The Portland daily press., 1871-08-29
For Cover nor:
SaDNEY PsIESHANR
OF PARIS.
Gen Butler and MIR. Kimball.


j stice to represent HIM as the intellectual
! eel of his Massachusetts associate in the ia
Dor reform movement" Both these gentle-
mai, the one Democrat and the other NOM
lually Republican, appeal to the people of
their respective States to vote for them on the
ground that they are in special sense friends
of the working classes. We sincerely re-
gard the pretensions of both as absurd, i'm
pertinent and deliberately fraudulent, and we
consider their cases together as means of
establishing in the most satisfactory and con-
elusive manner possible that we are influenc-
ed by no partizan feeling in this matter and
That what We say is the result of genuine con-
vlction. We believe that 10 paper Demo
cratic or Republican, in this country has ia
ken more extreme ground in regard to the
rights of workingmen than the PRESS. 1t
has gone so far in this direction as to bring
upon itself the reproach of socialist and COM
munist tendencies. 1t was the first, but hap
point out the fact that the workngmen OF
Paris, with all their folies and crimes-and
they are neither light nor few-were less cul
pable than the wicked aristocracy that fol
centuries had robbed and murdered them, anc
less culpable ever than their immediate OPP
ponents OF the Versailles government. The
PRESS has been radical in this matter, al
ways contending that the fruits of toll be-
long to those who labor, and that laboring
men should secure them by uniting their
small means, thus becoming capitalists, car
rying on their own business and putting the
profits into their own pockets instead of in.
to the pockets of employers Cooperation
strikes at the root of the labor question, and
with higher education for the working
classes, so as to enable them to avail them
selves of their opportunity to become indie
pendent OF employers, is all there Is of practi-
cal value in the labor reform agitation. The
wolkngmen of the Northern States have
hundred million dollars!in the savings banks,
and this is money enough to initiate at least
a general cooperative movement.
Being thus committed to the most adyanc-
ed views on the subject of labor, we can the
more freely express our adherence and con-
tempt for those capitalist politicians who
like Caesar anu other Roman patricans, affect
liberal notions for the sake of the good will OF
the people on whose necks they bind heavi
er yoke than ever when they have once been
placed in positions of authority. None OF
these capitallst-workingme politicians, like
Sprague, Klmball and Butler, attach any inn
portance to cooperation or to the higher and
more general education OF the working class
es. This would be to strike blow directly al
their position as capitalists. This would be
the one effective step toward reform. But
they all OF them are living on the profits OF
other mems work. They are not bound as
business men to give their operatives an in,
terest In their gains, but as men who hold
themselves out as friends of the working peo-
pie in special sense, they are bound to make
good their professions in that practical wa,
instead of crying their 9uack remedies about
the streets and ostentatiousy ADVERTISING
them in the newspapers. Mr. Kimball is the
only man of this capitalist-poltician triumvi-
rate who processes to be mechanic and la
boring man" still. This claim is simply dict
ic That he stil works hard in managing his
business we do not doubt, but so does Aston
who is said to be the "hardest worked man il
New York" Mr.. Kimball performed manua
labor when he was young man, ant
SO did Gen. Butler, the latter having help
ed himself through Watervile College b,
making chairs. Mr.. Perham has probably
done as much real physical labor as both {,
them, so that If the people of Maine are t,
give their suffrages this fall with reference t,
qualifications of this kind Mr.. Perham an,
not Mr.. Kimball will be the tavorite candi
1t is curious to observe that the specifics
offered by Messrs. Butler and Kimbal as rem
edies fol the laboring mans wrongs are moi
only diverse but in manner irrec0ncllable
with each other. Mr.. Kimballs only remedy
SO far as we have heard, is the repeal OF the
tariff He holds that the duty of IS per cent.
on carriages is of no avail to him, while the
tariff is an immense disadvantage to his en-
ployees. 1t will be perceived therefore, that
he contemplates no personal sacrifice whatev-
er. He proposes remedy that is utterly i'm
practicable. If his party should carry the
country next year, electing the President and
every member of the lower house of Congress,
the reform he desires could not be effected so
long as there is the interest on the great debt
rolled up by the Democratic rebellion to pay.
And so far as any less radical modification OF
tariff is concerned his party, like the Republic
can, is divided, one being committed to reform
as much as another.
But perhaps we have over-stated the power
ty OF Mr.. Kimbafs resources as a labor re-
former. The platform on which he was NOM
mated favors partial reputation of the ma
tlonal debt. If he accepts that doctrine, he
no doubt makes it part of his labor reform
creed, and holds that reputation would light
en- the burdens of the taxpayer. But let Mr..
klmball come before the taxpayers of Maine
and preach his reputation gospel if he dares!
Gen. Buffers specific is not repeal of the
tariff by any means. He represents protec-
ZIONIST district, and is personally interested in
UNFOLDING that system. A reduction of the
hours of labor is the "only wear" with him.
He doesn't employ many men, and it seems
light thing to him FOR his brother capitalists
to pay their operatives their present wages for
less work. He speaks contemptuously of the
injury wrought by the tariff, which he regards
as OF no account to the workingman. Mr..
klmbali, who employs great many hands,
probably does not agree with his. Massachu
seets brother. If he does, he carefully keeps
it to himself Besides, the adoption of such
views would enforce upon him awkward prac
teal duties. If he believes in paving men
Their present wages for less work, he need
wait for the authorization of no statute. Sncb
a contract would be emnently proper and le
gal, If he chooses to make it, besides beng in
a high degree satisfactory to his EMPLOYEES.
1t is in this way that political quacks triAe
with the people, diverting their attention
from enterprises of real value, like coopera-
ton and education. But so far as Gen. But
Ter and Mr.. Kimba are concerned we cherish
lively hope that little will be heard of them
or their remedies after this fall, and of the |
TWO we can part with Butler with the least |
regret.
Word Now.
The fact that unusual unanimitv exists in