The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-20
Tn. Labor Movement in Politics.


We do not share the regret so widely eA-
pressed by party journals at the disposit'on
of the workingmen to carry their grew
ances into politics and seek redress by gov
ernmental action. We do not dispute 'ne
charges of ignorance so noisily Illuminated
against the workingmen, nor the wild ana
chimerical nature of some OF the reforms
which they demand. But their notions are
not cruder than those OF many prominent
public men on the same class OF supJects'
There is no better corrective for false Ideas
than to bring them into the arena OF poiiti-
cal discussion. We think the worklngmen
in this country have heretofore made
mistake in keeping their organized move-
ments outside of politics. 1t is mistake
in this country, because here they oil pos
sess the right OF suffrage, and they have
only to act in concert in order to control
legislation. 1t is different in England, for
even under the new reform bill less than
half of the males of full age are voters. and
as all property owners, large and SMALL
possess the elective franchise large major
ity of the laboring classes have no voice In
the government. In England, therefore, the
non-political trade unions are the only
means by which the great body OF laborers
can act in an organized capacity. But IN
country where universal suffrage prevails
they have a more potent instrument OF
redress if they will only use it.
1t is not surprising that the party press
pours scorn and ridicule on the introduce
ton Of the labor movement into politics.
1t tends to hasten that dissolution Of the
existing parties which is imminent by
bringing fresh elements of discord into the
old and effete organizations. Even If the
labor movement should lead to nothing
beyond dissolution and reconstruction
of political parties it will have conferred
benefit on the country. But it will accom-
plish great deal more. 1t will bring
new order Of questions into the foreground,
and precisely the kind of questions on
which our politics ought to turn. What Is
most needed is to lift legislation out OF its
old ruts and force attention upon the
great industrial and business interests
which suffer by long mismanagement
are some OF the notions and demands OF the
workingmen, they at least have the merit of
relating to the real, vital questions which
touch the sources Of public prosperity. 1t
is certainly great error to suppose that the
interests of labor and the interests of capital
are in conflict, when rightly understood; but
such errors can be cured only by discussion
and will never be adequately discussed I'M
til thrust upon public attention in the vehe-
mence of political contests. The tearing
down of the old edifce and construction of
the new will cause great deal Of disquiet-
ing dust and rubbish but the time has come
for the reconstruction of parties and in the
work of demolition, at least, the labor move
ment will render needed service. 1t will
also do good work in debating the kind OF
materials of which the new structure shall
be built, although wiser architecture will
be required in shaping them together
The workingmen have learned by bitter
and decisive experience that their former
organization and methods are impotent in
such q condition of things as has existed for
the last five years in this country. In spite
of their resistance, in spite of strikes, car
ried in many instances to the point of vio-
lence, the wages Of labor have steadily and
largely declined, and even at the scanty
wages offered hosts of laborers have been
unable to find employment and the tide of
emigration has been set back toward the old
countries. The evil is too deeply seated to
be reached by such remedies as those in
which the workingmen have heretofore put
their trust. 1t is at last beginning to dawn
on them that their sufferings are caused
by the action Of the government and
that the true remedy lies in forcing
the government to adopt better meas
ures. The mischief cannot be reached
through trade unions and strikes on how
ever large scale, but only through the
potent agency of the ballot box. For labor
ers and capitalists alike this is wise con-
clusion. Capital and labor are equally
ground down and crushed, the rate Of in
terest having declined in larger proper
ton than wages and large amounts of CAPT.
tai being thrown out Of employment, as
well as large amounts of labor. 1t is for the
common interest Of both to break up and
demolish the old parties, to discard and
bury efete issues, and to compel the gov
eminent to occupy itself with those living
issues of the period which relate to the re-
Mobilization of our PROSTATE trade and in
dustries. No matter how crude and wild
are the first indigested notions brought
into prominence at the beginning of the
movement; the turbid stream will run
itself clear in its progress. The dense
ignorance of the laboring classes, and
of capitalists and politicians too, on indus
trial and economic subjects, is a natural
consequence of the preoccupation of the
public mind with stale issues and spent
controversies The first important requi-