The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-11-04

but 1t was tho widespread determination Of the
| laboring masses hat they would not be TO-
duced. either by legislative enactments or exc
cut1ve schemes, TO u state Of paupersm They
! then rose in their power and might. and by
peaceable and legal means overthrow those
who were In power and plotting against them :
| and. as / understand your purpose. YOU pro-
| pose to follow their example
| II cannot be denied that there bng been on l.
| tirely too much attention paid by our Legisla-
lures to other interests and entirely too little to
| the encouragement Of mechanical pursuits and
/ tho employment and payment Of labor.
LII If IN my opinion mistaken ilen to think
| that any great State city like ours can flour
| ish and prosper and enjoy tho happiness and
| comforts that should be tho reward OF industry
whilst the mechanic and the laborer arc placed
| in DosltiOn-many Of them at least--little
better than that Of mendicants and slaves.
| They too If worthy and Industrious, are use-
| full citizens; they form the bulwark OF tho
country's protection In times Of war, and should
| be- respected and protected us we'll ag capitalists
| In times OF peace.
! ] am convinced that your solo object Ia to
peRoeably. and by the power Of your combined
votes, legally cast and fairly counted, 10 secure
| to yourselves share Of representation In the
and State Of which you are citizens.
! would not nor could not appear before my
| fellow citizens as the Representatives Of any
| rarity or body of mon that had In emplaton
| The commission of any violence, and trust that
| wise and prudent councils will insure our suc-
| cess without violence being resorted to to oD-
enough Ia our Southern land. which man could
| neither forsee nor prevent, without bringing
a anr otdeps ~ conflict or conflicts between
| The laboring man md the mechanic are. and
! have boon patient, although oppressed and neg
soon convince the powers Of the land political
parties and all. that they, too, are powerful. and
| that 1t but requires b firm and combined effort
| respected. and that 1t is but o poor way to en-
courage industry by MAXI g 1t. through license
| laws md taxation. expAnsive.
Some twenty five or thirty years ngo, when the
citizens of Phi adeDhta found that New York
| WIS fast Ouistripping her in growth and pros
perity by virtue Of her large manu- acturIng In
| tereste, the Legislature Of Pennsylvania wisely
enacted law exemp ing all industrial pursuits
and all capital invested In them from taxation.
| And what is the RESULT
| Go to Philadelphia. and you will fl I'D that she
! Ia fast overreachitg New York both in wealth
and population. and although the entire burden
| yet you will see whole blocks of buildings In
| course Of erection you will find but few empty
stores or dwellings from Delaware Buy to Ger
| kill rivers: and why Is II? Because the me-
chanichl and laboring masses are kept con.
stant!y employed and punctually paid good
wages, thereby enabling hem TO pay their rent,
liy9 respectably and enjoy the comforts Of life,
| There may be something In the lesson It
shows. at least that something can be- done by
l.gis lntlon to improve the cor dit"n Of the me-
chan1c and the laborer. and at the same time
enhance tho value Of property and secure the
| general prosperity Of the community.
SO far rs the Indebtedness Of Thu city is con-
cerned, the men who succeed the present I'D
minis ration will most surely come to the man
| agement Of q broken-down estate. and such
management will doubtless require more than
ordinary effort and ability, The class of citi-
gems which you represent have In the aggre-
gate as great an interest involved as the rest of
your citizens. and whilst I would not advise or
advocate any sudden change or violent mons
ure that might prove INJURIOUS to the financial
or commercial Interests Of the city. [ can most
seriously assure You that should be elevated
to the position Tor Will b you have nominated
| mo. that every reasonable method that can be
adopted and every effort that can be made to
guard your interests and secure your welfare
wi! be cheerfulIy accorded by
Your humble servant
JOHN G.. FLEMING.
Published by order of the Executive manage
ment Of the Mechanics and Lahorers Union.
W. e. YATES,
nd 12dp Corresponding Secretary.