The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1877-08-12
WEEKLY EXC INDEPENDENT.
sUNpAI.AUdUsr ~. ts11.
Capital Nl,d Labor.

Capital and Labor.
Daring tine reign of Louis the Six
tsenth ot France, the founders of the
American system Of government had q
Sivid lesson Of the corrupting influen-
ces Of wealth and Of extravaganza in
governmental affairs. and mt tho close
Of the career of that unhappy monarch.
tho trainers Of the American Conslitu
tion firmly eesolved to throw around the
national chnrter such impregnnble safe.
guards As would forever prevent the
encroachments of mOHicd monopo!ies
and the bIightins influruces of political
corruption. The fathers of the new
Republic, in the honest simplicity Of
their hearts, fonlly funeied that tkey
had clearly provided nsuins. the danger
Of capital monopolizing the public do
muin; that the arrogance and tyranny
Of tho poSsessors Of vast estates could
never Cypress the people Of the new
world ns i had for NO MANY uges
crushed and fettered the denizens Of
Europe. In the earnest sentences
penned by Paine, Jefferson, 9Iadison
md Franklip. wo constantly trace the
hopeful belief that the American system
would forever serve rs nalia lium be-
tween the toiling millions and the
wealthy and aggressive few. II the
spirit Of incorruptible craftsmanship of
l77G conld have been perpetpated.
Them peyhaps.: the hopes of our vener-
ated ancestors might have been renl.
lied; bpt wealth is insidioys. aggressive
and Inscriptions. Statesmen are only
human after all, and the history of the
'raco too frequently notes the fact thar
statesmen as readily kneel to Mammon
as the yerie4t plebian in the realm. For
nearly City years wealthy monopolies
have been gradually encroaching upon
ine safeguards Of tho nation. Wealth
has seized the fairest portions Of the
public domain, and the European sys-
tenn Of vast estates, landlord aud tenant
and an impoverished vassalnge is rap.
lilly becom,ng The rule. weul,h in
naughty arrogance lanpts in tho Legis-
lnture and dictates tao policy of the
nation. Wealth, with unIloly hands.
SEXES the ,bRllot-bor and foyGily de-
cides who SHALL rule the deatinies Of
the Republic. Wealth fIes the rates
of taxation; arrarges the price CT labor,
and charges a royal.y uFea the very cir
men breathe. Tho goat domestic up
heayal OF Ito telling inasaeF OF the ems;
too plainly warn ne that The arrogance
of v nlthy Llnon2polieE has ut last be-
come pnbeprnhla. Thcte Is tn irrepres-
Hiblo oontifo. between labor en:-. capital,
and unless the statesmen OF our thee aSe
equel % tic emergency. tie day is Nc.
distant Wien tl,o Gsuat lopubNo IGay
witness 4 i repetition CT TIE horrors
whiah detolnsed liar;c "a llD3.
In viev. Of tho critical condition OF
the eorntrs upon tho question OF capital
and,lGbor, iti is gratifying TO know that
the Hubject 10 occupying the profound
attention. Of the Cabinet at Washington.
s A.telegrnm dated August 9th says: ga
good portion Of the Presidents mos
sage, upon the reassemLiing OF Con-
gress. will DO devoted to tho considera-
iion Of tho labor question, It is known
that ut numerous Cabinet meetings
held within the Past two weeks, this
subject has in several instances been
discussed to the exclusion of ull other
Z patters. Several membera of the Cab
met are known to favor the passage Of
alaw providing Tor the organization OF
u commission which shLll hnvo duo re-
gard for the interests Of all concerned,
l'IpdgopTs, merchants, railroad em.
pioyees and tapitaiisis, SO that on any
question fair compromise iuay be ef.
fcctcd. A member Of tho Cabinet, in n
recent CONVERSATION, spoke of this plan,
90" "'hueu A"u' SohS'ess h"u TlSnt
to pass snch Inv nBder the clauso Of
The constitution authorizing That body
to regulate commerce with fnrciup no.
tons aud among tho Several States md
with Indian tribes. Such COMMITS
Fioh might he Vested with puwcr 10 cx-
prime iuto the deSirahilty Of cllar,cring
new railroads. anl might require Ger
tain conditions To- bu fulfilled, so M to
Ritabtiall "a, reasonable certainty that
ho, projected roada would I've ,::2.H&era.
tive, and That tho company would have
tbs illrnns to pay for its construction
Rn'l thus avoid disastrous trilurs." !.