The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-08-17
Opening oft Ohio Campaign.
Judge Vests Speech at BellsfOn.
taine.
His Analysis Of the Resumption and
Labor Questions.

iontaine in a speech by Judge West. Al
ter briei Introductory remarks, Judgt
West said: The Cleveland Convention
reatlirmed as an entirety the NAtiona
platform Of 1876. On II last year w
ioaght and won. The principles il eDun
cialea and their discussion are fresh iE
the recollection OF all. Two additional
planks Of primeyal importance were
added at Cleveland, one favoring the
reconciliation Of silver, and the
other recommending the creation OF u
National Bureau Of Industry. The deer
interest awakened by the labor agitation
ranks the latter first in Importance, and
II will be frat considered. Tho recent
and existing industrial disturbances have
developed an alarming phase in our
American civilization and social condi.
ton. The unhappy contest between the
opposing sections OF the country was
iraught with scarcely greater peril. That
was a struggle for II divided dominion
and u separate ascendancy; this il
the bursting OF the volcano beneath our
feet, upheaving the foundations Of social
order and threatening with annihilatioD
the fabric OF industrial and commercial
freedom. Thoughtful men look on with
apprehension and ask, is this history Of
the old world civilization to repeat itseli
here2 Ia there an irrepressible Conllic!
between labor and capital, inseparable
from the augmented population and di.
minished employment, whose anarchiCal
tendencies can be averLed only at the ex-
penss Of military subiugation? This is
the grave problem presented for solu.
ton the OVershadowing issue Of the
hour which courage must encount-
er and prudence decide. 1t cannot
be ignored il we would; il should not il
We could. Thrice has the old world rem
cdy Of military Intervention been applied
in AZ many years, without extinguishing
the cause that was involved in it. 1t was
applied by Governor Allen in the Hook.
ing Valley, the event was Stilled and the
public mind settled back into ita accus.
iomed repair. 1t broke out afresll
in the valley Of the TusCarawaSi
again it was reprcssed by the mill
tary power, and the public alarm
was succeeded by the feeling that all was
we'll. Now 1t bursts forth in consuming
fires Of National proportion, the vicious
seize upon the commolion it has caused
IA an occasion for exercising their crimi-
nal passions, for applying the incendiary
torch, ior shedding innocent blood. On
these reason and clemency expend them
selves in vain. II is, however, gratifying
to know that no few, il any, with hearts
willing and hands ready for honest toll,
Joined them in this carnival Of destruC-
ton. That destruction has been stayed;
the uprising from which it sprang sup
pressed by arms and quiet reignS. Shall the
public again lold lis arms in fatal securi-
ty without investigating its cause or
Eeekirg to discover and apply some peace
full remedy more Cfectual and enduring
than arms, or shall we rather familiarize
ourselves TO the erection OF military
power in the management OF our social
affairs, and confde our institutions, our
interests and our destiny to the exclusive
guardianship Of military protection
Shall we without an effort TO reach some
peaceful solution of our social an
tagOnisms rather Rnfler their viO-
lenCe TO become the pretext for
strengthening our military and through
il effect the overthrow Of popular gov.
Grnment and public liberty? mol no !
We must meet the danger at the thresll-
old; while disorder must be repressed,
rights maintained and property protected
by the strong hand when the necessity
shall arise. We must not allow the cx-
istence Of causes, capable OF peaceful
remedies, TO impel us TO that state. where
we shall be forced to choose between
Il military despotism and social
anarchy. Let IFS rather demand the
exhaustion Of all peaceful appliances.
II these fail to protect the rights and
maintain the relations Of labor and Capl.
tai, then and then only must the Old
World history be suffered to repeat itself
in America. That there should be an ir.
reConciliAble antagonlsm necessarily
lending 10 a collision between labor and
capital is most unnatural. Their rights
are distinct, equally sacred, equally enti.
tied TO invoke and have the protection Of
law. They are mutually dependent, and
each is indispensable to the other. Labor
is the source OF all production. Capital
with its increase is the exclusive product
Of its hand. Without the remuneration
which comes from the product Of labor
alone, capital must perish from exhaus'
tion. Without the means and opportu,
nifty OF employment which alone capital
can furnish, labor must perish from mac
tion and want. Whatever is destructive
Of either is fatal to the other; without Co
operation Of each both must languish and
die. Since then the interest and pros
perity Of both arc inseparable from
those Of the other, is it not the
part OF wisdom to devise anG
apply some method OF intermanagemenl
which, without touching upon the sepA
rate rights OF either, shall secure the har
moniOus cooperation Of both; which
without disturbing their existing rela
tions, Ahall depress antagonism ant
secure in the common efforts Of each th,
common protection and advancement O.
all. 10 this suggestion there can be bu
one rational ansWer-yes! in suct
methods Of intermediation as arr
practicable or possible. Much re
Election and the experience OF other
tells me that tho whole embarrassment
arises out OF The question Of compensa
tion. Capital prescribes liked rates
changing them ut pleasure; labor feel
that il is insufficient, u sense OF injury ant
injustice is begottcn, whether il be rca
or imaginary the result is tie same
The dissatisfaction ripens into open dis
content till the slumbering volcano burst!
forth.
Can this be ayerted without arms an,
the shedding OF blood? | believe il can
llow2 by adapting and applying in oul
great industrial enterprises n grad
nated scale Of compensation conditioned
on net earnings. Will this vest labol
with any proprietary interest or property
right in the capital employed? Certain
ly it cannot any more than fixed com.
persation can vest it with sucF n right
Shall it be brought about by compulsory
legiSlationH No; for either capital OF
labor 10 invoke this would be 10 place II,
head in the lions jaws, even II tho gov
eminent had authority to assume iiris
diction Of the subject, but it has no sucl
authority. Freedom to contract il the
highest liberty Of the citizen. Subordinate
this liberty to legislative control and Il,