The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-08-25
PUBLIC INPRoHEMEN7s AND LABoR
Philadelphia Times.

Secretary Sherman is not considerate O
the interests of the party when he need
leesly and offensively antagonizes tn
views of the distressed industrial classee
His curt answer, to perhaps rude inter
ruption, in q public speech at the Wyo
ming celebration, telling the laborer tha
! the way to get five hund, ed dollars was tc
| go and earn it, left many bitter memories
! among the tens of thousands of honest and
| industrious citizens who would gladly earn
| any amount if they could find employ men t.
1t was passing around the vinegar of
political oratory when the sugar was Just
ss handy and would have been especially
acceptable, coming from the Secretary of
I'll e Treasury. In q recent statement made
to the IribuneS Was,ipg gton correspondent
he com united an inexcusable folly for
such an astute politician as he has been
reckoned. 1t was not only an error in
policy but equally an error IN fact. He de-
clares against the prosecution Of public
Improvements by the government, and
scouts the idea that euch q policy would
relieve the industry ofthe country. "Not
one man in FIVE hundred would be bene-
fited by any euch outlay on the part of the
goverpm ment," is his answer to the appeal
to the GovernmaDt to give all the aid it
can in a legitimate way, to employ the idle
labor of the country.
in this regard Secretary Sherman griev-
ously errs. It is true that the government
could not directly employ one in five hun
dred of the present unemployed laborers,
but it could accomplish the most benef
cent results by the prompt aud liberal
prosecution Of every public Improvement
actually needed by the government. 1t
would give direct employment to many |
worthy people now in enforced idleDese, |
and their employment would employ thou |
sands of others in furnishing materials !; |
all the shop-keepers and tradesmen who |
ha fohO 6o
and all branches of industry and trade |
would feel the quickeuing of business.
Every dollar paid out by the government |
for legitimate labor would reach through |
various channels of business, giving thrift |
toIall as it passed among them. The gov
cannot assume to give employ
ment to it's people as fundamental prin-
ciple of governmental policy but every
civilized government of the world has
yielded to imperious necessity at times to
preserve the peace and promote the pros
perity of its communities. 1t was thus
that Napoleon l. made France the grand
est of nations. He first moved down the
Commune with grape and canister until it
yielded to law aud then employed the sur
Vivors either in the diversified arts of peace
Dr. in the empty glory of war. 1t was thus
hat Pennsylvania revived her people
after every great business prostration.
Her public improvements, commenced
AtEeF INC War Oh 1917 are more the
n6numents of necessity than of delib-
,rately planned progress. They developed
he wealth and industries of the state, but
hey, first of all, quickened business and
'aved the leading energies of the Common
wealth from hopeless bankruptcy.
If Secretary Sherman will glance over
The country he will see various public
improvements already in progress and
others contemplated by law. These are
presumed to be legitimate and necessary
it is not for Cabinet officer or q
President to decide otherwise, and they
an be prosecuted with greater economy
low than at any period in the past. 1t
would, at the same time, give employment
20 thousands of labOrers and diffuse
throughout communities incaleulable bless
Dgs to the industrial classes. IudePen J.