The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-09-21
No Responsibility.

When workingmen's meetings resolve,
and when speakers who advocate the work
| mgmen's cause assert, that in the future
they will act independently Of both she
Democratic and Republican parties, for the
reason that both have proven false to them
in the past, they make an accusation against
the Democratic party which is no; susccpti-
bic If proof. The workingm, n. in dofene o
Of their separate organization, declare that
for many years past the legislation of the
country, both national and State, has been
in the interest Of capital and opposed to
labor, and that their main purpose is TO
gain the ascendancy both in Congress and
the State Legislature, so that their rights
may be effectually protected. This is sub
stantially their programme, or platform, as
announced by themselves, emitting it's
minor details. Admitting, for the sake Of
the argument, the truth Of all they allege-
tlas legislation has not done FOR labor what
it ought to have done, but on the contrary
has been purposely diverted all the time in
favor of the moneyed inteIest-what truth
or what force is there in the charge that
any Of the just responsibility for such a
condition of affairs rests upon the Demo-
cratic party? 1t won't do to impute to the
Democratic party the sin Of legislative
omission, as we'll as of commission, when
in truth and in fact it has had no oppor-
tunity Of SHINING at all. No intelligent
workingman need be told TINT for The last
sixteen years the Republican party has had
full and complete control Of the Executive
and Congress at Washington, and of the
Governor and Legislature at Harrisburg.
All the laws that have been enacted during
that time relating to the nation and the
State, have been the work of Republican
majorities, and the Democratic party is no
more responsible for their passage than it
is for the terrible famine which now pre-
walls in India. If the financial legislation
by Congress has been hostile to labor and
i'll favor of capital, as the workingmen al
lege; if millions Of acres Of the public
lands have been squaudered and recklessly
given away if enormous sums of the peo-
pies money have been donated to railroad
and steamship companies if our State Leg
Islature has piled up mountain high law
upon law for the benefit and advantage of
railroad, mining and other powerful cor
porations, all the sin must be laid at the
door Of the Republican party, and there it
rightfully belongs. If the Democratic par
ty had been i'll power since the close of the
civil war a very different state of affairs
would now prevail, and workingman's 8
party would have 10 cause for existence,
The Democratic party was founded by
Thomas Jefferson as the peoples or labor
ing mans party, and it used to he fashion
able with its enemies to denounce it as
such. Whatever may have been it's errors
in the past, it cannot with any pretence of
fairness be made to share any Of the heavy
responsibility which must alone be borne
by the Republicans for the evils now exist
ing, and of which the labor party so loud
ly complains. The only safe place Of polt-
ical refuge fol a workingman is the Demo
cratic organization, and acting with it by
his vote and Influence. aid in restoring it tc
power in the executive aud Legislative
branches Of the government.