The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-07-09

"Ihe Dem0crauC party 10 the hAehe "a
labor and the laboring man."
Workingmen, and friends Of labor, let
me draw your careful attention to this
truly "catch vote" plank adopted by that
gathering Of distinguished friends (2) OF
American labor, known as the Cincinnati
convention. Consider well this ION
paper" sentiment OF that labor cherishing,
labor protecting ~ party known as De-
mocracy, and then review the course Of
that party for the last twenty-five years
and see how It's past actions accord with
the above declaration. / think you will
be quite astonished. But this should not
necessarily follow when you consider that
the votes OF the dear laborer are sadly
needed this fall to place in power this
wonderfully consistent (! party which
has done, and sacrificed 80 muchior the
toiling millions Of our land.
They wish US to forget the times when,
In the Democratic stropgholds (the solid
Soutb) workingmen were poor white
trash" They wish, US to forget the
time when the white laboring man OF the
South was looked upon as lower than the
blacklist and most Ignorant plantation
hand by those very men who now wish
to receive the support OF that same labor
ing man.
Yes, they wish these facts forgotten long
enough to enable them once more to
grasp the reigns OF government, and then
the iaboring man will be left TO take care
Of himself and make the best he can out
Of country flooded with the productions
OF foreign countries, brought TO our ports
through means provided by this same
labor loving party that has promised SO
much and done so little for the laboring
masses Of our country.
Forget it not for a moment, that the
Democratic party is Southern party,
cherished and kept alive by Southern
plantation owners, whose every interest
Is opposite to that OF the Northern laborer.
This party, depending as 1t does for its
support on the South, must shape its every
action TO forward the interests OF that sec.
ton. 1t must do this or be swept out OF
existence by those who have chung to this
rotten plank for so long, hoping that they
would one day be artiul enough to hood.
wink the laboring men OF the North and
thus be enabled TO use them as stepping
stone to power, which, once gained, weuld
be used Tor Southern benefit only.
Has the Democratic party shown that
respect for the working class, that must
be felt, and shown by every true lover OF
his country Ianswer-Nol! For where
labor is respected, there will manufactures
flourish. Does manufacturing flourish to
any extent in the Democratic stroDgholds?
No. The State OF West Virginia, blessed
as II is, with every natural advantage that
goes towards building up great producing
centers, Is almost without manufactures,
excepting the Pan Handle, which Is
settled principally by Eastern men.
This is not the case with West Virginia
only, bat extends all throughout the
South. Emigrants shun our State as they
would the plague, and pass by unnoticed
our hillsand valleys, although they are
filed with all that goes towards building
up a wealthy nation. And this state OF
affairs will continue until Bourbonism Is
is swept from our State, over which 1t
hangs like pail, darkenipg the sun OF
progress that should shine upon US with
an unrestricted beam.
Labor will gather where 1t protected
and labor has not gathered in that section
OF our county which furnishes the NOV.
ing spirits OF Democracy-and why notP
Not because labor would not be as re-
muneratiye in that section as any other;
not because 1t has no natural attractions
for honest labor, but simply because man
ual labor has always been looked upon in
that section OF our country as q disgrace.
And as labor has been despised by the
Democracy in the past, what can the
workingmen expect in the future from
that partyP 1t will be the same old story
over again-a promise made only TO be
broken.
II anything further Is needed to show
the disrespect the leaders OF the DemOc-
racy feel for the working class 1t Is sup
piled by the nomination Of Gen. Hancock,
man who was taken when boy from the
ranks OF the upper and more influential
class, and placed in position that no poor
mans son could aspire TO under Demo.
cratic rule. He was supported and edu-
Gated at the expense OF the Government,
in whose employ he has been continually,
since boyhood, never having held an
office or made a record, save as military
man. And this is the man put forward
by the Democracy as the friend and pro-
tector OF American laborers; a man who
never did harder days work than to ride
a Government horse, and who never
handled more useful tool than sword
or revolver; man whose education has
fitted him to judge fpublic questions from
a military standpoint only; q man to
whom his fellow men appear as no more
than legitimate food for gunpowder, and
as useful machines in throwing up Ell.
trenchments.
Can it be expected that this man will
give any thought to the welfare of the
working classes OF our country? No. And
why noL2 Simply because he has never
identified himself with that class, which Is
the bone and sinew OF our land. His course
OF education has been such as 10 lead him
TO look down from his high military sta.
ton upon those who earn their bread by
the sweat Of their brows, as beings tit only
TO I'll up the gaps in the ranks caused by
an enemy's fire. Can It be expected that
this man, in case he Ia elected, should pay
any attention to laboring men, on ques.
tons Of labor and capital? l think not.
And for the simple reason that he has not
had that training which would enable him
to give anything like an understanding
ear to such questions as are OF vital i'm.
portance to the manufacturing and trans.
porting interests Of our country.
Laying aside the question OF his
ignorance on these matters, and con.
only the importance that
would be brought to bear on him by the
South once he occupied the Presiden.
tial chair, we are forced TO admit that
the prosperity Of all the northern indus.
tries would be sadly impaired, il not TO.
tally destroyed by any such misfortune as
the election OF man whose sympathies
must necessarily be with the South. Gen:
Hancock, as q soldier, is deserving oil oil
praise, but the ability TO handle an army
on the field Of battle Is no indication OF
ability or even willingness 10 forward the