Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-04-03
Poor L-abOring Men Turned
from the White House!

One night last week some three
thousand laborers marched to the White
House for the purpose ofinforming the
President that they were hungry, poor,
ragged and in debt. 1t was natural
that these poor fellows should labor I'M
der the delusion that he could in some
way relieve their distress, so they
marched steadily to the front entrance,
and select delegation of five moved
forward to enter the mansion. For the
first time in the history of our Govern
ment the petitioners were met at the
entrance of the peoples house by the
police and denied admittance. The
house heretofore the Office of the Chief
Executive became a palace, and the
people were told that his excellency was
engaged and could not be disturbed.
1t was subsequently found that this was
true, the engagement being little
game of cards.
The indignant laborers gathered in
front of the Executive Mansion were
informed of the fact by one of the lea
ders, who spoke somewhat as follows:
"My Fellow Laborers: For the
first time since this house was built its
doors are shut up by the police in the
face of honest citizens, who come here
in peaceful, orderly manner to petit
ton for relief of grievances. This
man, our master, who was once himself
a laborer. has grown so great that he
cannot even see us or hear us lest we
contaminate his sacred person with our
soiled clothes; lest we disturb his val
ue9 rest with our demand for justice.
NV fellow-citizens, there is no potentate
in Europe who dares take to himself
such privilege. 1t is their boast and
their strength that, regarding the peo-
g, lie as their children, their ears are open
and their hearts are moved at all times
to their distress. We who have want
in our humble homes, where our wives
and little ones actually suffer for food
and clothes; we who find no labor
abroad and are denied the money justly
due, cannot obtain audience. with this
man, who is mainly responsible for Our
distress.
"Now, while these heavy doors are
closed against us poor laborers, they
swing on oiled hinges open to the heavy
contractor, who robbed us; to the rich
and well born, who fatten OH our toll;
to the corrupt officials, who steal our
hard earnings. These, and these only,
can we see at all hours; but we, hewers
of wood and drawers of water, we
slaves, serfs, down-trodden, robbed and
abused, must be careful not to come
between the wind and his nobility. We
can 90 back to our novels; 60 back to
the treless hearthstone and the empty
meal-chest; 60 back to our sick families,
suffering for food, and tell them that
we are dogs. with no rights a President
is bound to respect.
"Felow-laborers we have been rob-
bed and abused; we have insult added
to injury. This man with his income
of fifty thousand year who grows rich
in Office, who, clad in purple and fine
, linen, rides with his military heel boot
ed and spurred over the necks of the
people, laughs at our misery, the misery
he helped to bring upon us. Are we
tamely to submit! Shall we stand idly
by and see the republic perish while he
prospers ? No, my fellow-laborerS,
when hired minions under his orders
closed these doors on us he closed the
doors on his tomb. l thank God that
the power is yet in our hands. Here
in the very shadow of his palace, once
the house of the people and the home OF
patriotism. l tell you that is the last
of Grant. He has shown the iron hand
ofheartless despotism in signing his
own death warrant. We will return
him to the tan vat of Illinois and restore
the republic to what the fathers be-
queathed us in the Revolution. -
Washington Capital.