National Republican., 1880-12-29
Tho Friends of Labor.

They cried Reform and reSOrtcd to
Democratic methods of reforming until
they reformed themselves out of power in
most of the Northern States, in the Ex-
ecutive Departments of Government,
and in Congress. They now abandon
that shibboleth and resort to another ex-
pcdient as a makeshift in an extremity.
They set themselves up as the Moses of
modern times, whose mission Il is to lead
the laboring man out of the vale of pov-
erty and set his feet upon the apex of the
hill of prosperity. They squat upon pop
l,lar crcdulity with the bald assumption
that "the Democratic party is pledged by
its origin, its history, its faith, traditions,
and uniform practice to protect labor from
the cncroachmcnts Of capital" There Is
no page of history nor light of example
which justiiics such claim on the part of
the Democratic party. 1t is to be judged,
not by its professions, but by its works.
1t is an easy thing to set up claim, but
that claim must be justified by practices
where the results have proved themselves
benefcent to the interests Of labor in
this country. 1t Is not difficult TO excite
prejudice against monopolists and capi-
talists, but that only works mischief to all
concerned. Prejudice is not wise or
safe guide in coming to conclusions. 1t
influences and misleads the mind, clouds
the judgment, and, oitener than other
wise, brings disaster to any cause with
which it has formed au alliance.
| Tho pnttan nf Iohor Ias nn,.or vnt ham
advanced by arraying its prcjudices
against capital, which affords the
means of employing it and bringing
benehcent results to the laboring
classes. Divorce capital from labor,
and both would suffer from the scpara-
ton but make them friends and bring
them together in harmony of interest
and action, and the prosperity of both is
promoted by the relation. Hence that
man or that party who impresses upon
the mind of the laborer the idea that
monopolists or capitalists are "greedy
and labor-oppressing" is no true friend
to the sons of toll. 1t is only hy intro
ducing capital to the industries of the
country that labor finds employment.
Though the aggregation of capital in en-
terprises may in some instances create
whatist stermcd monopolies, they vindicatc
themselves by giving wide employment
to labor and by aiding in the work of
progress and development. 1t is by such
agencies that this Nation has become the
most civilized and progressive of any on
the earth to-day. While England boasts
of her civilization and humanity, she has
among her population vast communities
that are struggling for bare existence
under regime that has crushed out the
manufacturing interests of the section
and sent a great proportion of the people
to the soil, under stringent land laws, to
delve for meagre and precarious sup
port. If England had not by her policy
destroyed those manufacturing interests
in Ireland which the Democrats OF
America are pleased to dcnominate as
monopolies the people of that province
would now be comparatively prosperous
and happy when contrastcd with their
present suffering condition.
The Democrats in their new departure
of free trade as a means of advancing the
welfare of the laboring classes of the
United States play upon their preiudices
instead of enlightening their judgments.
Their leading is not in the way of pros
pcrity, but in the direction of inevitable
adversity. The syren song of free trade
is alike seductive and ruinous. The de-
molition of protection would expose our
manufacturing interests to ruinous COM
petition with the unrcquited labor OF
Europe. This would cripple if it did not
utterly destroy them. We admit that
we can raise our own cotton and wool
and that our mines supply the best of iron
ores and coal and while we have extcn-
sive factories, forges, and iron mills, all
equipped with modern machinery, when
our products are fabricated by COM
pensatcd labor and are placed on
the markets in competition with those
that are produced under the low priced
labor of Europe our enterprises would
languish and our manufactures would
inevitably be brought to halt. They
would either close up or the labor
Of America required to operate them
would be reduced to the standard ofcom.
pcnsation that prevails in the Old World
This would subject the laboring classes oi
this country to the alternative of either
being content with lower rate of com,
pensation for their toll or of betakinp
themselves to the tilling Of the soil fol
subsistence.
This is what free trade promises to the
, American toilcr. How does he like the
picture and the prospect it presents? He
is allured by the song of free trade anC
is advocates to despise, contemn, anC
make war on American capital and cap
italists, to the pulling down of monopo
lies and the ostracism of monopolists. III,
I is invited to embrace the doctrines o
, Democratic free trade, to open wide the
, markets of the United States to foreign
, products, to forfeit and throw away the
, advantage we now enjoy as a Nation o
q prosperous manufacturers, who give wide
, spread employment at liberal rates o
, compensation, and ultimately to brinI
American enterprises and the American
toiler down to standard of prices anC
wages that compensate the enterprise
and labor of the Old World. This is villa
! the most favorable feature of free trad,
promises for this country, and, excepting
the landmonopolies of that fated country
it would reduce us to the condition o
Ireland. Do the workers of the United
States covet such an estate? If SO, theI
they should clasp hands with the fire.
= traders, and they will soon enough in
! herit it if their dogmas, prevail