The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-06-07

why IL There a Scarcity of Labor?
There are times when the value of politi-
cal opinions must be submitted to prsc-
teal test. Partisan prejudics will some
times, for long periods, decide politics
action without regard TO consequences
But crisis occur in which the personal
responsibility of the voter must be con
sidered by himself. When the citizen is
made to suffer and absolutely fell the OPP
preston of bad legislation, then he is
forced to review bis political acts, and own
his part in the bad legislation that has
wrought the ruin that stares him in the
face. This is always the first step OF a
revolution in public sentiment.
To-day the American people are
cling the effects of Republican
legislation. The system of class legisla-
ton that has prevailed with the leaders OF
the publican party has gradually grown
worse and worse. There has been such
reckless and bold disregard of the COM
mon interest, in providing for the profit of
the few, that the people can very readily
discover now that there has been distinc.
and studied purpose to rob the people and
enrich the few. The masses now feel it.
1t does not affect alone the lsboring class,
but the merchant, the manufacturer and
the professional man as we'll. Business
prosperity in this country was checked
with the failure of jay Cooke d
Co. Republican legislation gave rise
- i'll
mercal transactions, of which Jay
Cookies operations were a conspicuous ex-
ample. The bubble was touched and IL
exploded. Commerce has been maintained,
and, indeed, all business enterprises have
progressed since then under pressure. The
gradual decline has at last reached point
when the dire consequences are directly
felt in the need of bread by large class
of men all over the country. The contrac-
ton of the currency that has been going on
under the Republican measure adopted
over year ago by Congress, under the lea
dership of Sherman and Morton has proven
so ruinous that only the blind can not
trace the present depression as the direct
result OF that Republican policy. 1t is ut
ter folly to deny 1t. The matter is so plain
that he who runs msy read. Practically
speaking, the currency is the only medium
of exchange we have. Legislation with
draws that, or Though distrust locks it up,
and business at once ceases. Only the
farming class can utilize their labor with
a profit under such circumstances, and
the prices of produce must of couue de-
cline with no money to buy it. However,
the whole nation must suffer.
The masses of the people must therefore
refer to its prcpsr cause the pressure of
the times, the wicked legislation, pursued
for a series of years by the Republican
party. They have not legislated for the
common good, but for individual profit
against the interest of the masses OF the
people. Republican legislation has put
out the fires in the blast furnaces. 1t
has shut ND the coal shaft. 1t has
stopped internal improvements. It has
ruined ship building. 1t has increased the
rate of interest. It has throttled COM
merce, ruined the manufacturing interests,
stopped the growth of cities and towns,
bindered building Investments, and said
70 the capitalists, Withdraw your money
from commercial enterprises. Is it won
derful then that here and there, all over
the country, these great wrongs shall pro-
duce the cry fer relief by the lsboring
masses, who have no. capital to fail
back upon. At such a time it Is
proper and fit that the cause OF the dis
tress should be earnestly considered by
the citizen. If, in a country like ours,
with its boundless resources, assistance
70 the necesssries of he must be furnished
to able bodied men willing to work, some
thing in our political system is grossly
wrong. Temporary relief may be offered,
but thst does not cure the evil. The wrong
must be righred in better legislation, that
has respect to interest of the lsboring and
producing classes. No permanent relief
can come but by change of sdministrs-
tor. Every social, religious and CONNER
cisl interest OF the nation demands it, and
demands it as soon as possible, that conf
dence, now shaken, may be restored, and
the legitimate prosperity of this country
may again be secured. The natural re-
sources of the country win secure ibis II
ubiquitous Legislation does notimpedeit.