National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-02-26
APPLIED INDUSTRY.


Its only source of wealth, that it alone yields
the revenues for the support Of govern,
ment and adds to accumulated capital, it is
plain that the most fruitful application Of
industry should be the study, and com,
mand the best efforts of her statesmen.
Credits are drafts upon the future. Paper
currency is simply q promise to pay at
some future day-credit-money. The
greater the credit the heavier will be the
maturing demand upon the industry of the
country at the future settling days.
1t has long been the favorite theory OF
many would-be statesmen that this Gov
ernment should do nothing in legislation
regarding the employment Of labor. To
this end the Democrats have opposed pro-
tective tariffs and all systems of internal
Improvements.
The old Wings and the Republicans, on
the contrary, have ever advocated protec-
ton to labor and encouragement to all in
ternal improvements that tend to the de-
velopment of the country. Such works not
only employ labor, but stimulate produc-
ton. The amount Of capital invested in
the construction of great works of internal
improvement is but small proportion of
the great aggregate that is attracted to their
vicinity from private sources to take ad-
vantage of the increased business facilities
afforded by them. 1t appears that the
present condition of the country calls loudly
upon Congress for legislation in the interest
of labor. The great Northwest is demand
ing better and cheaper outlets to the sea-
board, in order that the fruits of labor in
the former section may obtain better remu-
The expenditure by Congress of
twenty millions annually for five years In
the construction and improvement Of great
water routes in response to this demand
would give an impulse to the application of
labor of untold importance to the material
interests of the country. Such an expen-
diture would not only of itself employ
proitably vast amount of unproductive
labor upon the works. but would stimulate
all the agricultural and mechanical indus
tries in the same section to their utmost
capacity. 1t would, besides, attract immi-
grafton and capital from abroad. 1t is de-
that the opening of these routes
would result in an economy every year
equal to the amount of their cost.
The responsibility of meeting these ques-
lions and settling them dcvolves upon the
great Republican party in Congress. If
That party is not equal to the occasion its
in Congress will be called
70 answer for it 10 the people of their sew
,ral constituencies next fall. Its majority
n both Houses Is sufficient to enable it to
'ettle definitely its policy in this regard,
md there can be no valid excuse for giving
t the go-by.
The only way to increase their taxpaying
capacity Of the nation is to keep its labor
employed. As Government is supported
~ taxes, and its prosperity is only assured
~ the ability of the people to pay them, il
ollows that the utilization of labor is really
he paramount duty of statesmen. That
his question has been sadly neglected by
,ur public men of late is evinced by the
'tagnation of our commerce and the paraly-
lis of our industries. The people have dis
covered this fact, and hence their organiza-
ions for the protection of labor and the
'evival of commerce, both foreign and
Internal. The ''labor unions and the
= Changers" simply demand a recognition
If the legitimate rights of labor in the legis-
alton as against the overpowering interests
If monopolies. Tosuch recognition they are
entitled. They know and adj
nit that the interests of capital and labor
re identical, and that their efforts should
We tremendously cooperative. What they
'bject to is that Congress legislatcs too
much in the interest of monopolies to the
prejudice of labor, by which the great COM
,inations of capital are enabled to rob labor
If more than fair share of its fruits.
1t cannot be denied that there is much
orce in their reasoning, and it becomes the
,art of wise politicians and true statesmen
o heed the warning and apply the remedy. |
f the Republican party would maintain its |
prestige as the party of progress and the |
riend of the weak and humber classes of
,itizens it must now solve this question of
he application of the varied industries of
he country. President Grant has re-
,eatedly invited the attention of Congress
o the questions of cheap transportation and |
he recuperation of our foreign commerce.
nd thus shown his readiness and anxiety |
o cooperate with Congress in the solution |
{ this problem. Will this Congress prove
quail to the occasion?