The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-08-11


canting world, though the cant Of pow
erty may be the worst, the cant Of an
American hypocrite bewailing European
communism is the most disgusting.
But we have no communism here.
The elements that breed it are not pres
ent here. Strikes are not communism.
They are resistance to single specific
wrong. A freemasonry Of assassins, like
the Mollie Maguires," is not COM
munism. Labor disowns them. Penn
sylvania, which breeds ignorance and
then cheats it, which leaves boys all day
in the bowels Of the earth to grow up in
ignorance into tools and voters, may
expect to see her labor, like that Of
Europe, driven to the task Mt the point
OF the bayonet. But even she, rs I'M
American as she is, has no communism
within her borders. Three
fifths Of the Americans have something
to lose, and half the rest hope soon to
have. The mass is uneasy because edu-
Gated men betray and capital plots to
ruin them. 1.-THE capital Of the cos,n-
try is organized at last, and we shall see
whether Congress will dare to fly in its
face this is the most insolent tone Of
the press. II it did not stir indignation
and provoke resistance, We might well
despair Of the republic. !.
We have more than enough Of the
babblc and chaff Of "supply and de-
maud" That is political economy
which forgets God, abolishes hearts,
stomachs and lot blood, and builds its
world as children do, ont Of tin soldiers
and blocks of wood. Here every man
reads, votes, and carries arms The
physical force. the voting majority, and
4 large share Of intellectual ability, are
in the possession Of the employed.
Hence such questions are far more COM
piicated than in countries where
despotism holds iron sway over dis
franchised ignorance. Equally out OF
place and absurd is the argument that
capital will only pay what it pleases
and labor must submit That is slavery.
The millions employed in mines, fac
tories and on railroads have usually
that one trade and no other; they can
not easily shift into any other employ
ment. Very few families Of working
men have means, when turned out OF
work, to travel hundreds of miles in
search Of other employers; hence the
majority Of the employed are chained
to one place and to one trade. Saying
to such men, "You shall have no voice
in fixing your own wages, and you shall
take what is offered to you or starve," l.
slavery. No American will, or ought to
submit to that. If the day ever comes
when by any means Americans ar.
obliged to submit permanently to that,
republic will here be impossible. The
only Just, safe and lasting basis Of peace
is that which calls labor into conference.
and allows it . full share in settling the
rates Of wages.
We abhor and denounce all violence.
every assault on private right or prop
erty, on the liberty of the individual
working-man, and above all on life.
But these outbreaks are transient ant
exceptional. In spite of them ever.
thoughtful man must rejoice that til.
'aboring men are awake, intelligent,
and independent
We rejoice in the clear judgment
| which enables the workingmen to di :
cover the danger which threatens. W.
| rejoice in his readiness to resist stat
| Of affairs that degrades him, threaten
to undermine republican institutions
and TO condemn his children to want
ignorance and dependence. It is one Q
| the chief benefits Of education, civiliza
ton aud progress, that they make AMI
are intended to make, such violation O.
right, such injustice and oppression
| dangerous and almost impossible. TIL,
| inevitable dangers land there are newt
| able dangers) which attend such inius
tice are enough to rouse the keenes
anxiety Of capitalists. That is spIl
enough to quicken their consent t. d.
Justice. We counsel workingmen /.
frown on resorts to violence it can onl,
delay the remedy they seek. Let them
rely on agitation, discussion and on asso.
Citations for mutual help aud protection
but only such as violenc.
and abstain from all interference with
the rights and free action Of individual
workingmen. Voters under represent
alive government, unite in political nc.
ton and appeal to the moral forces oj
the age. The necessities which underli,
Tree institutions and the soundest max
inns Of political economy are their stron.
allies, aud the conscience of mankind il
on their side.
Plainly, now, the first duty is to take
care for the material interests of the ma
ton. Ii it were possible to rouse thu
public and begin at once crusade L
execute Justice and save the Union, that
in this crisis. would still be the frs
duty. Conflict Of arms and blootlshet
may, at any moment, reveal TO blindet
eyes this duty. But while this delusiol
# peace without purity. Of peace no
based on justice, lasts while the Soutl
imagines the North a coward, only be
cause she is foolish, and the Nortl
accepts in the South hypocrite for
brother, labor claims every ear and ev
cry hand.
i Public opinion is too strong to be re
sisted too wise to be long misled. Tn,
people, it has been said, do not see, the,
feel. They have felt the tyranny Of
selfish system Of finance which COZ
rupted men by giving them free chanc
to steal. They are opening their eye
to detect its errors. Sure as the risin
Of the sun, and calmly g morn ripen
to MONDAY, they will get ready for thu
keener battle which is impending th
battle for impartial liberty and equalit
before the Law.
The white South hates universal suf
rage the so-called cultivated North di
trusts it. Journal and college, socia
science convention and the pulpit, di
cuss the propriety Of restraining j
Evarts and his committee, appointed |
inquire why the New York City Cover
ment is failure, we're not wise enough
or did~.lot dare to point out the re,
cause. the tyranny Of that tool Of IL
,lemagogue-the corner grog-shop; bt
they advise taking away the ballot iro
the poor citizen. No wonder the hun
bier class looks ON the whole scene wit
alarm. They see their dearest right !
} peril. When the easy class conspires
| steal, what wonder the humber cla
} draws together to defend itself Tru
! universal suffrage is terrible power
and with all the great cities brought in
subsection to the dangerous classes
grog, and Congress sitting to register Il
DEGREES Of capital, both sides may VI