The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-04-16
THE NATIONAL PARTY,
sTs LEADERS AND THE WORK
lNGMEN.

nNGm WIN.
The Detroit Free Press has some
pretty sharp things TO say about the
National party and it's leaders which it
would do well for members Of that par
ty 10 read:
The strength developed by the Ma
tional party in this State in the cleo
tion on Monday. though very consider
able, is small when compared with the
sounding proclamations made in its
behalf.-But when we consider what
manner OF men they are who staud
sponsors for tho movement, the won
der ia that it has any strength at all.
Especially is il a wonder that il finds
any strength with the workingmen; for
as class they are shrewd judges Of
men and especially OF men who seek to
obtain their sympathy or support by
any manner OF false pretense.
The head and front OF the movement,
so far as Michigan is concerned. is
Moses w. Field, and il is hardly posi-
BILE to name n man who has ever been
publicly spoken OF in connection with
parties who il less entitled TO the con-
fidence and support OF workingmen, or
less calculated upon general principles
10 win such support aud confidence.
Socially he has nothing whatever, in
common with the workman; aud ex-
cept when he has an object TO gain he
makes no secret OF his contempt for
the sons aud daughters OF toll. While
he was n candidate for Congress he
fraternized with all classes and crook
ell the supple hinges OF his knee to
everybody who had n vote in his dis
trict. But even while he did this he
loathed the necessity for doing II and
despised the men upon whom he favn-
cd for votes; and when the campaign
was over and permission was given him
TO remain at home ceased TO know the
workingman.
He has no community OF interest
with the workingman, either upon his
own theory or upon any correct theory.
He is n capitalist, and il is part Of
his teaching that capital, so far as the
workingman is concerned, IL robbery.
He is not, however, a capitalist of the
kind that intelligent workingmen toll
crate and recognize the usefulness Of
"a capitalist who uses his capital in
furnishing employment to others. He
is n capitalist OF the land-holding
species; and it is this, in addition to
his political ambition. that makes him
an advocate OF unlimited paper money.
He knows that il the currency is only
inflated sufficiently, his land will ad-
vance and become salable, because the
people will prefer something solid aud
tangible 10 the inflated currency. He
can then sell, either outright or con-
tract with long time to the purchaser.
Probably, like the rest Of those similar
ly situated, he prefers the latter meth
od. Pursuing IL he will free himself
from the burden Of taxation, have a
good income from interest on the un-
paid portion Of the contract, and when
the crash comes-ns he is shTewd
enough 10 know il will come-he gets
his land back, because the purchasers
are unable to perform their contracts.
so far as he is concerned. the scheme
is an admirable one; but 1t seems al
most incredible that intelligent work
ingmen cannot see that any scheme
which promises we'll for him is certain
t. prove disastrous to them. He is not
in the same boat with them, and il is
difficult 10 believe that he can so Tar
blind them, either by his agectation of
sympathy or his ringing OF the changes
upon the imitation theory, as 10 make
them think he is.
With the workingmen in this coun-
try we are quite sure Fields blandish-
ments will have no effect, or very little
Here his whole history is known, and
especially those disgraceful portions OF
il which relate TO the treatment Of the
widow Of poor workingman who en-
listed is his country's service and fell
on the field Of battle. The working
men of Wayne county know Field to be
bounty grabber. in the worst sense
of that very opprobrious term; AID il
the workingmen throughout the State
have any curiosity on the subject, or
any doubt that the estimate of their
brethren in Wayne county is correct,
they eau easily satisfy themselves and
remove the doubt by consulting the
records OF the courts wherein Fields
case was tried.
As for Fields lieutenant, Trevellick.
he is Just as little entitled TO the conf
dence OF the workingmen as Field is
Once, no doubt, he was a workingman,
/ in the sense OF having n trade; but II
he can remember when he did Az hon
est days labor with his hands, he has
a better memory than most OF the peo-
pie in this portion OF the State. Field q
estimate Of him-that he fills the de-
mand for a man with big lungs, TO 10
| the outside works undoubtedly the
correct one; though il is simply just 10
say that he denies being in Fields en-.
ploy, and declares that he gets his pay
! from the East-perhaps from Ben But
ler. Whoever employs him-on ac-
count Of his lungs-he has no claim
upon the workingmen.
That the workingmen should hear
all sides and decide for themselves is
cheerfully conceded. But when they
find one side OF question advocated
10y such men as Field and Trevellick,
they have q right 10 ask, and are in du.
ty bound 10 ask, whether the interests
Of such men are identical with their
own. Aud il they decide-hs they
must, il they consider the matter can
didly-that what will profit these men,
either in pocket or in office, is not like
ly TO protect or benefit the working
man, they cannot fail TO condemn the
doctrine which the Fields and the
| Trsvellicks preach.