, 1877-08-18

Geepa tho country IN apprehension and
alarn. Roseato pictures Of tho future will
not now satisfy tho people. The people
want to know, In regard to tho resumption
business, what tho Secretary proposes to do,
and how 1t is to bo done. In tho meantime,
tho country ia drifting toward another
crash,-to mn humiliation Of business, and
the Secretary Of the Treasury lcaves his
office to tell tho people, "Lot hor drift; NO
will como out oil right, how or whom 1 do
not know; wait and sec il something docs
not turn up to snvo u.s.
JUDGE WEST ON TIE LABOR QUESTION.
Judge WEsr bus opened the Republican
campaign with speech delivered at Delle-
fontaiuo, in Which lo defines his altitulo
upon the labor md currency questions. AZ
the strike is now over, aud It's excitement
has In large measure abated, aud rs be has
had timo to reflect upon tho criticisms pro-
duced by his somewhat unguarded and in
considoraso, Cleveland speech, which WINS
born Of l,aste and popular pressure, NO 1nay
assume that tho opinions which he now OK
presses aro tho fruit OF hia cool aud dispas-
sionato reflections. In tho present article
VIC propose To examine only his position as
to the relations OF capital and labor.
No ono will dispute his premises. No ono
viii deny TINT tho conflict between capital
aud labor, which has been characterized by
soyoro national disaster, Ia tho overshnlow-
ing issno OF tho time; that a pcnccful solu-
ton OF tho existing antagoniam Ia infinitely
preferable to solution by military force
that tho intorost and prosperity Of capital
mud labor ore inscparable, ono from
tho other, and that It Is "tho
part of wisdom to deviso and apply
somo method Of inter1nanagemont whioh,
without. trenching upon the separate rights of
oither, shall soouro tho harmonious oo-opcra-
ton of both; which, without disturbing
their exlsting relationship, shall ropross nn-
tagouisms and secure the common efforts Of
oaoh In tho common protection and advantage
OF ALL" As we havo said, no one will deny
that this is d contamination doyoutly to bo
wished for, and, wo may add, whom that con-
summation Is reached the world will hayo
lnntlo long step toward the Millennium,
It may bo seriously questioned, however
excellent Judge WEs7's promises may bc,
whether his deductions or tho remedy which
he proposes arc practical mud sufficient.
Briefly, his proposition IL to adopt and ap-
ply in great industrial enterprises a gradu-
atod scale Of compensation conditioned on
net earnings, not by Legislation, for "Goy-
ornment hos no authority to assume jurislic-
tion Of the subject" but by voluntary ar
rnngenent. 1io would apply his remedy In
tho following manners "Let tho capl-
talist prescribe reasonable minimum
rate Of compensation 10 bo paid at
ali ovonts, md, in addition thercto, assume
to distribute among his 1aborora at tho end
OF stated periods an agroed Of ateclaetl por-
centago Of Ills not earnings for tho saue
time. 1fhla business prospeFod. tho laboror,
from whose toll It springs, would share bis
prosperity. II not, he would acguiesoe with
oonteatment in receiving all that 1t WAS In
tho power OF q considerato employer to gsyo."
We have no doubt Judge WxsT Ia sincere In
making this proposition, and honestly be-
lleves shat 1t would compass the results he 10
ardently longs for. Indeed, he says: ~
have heretofore expressed my confidence In
their correctness aud practical efficiency, and
now repeat that II !, o. manager OF col
lieEy or railway line, had tho power to try
tho experiment, would tcst the principle
with confident assurance OF successful
issue." We regret that lie has never had tho
opportunity. for opinions based upon practi-
calexpenence are more valuable than theories,
Al he declared in bis Cleveland speech that
he had never owned bonds or stocks, aud
never would, aud that he had never been at
tho headof corporation. aud never would
be, Of course ha can neTer make tho test
We must set bis proposition down, there.
fore, as the theory Of q dreamer, not the
opinions Of practical man based upon
actual experience. IA the Cincinnati Com
mescaa1 recently observed, It is what Judge
WxsT would do had he the mixing Of tho
world over again. Perhaps It ia fortunate
that he can never undertake tho Job, for q
barren ideality il even worso than distract
Ing reality.
Judge Wxsr's proposition, outside the dx-
ing Of an uualterable minimum ratio OF COM
pensation, which never could be dxed. Of
course, because the rate must depend upon
the rise or fall OF pzices,--is in all essentials
the old system OF cooperation. 1t
IL an admirable system for the
hbores on . rising market. So
long % prices are up and profits are
large, nothing better could be devised for
him Flo is eontenssd aud happy. He IL
willing to shaze with his employers In the
profits. But then there comes time whom
the donSud fsIls oil. ,Eoma rival stana in