
great incorporated manufacturing compan-
les of the land will at once import labor
which they can use at cheaper rates than
those demanded by the American artizan.
In the opinion OF these manufacturers it is
all wrong to bring the manufactured art-
Gle from abroad, to compete with the same
article of their production; but it is right
to import labor which can be had cheap,
even if by so doing thousands Of mechanics
at home are thrown out OF employment
Al the present time the manufacturers of
the east are importing large gangs Of COO
lies to take the place Of Americans, simply
because the former can be had for one
half the wages demanded These facts
make it very clear that under any crcum-
stances, alike with free trade or protection,
the American mechanic will reap no bene-
fit. His injury will be the same under
both politics, while the great capitalist will
be benefited. There was time when the
American mechanic under circumstances
like these to which we allude, could have
looked to the public domain for a refuge
from absolute starvation. But this hope is
also destroyed. The government has al
ready given away all the desirable land il
once possessed, to build up great monopo
lies, which will only dispose of its domains
to enhance their power and increase thei
wealth. In very few years, land along
the railroads leading to the Pacific coast
will be beyond the reach of poor men, ex
cept It is to work as tenants making barrel,
sufficient to support themselves. In viey
ofthese facts, we ask whether it is not abou
time for the American mechanic to arous
and better himself The men who repre-
sent the mechanics of the land, care les
for them as mass than they do for indi
yidual capitalists or corporation OF sucl
citizens. We indulge no forboding, bu
the future is anything but cheering for tn
American mechanic He has not yet learn
ed to take care of himself He must d
this at the ballot bon, and in order to b
prepared how best to act for this end, h
must do more thinking, or seek organiza
ton, and hold Legislative bodies in chec
by refusing to support any candidate there
for who is not clearly pledged to defen
the interests of labor.