The Portland daily press., 1871-12-15
THE PRESS.
FRIDAY MORNING, DEC. Is, 1871.



At last there is hope. Inc uepa'o III 'N0
House Of Representatives, wednesday, oh
Mr.. Hoar's bill providing for the appointment
Of commissioners to investigate and report
whe+ber labor and capital are proportionately
rewarded in the division of the fruits of toll
disclosed an amount of interest on the sub
iect that no one could have supposed to exist
The House is not ready to agree with Proud
hon that property is robbery" but there is
reason to anticipate that it will act on the
doctrine, taught for ages by the wisest and
best of mankind, and most emphatically OF all
by the Saviour Of the world, that the monop-
oily of property, especially by those who have
not created it, is robbery. The speech
of Mr. Hoar was worthy of the man
who last session introduced measure which
is still more vitality important to the la
boring mantle bill providing for the es-
Enlistment by the general government of
schools in States where there is no educa-
tional system, including Maine, we hope, if
something is not speedily done to fill up our
school houses. Mr.. Hoars speech shows
that he belongs to that class of Americans,
once comprising not more than three persons,
but now happily quite large, who realize the
sublimity of the heroism that inspired the
young men and soomen of the Paris Com
mune to strike blow at despotism, arlstocra-
CIV and ecclesiastical domination, In behalf OF
the laboring men and women OF the whole
world. The generation that canonized
Peabody for giving part of his easy gains to
the poor of England and America will yet re-
cognize the higher merit of Delaclurze who
gladly gave his life for the poor of all lands.
It is matter Of course that Mr.. Hoar does
Justice also to the members of the Interna-
y tional Society-men who desire only that the
sweets Of life shall not all be withdrawn from
those whose patient hands and feet do all the
great worlds labor-men who hate war, de-
mand the light Of cultivated intelligence for
workers, and whose hostility is chiefly direct
ed against ignorance, superstition and the
robbery Of the poor, but whom the lies of
kings, priests and peers, ignorantly and
thoughtlessly echoed on this side of the At
lantic, have caused to be regarded as blood
thirsty bandits But with the light thrown
on the subject by few more such debates as
that Of Wednesday this misrepresentation in
the cause OF class privilege, monopoly, aris-
tocracy-yes, Of monarchy and Papacy-will
cease by reason Of more correct under
standing of the matter.
Mr.. Dawes, Mr.. Shanks and Mr. Kelley dis
closed in their speeches an unexpected de-
gree of sympathy with labor. They should all
have credit for sincerity, though the gentle
man last named would be in better position
to advocate reform if he were not the most
conspicuous supporter in Congress of strict
adherence to a system that tends to strength
en- and perpetuate monopoly. The conduct
of the Democrats was inexplicable, that of
Mr.. Storms who supported the bill not less
than that of Wood and Kerr who opposed it.
The gentleman first named advocated it be-
cause he was not willing that Republicans
should ''steal all the thunderW What
childlike mind this Mr.. Storms must have, to
be sure, to discover perfectly, in single SEN
tence, the real mental attitude of politicians
of his class toward lab or reform. They look
upon the whole matter as so much thunder
to be worked up and used to the best advan-
tage in the course of political campaign,
and then to be laid aside till. the next years
contest creates a demand for political capt.
( tap There are hundreds of Republicans
who do the same thing, in the same way and
for the same purpose, and no doubt some of
them are in Congress, but, Storms is. the
only man who has yet made public proc
lamation Of his insincerity. AS for
Wood and Kerr the abstract of the debate
does not show that they gave any reason for
their opposition. Wood, being large capt.
talist, probably looks with disfavor on any ag-
itation that is likely to result in reorganiza-
ton of society. He doesn't want things
changed, being comfortably situated as he is.
He is like the members of the House who
voted the other day not to redistribute the
seats. Their present seats suited them adj
mirably. But all capitalists, fortunately, do
not, like Wood, resist measures for the
amelioration Of the condition Of the masses.
Many of our wealthiest citizens, some sim
cerely and some from polite motives, are will
ing to go-k.rthest and to move most rapidly
In balancing tne -erld's books Like'the
Duke Of Orleans (EguasteT tr.- "a FIRST French
Revolution, Sir Charles w. Dixie IN tner----
fort among French republicans, many of our
rich men subordinate the interests of their
class to those of the world. To very large
majority, but not to sll capitalists can it be
said:
You sit in a cloud and sing, like pictured angels,
And say the world runs smooth-while right below
Weiters the black, fermenting heap of griefs
Hhereon your state is built"
THE Echo and the Good Seed, the two