National Republican., 1878-06-11
RELIEr FOR THE WORKERS.,

For nearly eight long and dreary months
the workers Of this country have been suf-
fering from prvation and want with their
eyes turned toward Congress, in the hope
that it would provide some measure of re-
lief Days, weeks, and months have worn
on, and no tender of relief has come. The
business of the country has been stagnant
employment has not been available. and idle
ness has been their inevitable estate. The
from every quarter of the Union to excite
the sympathies Of Congress and awaken II
to sense of duty in afiording relief, but 50
far the law-making power of the nation has
turned Il deaf ear alike to public distress
and TO the demands Of duty. And during
all these long and tedious months the con.
ditiOn of the worker has been growing from
bad to worse, until to-day millions of men
women and children are in absolute suffer
ing, bordering upon starvation simply fol
/ the reason that they cannot obtain employ.
mcnt and its rewards. The great mass o
these are ready and willing to work, but
there is neither work nor bread in store fol
them. Under such circumstances they arc
driven to the verge of desperation. They
must have bread or die in land of plenty
when they would labor if they could, and
have no wish TO eat the bread of idleness.
This is no Over.drawn picture to excite
alarm or arouse Indignation. 1t is simple
and unvamishcd history, and that, too, in
u land where plenty dwells, and under the
dome of that Government which is based
upon the principles OF equal rights-eyen'
| handed iustice-and that has made declara.
tiOn that the inalienable right to live i,
vouchsafed to all men within its protection
To be left to starve, then, is not to enjoy
the right to live, and when starva
ton comes to those who seek en-
ployment and the means of living
by their own industry-the promptings O
human nature are not always in the line o
meek submission. Hence the dangers tha
hang upon the present crisis in our history
and menace the peace and order of almos
every city and manufacturing precinct il
| the land.
1t is relief for the industrious poor that il
now demanded, and Congress has not onl,
the power, but the right to afford this relic
to some, if not to full extent. 1t has bu
n short period in which to make provision
for the exigencics of the period, and i
should not let the opportunity go by il
which to show itssympathy forthc suffering
millions now pining in misery in free anC
happy America" The people must no
be left 10 starve, or q terrible yengeanc,
may await our country. lien starving, sur
rounded by lamishing wives and children
cannot be reasoned with. They may be lee
to appeal to the first law of thei
being, and then they will be dca
to reason or the counsclings of patience o.
lorbearance. 1t is to avoid such crisi,
that we now appeal to Congress in the las
days and hours Of its present session to lis
ten for one moment to the cries of the peo.
pie for relief from their present and pros
pective suflerings.
Let the considerations Of economy he fo
one moment laid on the table, and take NJ
the question Of the needs of the people anC
consider these with candid minds an(
philanthropic hearts Appropriate one hun
drcd millions Of dollars of greenbacks, ant
cxpend them ON public buildings and int
prOycmcnts all over the country, so that til,
people shall have work and public suffer
ing be averted. Improvements Of harbOrs
rivers, the building of forts, the cree
tion and completion of custom-housc
and post offices - all these are needed
the money to accomplish the worl
is easily made aud issued by the Govern
ment-then the people can 90 to work ant
earn and enjoy bread-then the publ,
peace will he assured for a wcll-led peOpl,
are contented and happy, and happy peo
| pie never raise hand or voice against u Gov,
ernment that protects them. This Is the
! way out Of the pending difficulty, and it /,
the only way that we can discover by
which the peace, prosperity, and happncs'
OF this great country can now he assured
"'Twere donc-twcre well done, 'twerC
done quickly." This Congress can now
make amends for murh Of its shortcoming-
! il in the last hours of its session it will
atone for the past by providing for the ftl,
ture. The responsibility is fearful, and let