National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-02-07
GEN. BUTLER ON LABOR.

business department to the new REPUBLICAN
building.
GEN. BUTLER ON LABOR.
Applied industry is the only true source
OF wealth. Man is condemned to eat his
bread by the sweat Of his face. When a
man is in debt he must labor hard to pay
up. The greater his embarrassment the
more must he economic and the harder
must he work. The harder he works the
more does he add to the taxpaying capacity
Of the country. If this be true of a single
individual how much more is it the case
with the aggregated population o. the
country represented by the General Gov
eminent The true secret of good and
prosperous government lies in keeping its
entire labor well and constantly employed.
In this manner alone can its aggregate
wealth be increased and its expenses easily
paid. Every blow Of the hammer that
Falls upon the iron and aids in its transfer
nation into cunningly- devised tools and
machinery is an addition to the collective
wealth. Employment brings with it con-
Sentiment. A weil-paid laboring popula-
hon is the most orderly and contented in
the world. A people constantly and profit
ably employed rarely dream of revolution.
1t is undoubtedly the true policy, there
fore, of great Government like ours in the
Zines of panic to exert every legitimate
effort to afford employment to the laboring
elssses in order to preserve tranquility and
aid in imparting confidence to the whole
community. General Butler struck the
xey-note on this subject in the House on
Thursday when he uttered the following
ringing sentences in the course of the de-
Date upon the army bill, and which were
omitted from the synopsis Of the proceed
ings which appeared in The NATIONAL
REPuBIlCAN. General Butler Said: "Now,
sir, am not legislating here, and, by the
blessing of God, never will legislate, as
though this country were in bankruptcy,
as though we could not do anything but
"pinch here and starve there. We are
not in that condition, thank God if
1--WE were, the last thing I would do
'would be to turn out of employment
the poor workmen engaged by the Gov
"crnment. GApplause in the galleries. ]
would not put them in such position
& That they would have nothing TO do but
"to come into our galleries and hear our
stupid debates. [Laughtcr.] 1 would
not do that; and hope this House will
"not. want to legislate as a statesman.
Il will never undertake TO build up rep
"utation as statesman by starving some
"poor woman, or by turning some poor
man out of employment do not want
g any reputation which such a coulse might
give Inc with my constituents"
When we consider that it is the laboring
glasses of the country who really pay the
taxes for the support of Government it be-
zones obvious at once that it is 10 the best
interests of those in control to keep them
tmployed. The discharge of workmen by
Hic Government is tantamount to a confes-
ZION of weakness, and instead Of tending to
restore confidence in the financial affairs of
he country, operates by contagion toward
she disorganization Of the whole labor sys-
~ IL thS noihciioi's anu vi
ihe Government were TO be closed, or run
upon half time because of financial furry
Dr. fright, the reaction upon the public mind
would soon close half the workshops in the
country, and have a corresponding effect
upon all other industrial interests
Ii has been seen that the panic of Sep
:ember slightly checked importations of
goods and increased the importation Of
specie. 1t checked the entry of foreign
merchandise for consumption and increased
:he expectation of our products of labor.
But if The industry of the country be not
parslyzed, the lesson will prove healthy
,ne. Economy of consumption of lux
1rics and super1uities will be induced,
while the productions of labor will be stimu-
:ated and the aggregate wealth of the coun-
Try be augmented.
Every movement of the Government
toward the encouragement of labor kills
she goose that lays the golden egg" 1.-THE
consumer who pays the duties upon i'm
portations is thrown out of employment,
the receipts into the Treasury from that
xource will cease. If Government discon-
.inues the payment of IFS monthly rolls it
will aid vastly in paralyzing the circulation
Of money. If the Treasury would aid the
circulation os the country it should disburse
more frequently, instead of at longer in
tervals. The present volume of currency
would be more beneficial and relieve the
siringency more rapidly if it were kept In
more active circulation. The interests
Of labor would be advanced twenty to
thirty per cent. by the adoption Of
weekly in the place of monthly
payments. Let the Government set the
example in frequent and prompt payment
Of all its employees The influence would
be most salutary in its effects upon private
establishments. And when they shall fol-
low suit the transactions of the country, es-
pecially the minor ones, will be made with
but credit. The currency will be constantly
circulating in effeciing the exchanges be-
tween labor and supplies. Gen. Butler de-
,erves the thanks Of the combined indus
srial interests of the country for the bold
'tand that he has made in their behalf. The
government employees especially, here and
elsewhere, will award him grateful need
Of praise for his efforts.
CONGRESS YESTERD4Y
Although private bill day" in the
House is usually tedious and wanting In
interest, the introduction of the Petric
claim yesterday afforded chance for rhe-
;orical display and an occasional squirt Of
what is termed 'tspice." The claim itself.
perhaps just, pcrsonifies the usual pro-