The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-03-13
; ssursesHy, March E3, 1873.
TBE LABOR QUESTION.

may be controling,) consideration in the
affairs of government. Tha qaes ion, with
the student of political economy, is what is
that position and through what instrument
talities the end is to be attained? To achieve
Vt without running into unlicensed liberty,
and to keep within the limitations ofconscrv-
alive safeguards, is the paramount aim. To
isolate the question of labor reform, and la
Dor rights, from the many considerations
which affect the administration Of govern
rnent would be to assin,ilate that great in
tcrcst to relationship with fanaticism, and
thus attract to it the opposition and condem-
nation of the conservative minds Of the coun-
try. Presenting itself purely 10 the phase
of an association, as a political organization.
Having as its single aim the labor interests.
without carrying along with it those conssrv-
stiye checks and restrictions arising from
other questions Of equal peytiusncy in the
machinery of government, it would speedily
resolve itself into one t,}e.isns, ana from the
excuses it might be led into, mee6 with a
certain and fatal rebound. It is this concen-
tration Of the labor elemeo. into a single
shought that is exciting the apprchcnsious CT
the governments Of Europe. It is there
hedged in by unsympathetic systems. politi-
cal, social, educational and industrial there
Is no mutual attraction between it and them,
and its very inc'pieoey is tie signal of con-
flict and stern, relentless warfare. It there
comes forth with the hand Of Tshmssl Il
meets enemies On all sides, and by the logic
Of events, is compelled to assume tho attitude
Of antagonism
But not SO in this country. The liberal
izisg tendency Of our institutions, opens up
avenues for its quiet and natural approach
into all circles, every interest, aad into the
very framework Of our government. The
legislation of our country can be 50 fashioned
as to fully meet the demands CT labor, while
it Testers every other interest, and contrib
uscs to this general prosperity. What labor
requires ir tbs United States, is intellectual
and material progression and Development
1t demands FREQ school houses, where the
struggling germs Of mind may be properly
shaped aad directed. It asks for the gene
rous aid Of government in the inauguration
Of public inpr,v m eats, wh'ca carry with
them the developing agent Of ms:srial re-
sources. It requires judicious laws for the
protection Of home Industry, SO that the ia
vcntive capacities and muscular energies OF
the people may be stimulated By the promise
Of remuneratve rewards. Il requires, in
short, an open field and a free fight, in this
struggling, advancing, progressive, wonderful
age. With these assured, the labor element
Of the country will proudly enter the field q
contest, contribute It's share to the securc!nen:
Of conservative government, and march abreast
Ct the spirit CT the times, confident in its oEt
inherent intellectual capacities and its power
- malatain tho most commanding respecta
bility.
It is not necessary, in order 10 attain thcot
ends, that it should be thrown into selfish
organization, distinct from the political par.
tics now recognized in this country. ltwould
be far more advisable that it should make
common cause with that party whose policy
IS in harmony viii its aims. and the logico
tendency Of whose political tcnets is the
extension and expansion Of the general intel
ligence Of the nation.
we recognize in the Republican organiza-
ton, the party Of progress. 1t rises in its
designs to the demands Of the age, and com
prehends the grand destiny that awaits tht
country. Broad ia its views liberal in it
legislation, and progressive in its spirit i
embraces the ideas which are destined to work
out the full Development of Republican gov.
ernmenl and plant it upon he confidence, ths
affection, of an enlightened, educated copstit
uency, such as was eontem plated in the de-
viscment Of our free political system.
A popular government such as that Of tho
United States, could have no other safe basis,
than an educated suffrage Each constituent
element having voice in the government
and the formation Of it's Laws, should be suf-
fcienly educated to give that voice inteili-
gently. With universal suffrage, there should
be universal education, aud we here lay il
down as a truth that must become incorpora-
sd into TIE fundamental creed of the party
Of the people, that it must favor BY all legiti-
mate means, legislative aud executive. the lib
eral education of the ma sses 1t is only III
this way that The true theory of our govern
mant can be fully developed and maintained
Its checks, its partial fail1res. and its re.c.
tionary tendency, sometimes, can be easily
traced to the Ignorance of the masses Hit
eracy is only suited to d spotsm. Mock
aristocracy Haunted its authority ia the South
ern States, SO long as slavery existed It's
dying struggles have disturbed the political
waters. 1t was difficult and huuliatn. t,
recognize the results of the war. But these
things are posing away, and the Stern reality