The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-08-14
Ths Workinamen,s Case.

The workingmen's Case.
The mischief of such profane and Enl-
gar rant as kearney made In Faneuil Hall
can hardly be overstated. Nobody cares
that such an ignorant screamer has cut
his own throat with his tongue. TIC the
damage ended there it would be a reason
for public rejoicing. But he claimed. to
represent the workingmen, and appeared
on that historic platform to champion
their canse. But instead of Forwarding
the interests of the workingmeD, by his
presentation of their case. he damaged it
irretrievably by his coarse, ignorant, dem
agogical harangue. He misrepresented
his clients, mismanagedg their case, and
turned the sympathy of the great general
court f,pnblic opinion irrecoyerably a.
gainst them. Kearney excited the preju-
dices and hostility of capitalists and prop
erty-owners and intelligent wage earners
against the workingmen of the country by
his indiscriminate assault on property and
whoever holds it, and his blatant black
guardism. They naturally look with anx-
ietyg and alarm upon O movement which
is headed by such demagogue. who lays
down programme which would reduce
society to anarchy were, it carried out.
What can the workingneD expect of the
community after insulting its Intelligence
and outraging its self respect and morality
by such speech as Kearney screamed
into its ears? They have to thank this ig-
norent California demagogue. who has the
temper of a dictator and would be worse
tyrant than any capitalists he assailed if
be had the power, for compelling the peo-
pie to look down on them as. enemies of
social order and incendiaries.
The case of the workingmen of the coun-
try must not be Judged by such false
statement of i as Kearney has made
1t is the basest injustice and wrong
to them for mere chariatan and agitator
to prejudice the public against the maud
turn the general sympathy into bitter
hostility. The unquestionable fact is that
since 1860 the interests and rights and
welfare of the working people of tn e
North have been neglected and pushed
aside by other issues and for other ends.
The slavery agitation overshadowed all
economic questions. The war thrust the
vital interests Of white working people in
to the background. While the nation was
in the throes and agony of civic war men
were too much excited to think how specif-
ic measures adopted to meet pressing
exigences would affect the condition of the
working people of the country. When d
house is on fire people do not stop to think
of health. We have had sixteen years of
sentimental legislation, and half OF the
time it was done under stress of circum-
stances and in panic. The culpable and
criminal thing in the Republican manage
ment of affairs is their total neglect of the
interests of the working people. and their
| sacrifice of those interests In particular
cases to the advantage of corporations and
capitalists. Let the blame fall where it be-
longs. The Democratic party is not re-
spousibe for the condition of things. 1t
has done everything in its power to pre-
vent and provide against it, But not only
the workingmen, but all classes are suffer-
ing Thousands of rich people have been
iG poverished, and the number of bank
rupteies is unparalleled in our history.
The real question now for the workingmen
and for all classes is how to make times
better for the whole country. A house
cannot be raised floor at time, now one
room and then another; the screws are un-
der it and the whole structure is raised al
once. We want TO lift the industrial and
mercantile and financial condition of the
whole country together People cannot
| have work until capitalists see it is for
| their interest to invest their money in in
dustrial enterprises instead of buying Gov.
ernmelt bonds at merely nominal rates oil
interest. All these-fne-spun theories fol
lifting the working people by knocking the
property holding and employing cIasse.
on the head are not only wild but suicidal
A wise practical craftsmanship will dea
directly with the evils that Can be reached
and take the handle the situation hold
out. 1t must be remembered that bad as i
the condition of working people in thi
leountry, it is vastly better than it is il
Europe. A few years ago, according to a.
elaborate report made by special com
mittee, two men in every nineteen il
IGreat Britain were paupers. Afterward
Mr.. Eawcett, the able political econemis
and the best authority on the subject, ad
mitted IN Parliament that one man il
every thirteen in the British Islands wa
pauper.. It is only few years ago tha
the mass Of working people in Englan
were but step above the brutes-ignoI
ant, squalid. degraded slaves, without fh
lprotection state of slavery gives The
condition under the concienceless contrt
of irresponsible corporations and capitalist
beggared description, and at last com
Ipelied the Government to interfere i
their behalf. And though their couditie
has greatly impoyed, scarcely q wee
passes but we have reports of labor strike
! aud lockouts, and the suffering of thot
sands of unemployed people, and the di
+ order and Decentralization that result fror
the fostering mass OF pauperism.. III
z working people of this country arc prince
j 10 comparison with the condition of the
brethren in England and some parts
]; the continent. But their wrongs al
real. and their suferiags ought to be r
lieved as soon as possible. They shou
lhaye the sympathy of all other clasae
They should receive better wages +
: their work. They should be treated wi
kindness, and the consideration that b,
longs to human beings and American ci
izens, By their employers. They shou
= have every right that belongs to then
aod every privilege that can be safe
Igranted. But the great thing wanted
them and by all other classes to-day
prosperity Give Us good times. SO th.
capital can 6od profitable investment
and mills can be worked, and furnace fir
% be kindled, and ships be freighted wi
al our products for foreign markets, al
there will be DO further trouble. The
terests of all classes In America are t
same at bottom, and must be promot
:, together. Instead of pooling the votes
3 break down capitalists and break up {
old political organizations, as Kearney a
vises, the tworkingmen of the count
= should unite and combine with the par
4 that is pledged TO promote the interes
5 Iof all classes alike, and relieve industry