National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-11-23
SET THE W0RKINGMEN TO WORK.
DUTY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY tt
THE PEOPLE.

DUTY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO
THE PEOPLE.
To the Editor of The National Republican:
Some three weeks ago you raised the standard
Of labor in behalf Of the Workingmen OF Amer
lea. and your words Of advice and cheer have met
a hearty response from nearly every State in the
Union. 1t is one Of the great errors of tho day
that the Administration is held responsible for
the events occurring during its term Of office, and
the prosperity or adversely Of the country is at
tributed to the party then in power.
While there are few thinking men who are not
aware Of the fallacy Of this belief yet the great
body Of the public being working people, have not
sufficient time or opportunity to weigh things for
themselves, and therefore adopt the views Of their
political advisers, and are to-day blaming the
Republican party for. the lack of employment
which is offered 70 the possessOr Of bone and mus
Gle, willing and anxious 10 labor for the necessi
ties and comforts Of life.
There is no doubt that the laboring class are
suffering throughout the country for the want Of
whatever their business may be, is affected
through the idleness Of our lRboring classes.
This being the case, and the Republican party
having in a measure the power to remedy this,
and being held responsible for it, is It not better
for the party as well as for the lab9ring people
u fact Is 1t not H.tT Co.. .Le 65untry a. ers=
that the Republican party, at the next session Of
turgrrs5, sIUtIi,i PROVIDE work for the people as
far a. lies in their power?
The fact is we'll known and everywhere admit
that labor, like every other PRODUCTION OF the soil
arts or manufactures. is regulated by supply and
demand, and now that the supply is SO greatly In
excess Of the demand, created by private tndiYtd-
uals aud corporations. the labor market offers the
greatest inducements to large capitalists 70 carry
On their undertakings and such men as Wander
bit and the directors Of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad having the means, have availed them
selves OF this glut in the labor market 70 push
the improvements designed in the interest Of
their corporations: and right here let US ask in
~ .FEv-FsHW n
and what reason can exist for the General Gov
eminent neglectiHg this favorable state Of things
to complete the many great works determined
upon and which must be done within few years
especially when this saving Of public funds is
coupled with giving employment TO the thou
sands Of men, heads Of families, who have their
health. muscle and training alone to oppose
against the entrance Of poverty and hunger, grim
and gaunt, into the midst Of their Low ed ones?
Probably there is not State in the Union in
which there are not several great improvements
which must be made within a few years, and
might be made now. The representatives Of each
State will be able 70 present the necessities ofhts
own district 20 Congress.
The South needs much. and her needs are press
ing. Being better acquainted with Texas than
the other States, ! would suggest that the con-
tinuatiOn Of the improvements lately inaugUrated
in Johnston harbOr by which ships drawing eIgh-
teen feet Of water can at all times get over the
bar, would at once do what Congress has ex-
pressed its intention Of doing; and, while il gave
employment to many now suffering for the need
thereof. would also benefit Texas, the Indian ma
| tiOn and Southern Missouri and Kansas millions
Of dollars which will be lost to them by the same
| delay which permits the labOrRg people to suffer
for the necessities Of life, for which they are will
| ing TO exchange the only commodities possessed
| by them-their labor and skill.
Again, the late raids made upon our frontier
| demand the protection Of the military forces OF
! the Government. The military posts already es-
ia bished upon eur frontier necessitates vast eX
| penditures upon the part OF the GOVERNMENT in
the transportation of military stores and supplies
and the transportation Of troops which experience
has shown to be always too slow to afford protec-
m n % pVfpUT q fprrftDry m ha
Texas has come nobly up the line Of duty in
/ selEprOteetiOn and seli-imprOyement. She has
/ done more for herself than could be required Of
1 her, and as much as her resources or income for
! the present will permit. She has aided and as
| sisted in building great trunk line of railway
across her State linking the East to the last city
| in the West-San AntOniO-Which road has been
pushed forward with Tapidty and thOrOughness
| Of construction unequalled In the South, and
The demands Of today and the complications
| which may at any time arise between this cOun-
| try and Mexico seem to imperatively demand
| that this great iron highway be carried on to
Mexico. The vast track OF wilderness, now the
| home Of proving bands Of Indians and their no
| less rapaciUus and inhuman comrades, the Mexi-
cans. offers no inducement TO this corporation to
extend this line beyond san Antonio, but If as
| sisted by Congress this road could be carried on
10 the Pacihc ocean. reaching the same at MaZat-
| Ian in Mexico. forming great military aud ma
tional hig hWay anording greater protection than
| a standing army. and revolutioniziDg the COM
That this will be done by some party. and that
in few dsys, there appears 10 me to be no DOUBT.
That the building Of il now would bring US twelve
| hundred miles nearer China and Japan, protect
our frontier. beneht the country as we'll as the
| South, give employment 10 thousands and de-
| crease the annual expenditures Of the Govern
ment for transportation, there can be little ques
/ tion. Let these things be done by Congress, for
! Texas and the Republican party will have done
more 10 break down the barriers now existing be-
| tween sections and politics than can be done In
twenty years OF ordinary legislation. Oar people
\ are cut of employment; they are idle; they are
hungry and q mass Of idle hungry people inevit-
ably create revolution Of some kind in their en-
| beavers 10 better their condition. Have we not
seen young revolution within the past thirty
/ days2
| Yours truly J. II. BAKER.
Editor OF Houston Mercury"
SUITS TO Order, with promptness, from SIS
upWaId. GEO 4. HEKETEs,
No. 40 SeTenth street.