The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1878-12-14
OUR NATIONAL FUTURE.

OUR NATIONAL FUTURE.
The partisan press found little to be
pleased or amused at in the Presidents
late message. 1t had little in it TO for
cast tie political future of the country,
but thoughtfully touches,-and truth.
fully-the future of the people. What
ever may be said Of the questionable
means by which President Hayes was
seated in the chief executive chair of
the nation, future history will accord to
him, we believe. the credit of having |
tried TO be a good President. Never,
probably, was a presidential term so
hampered with social and political In
tricacies as his has been. If he had |
been political time-server, his admin
istration, overshadowed as it has been
by the most trying financial problems,
would have been complete failure. 1t
may be pronounced failure now for
he has succeeded ia displeasing both the
great political parties of the country
the Republicans especially are displeas-
ed with the Presidents Southern policy.
1t has been too pacific; and has lost to
that party the colored vote of that re-
Gently rebellious section but, at the
same tune, it has Lad pacifying effect
upon the people there, and they have
made great progress in regaining their
social status, and their commercial and
industrial prosperity, Time only can
tell what will be the ultimate result.
On the financial troubles of the coun-
try the message showsH bright side, and
IL the suggestions are needed by Con-
RIess, 1t is believed that we shall, after
the lst of January, see marked i'm
prOvement in matters. 1t informs us
that the agricultural products of the
country, for 1878, are worth over $3,-
900, 100000. II we add to this the pro-
ducts of our mines, forests, fisheries and
other producing elements, about as
much more, we have an aggregate ma
tional annual production of SO, 900, ,000,-
600, or nearly three times as much as
our national debt. Such nation is in
no danger cf bankruptcy; for if we
should tthe-tax this production, as other
nations have done, it would pay the
principle and interest of the debt in
four years; and this could be done with.
out afiliction, as the message informs
us that $500. .000, 900 of our agricultural
products, not needed at home, are ship
ped to foreign lands. But as nation
we have learned by experience, some
valuable lessons, and our future pros
perity depends upon our profting by
them.
The labor question, for sometime t.
come, will be an embarrassing subjec
in this country. The President barrel.
touches this. 1t is matter for the peo
pie to thoughtfully deal with. At til,
present, an unevenly balanced condition
of matters in this connection exists
The products of labor are cheap, ant
therefore labor must be. e.cheap, but q
the some time, strange to say, the cos
of living is dear.
In the infancy of this still young ma
tiCn, we were community of workers
but at this period, we are divided in
ITO three classes, the same as olde
nationalities - the producer, the as
.sistant producer and the drone. Un
fortunately we a:e cursed with a
over abundance of the latter class me
and women who do nothing but ia
production to keep themselves in eXis
fence. The line Of demarkatiOn wher
NlLe assistant producer ends and tn
droRe commences is difficult to draw
r1he maD or woman, who for some triN
ial mental service rendered is receivin
Grom one TO ten thousand dollars G
more yearly income, when the toiling
skilled artisan is receiving only $3.50
day. is drone, and the worst kind of
dtOne; for while the knave and sharpe
is continually watched, that class {
drone is licensed, aud consoles his cor
science with the thoagiIt that
"Just experience tells, in every soil,
That those who think must govern these
who toll"
AS people, we have diiftcd into th
day of small things again. There mu,
be looping off of sinecures, who al
paid by taxing the people, as well q
to those who are paid directly by ind
viduals. While we are groaning an
growing about taxes which we nevC
see to pay off the nations debt,in man
cases, we overlook tie fact that our litt
home taxes are eating US up price mea