Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-09-01
THE RUTLAND HERALD.
WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 81. 1870.


The American Labor Congress recent
" held at Cincinnati seems to have Justi-
fed its name as a body of laborers from
its multiplied and prolonged proceedings
and its hard work to agree upon plat
form. The resolutions presented are
enough to last all the conventions of like
character for whole generation, at least.
The financial platform is absurd, and
would prove wholly inadequate to prevent
the evils complained of by workingmen,
especially the proposition to substitute
wholly irredeemable currency for the
present bank note system. The first plank
of the platform declaring that the pre-
sent system of Chinese emigration must
come to an end, led to bitter and spirited
debate. Some of the speakers advocating
that free emigration should be allowed
from China on the same terms as from
other countries. This position met with
violent opposition, one speaker declaring
that eff necessary to seem to go against
the spirit of our institutions in order TO
exclude the Chinese, he was willing to do
So" Another said, "if the ballot does
not stop the evil, the bullet must" These
are bold uttaranees and SAVIOR of heather
doctrine. The resolutions relating to
a reduction of the army, asking equal
wages for women, and demanding schools
of reform instead of Houses of Correction,
are tenable and can be defended before
the people. The one advocating bureau
of labor at Washington is faDciful, for we
have enough, if not too many bureaus at
Washington already, and they ought not
at present to be extended, as the people can
regulate their own affairs in regard to
labor far better than their public servants
can.
In reference to the payment OF the pub
lie debt out of present wealth instead of
throwing some of the burden upon those
who are to come after us seems impraoti-
cable, and is not in one sense Just. It can
be paid easier by the next generation
than the present one. Let the next gene
ration bleed moderately from the increased
financial arteries that will exist, as the
present one has bled already to it's very
vitals. The interests of posterity will be
more momentous than ours and the war
was theirs even more than it was those
who participated in it. We give the plat
form solar as it refers to the relation
between capital and labor.
1. Declaring that the present system
of Chinese immigration must come to an
end.
2. Urging call industries" to join them
in making common cause against unpriu-
oipled capitalists by electiug to office only
men who will represent the public inter
ests.
g. Favoripg a reduction of the army to
a minimum peace standard, and declaring
that there is evidence that military off
GERS have interfered with legislation in
their own behalf.
4 Asking the cooperation of colored
citizens.
5. PronounciDg against "forcing citi-
zenship upon the Indian"
g. Urging protection of our merchant
shipping and our own shipbuilders.
z. Asking that women should have
equal wages with men, and that women
and children should be protected against
overwork.
8. Demanding that schools of reform
should be substituted for houses of correo-
tion, and, as far practicable, for prisons
generally.
o. Declaring that the hours of labor
ought to be reduced, and that all able
bodied men shall work rUr their own sup
port.
10 Advocating the establishment of a
Bureau of Labor in Washington and
II. Urging the public debt should be
speedily paidarom present wealth, instead
of being made burden on posterity.
The labor movement is one that is at
tracing attention everywhere, and while
we advocate the interests and elevation of
the American workingmen to the farther-
est extent, and believe that they are often
oppressed by their circumstances, yet wei
do not quite appreciate the theory that
legislation can permanently increase
wages. but that the relation Of the en-
ployer and the employed must obey the
inAexible law Of supply and demand.
Politicians may, by ofhcious interpretation,
lower the condition of the laborer, but
they cannot improve it only by a wv
ing him to regulate it for himself. This
is the principle which our form of govern
ment demands, and the policy which our
history euforcee.