National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-02-09
THE POVERTY OF NATIONS

1ueTe Is uOIuluS "ulCu 30 SURELY anu 81
quickly impoverishes nation as the idle
ness of its people. Its labor is its fountain
of wealth. Since the panic of 1878 perhaps
a 1.-THE of the labor of this country has
been unemployed. One tenth of our in
dustry, chiefly that engaged in manufac-
lures, has possibly been paralyzed. Be-
cause that this labor was formerly employed
in the prosecution of large enterprises, its
discontinuance has caused distress in GER
tain populous localities, and has made
great noise in the rest of the country. But
while the loss of the labor of one million
men for four hundred days is national
disaster, involving the tax-paying capacity
of the country in depreciation of three to
five hundred millions of dollars, it is not
such a calamity as should cause US all, in
dividually and collectively, to stop work
and fold our hands in discouragement to
await ''better times" What makes "bet-
ter times2" Is it cessation of labor? Shall
we acquire riches by the paralysis of our
industries? Because some of the great
family of laborers are idle, shall the other
members stop work and all starve togetherP
Congress is supposed to represent the
united labor and intelligence of the coun-
try. 1t has the management of the united
collective capital of the laborers who pay
the taxes for the support of the General
Government. There is scarcely anything
which the labor of the country consumes
which is not taxed in some shape or other
for the benefit of the Treasury. Is it the
desire of the forty million of consumers of
this country who sustain the Treasury that
the single million who are idle shall remain
so, if the former can, by united contribu-
lions, furnish the capital necessary to give
them employment? We think not. This
tenth of our manufacturing industry that
is now unemployed is in its present idle
condition chiefly on account of the failure
of moneyed corporations or specializing mo-
nopolies. Is it wise for the Government
so to legislate as to add to the idle numbers
Is not the country now taxed millions per
annum in exorbitant charges for transpor-
tation which might be saved by the utiliza-
ton of our idle labor in the improvement
of and proper management of channels of
commerce ?
Suppose the labor of one tenth of the
million of idlers had been expended in the
cheapening of transportation during the
past year, either by the Government or by
the means of private capital, would not the
result have been to stimulate and encourage
the private industries to the employment
of the remaining nine tenthsH Like begets
like, and confidence exhibited by the Gov
eminent would inspire it in the minds of
the people.
Congressman talk loudly and earnestly
of the poverty of the people and still per-
sist in adding to it by course of legislation
which contributes to the general contrsc-
ton of labor. Under the pretense of re-
lieving the general distress they go on pro-
viding for the discharge of all the laborers
they can who are employed upon public
works and Withholding all encouragement
to industrial enterprises. They have re-
solved to do everything possible to favor
cheaper transportation, but now that the
time for action has come they hesitate to
make the appropriations and provide the
means, either by taxation or loans, to carry
out those resolves. Is this because the cleo
lions are over2 Were the resolutions passed
and the surveys ordered simply to affect
elections =? The capacity of the people to
pay taxes is measured by the amount of re-
munerative labor they have to perform. A
people who have paid tN elve hundred mil
lions during the last decade and half for
the purposes of war do not quail at the
prospect of paying two hundred millions
more in the interests of peace and prosper
ity.
Congress should look at these questions
of labor and cheap bread, of increased agri-
cultural production, with all its concomi-
tant announcements of the mechanic arts
and manufactures, in practical light. If
it believes that an addition of two hundred
millions to the taxation or debt of the
country, to be judiciOusly expended during
the next five years, will result in an an
nual economy ever after that of an equal
amount in cheaper transportation, why
should it hesitate in authorizing itH Does
it wait for q more emphatic expression of
the people upon the subjectf They have
spoken as plainly as possible in its favor.
Both parties tacitly approved the policy at
the latest of their conventions. The Re-
publican party especially is pledged to it.
The Forty third Congress is Republican.
1t has the power to inaugurate system Of
internal improvements which will cover it
with everlasting honor, and entitle it to
the thanks and confidence of the people.
More than this: it will not again have such
an opportunity during the next two years.
Has it the courage to assume the response
bility2 That is the question. And by its