Mexico weekly ledger., 1882-07-06

owing to the aggressive spirit ant
arrogance Of the great railroad cor.
porations, their active participations
in elections, and influence in legisla.
tive assemblies" Il a
The San Francisco Chronicle says
eff the past may be accepted as O
fair index of what is to come, it will
be but a few years, at farthest,
before railroad monopolists will die.
tate the laws and control alike the
legislative, executive and judicial
departments Of the government, o,c,1
the territory and .fetter the ,oorkiag
classes scith the shackles Of peonoge. "
Gov. Gray, of Indiana. says: "In
my Judgment, the Republic cannot
live long in the atmosphere that now
surrounds the ballot-box. Many cor
porations, to secure favorable legisia-
ton for themselves, are taking an
active part in elections by furnishing
large sums of money to corrupt the
voter, and purchase special privileges
from the government. II money can
control the decision Of the ballot box,
it will not be long before 1t will con-
troll its existence.,'' aH 70
And again, Judge David Davis
declares "that the rapid growth of
corporate power, and the malign in
fiuence wh!ch its exerts by combina-
ton on the national and state legisla-
ton, is a well grounded cause for
ALARM .-.. = ~ ..,s,. b. -..
These manipulators and corpora
tions belong to no party; they are
always with the majority, and loyal
to nothing save their own interests ;
and l close this branch of the argu-
ment with the sworn statement of
Gould himself, President Of the Erie
Combination, when examined be-
fore a Legislative committee in New
York, in regard to the alleged bribery
of some members of the legislature,
and some of the judges Of his State,
who were in favor Of this combina-
nation. A committee was raised tby
that legislature to inquire into and
report as to the truth of the charges.
In the performance Of its duties, this
committee. called before them this
same Jay Gould as a witness, and he
was sworn and testified, and his evi-
dence was stenographcd as it fell
from his lips, part of which 1 will
now read: .,.,,.i .........,... ....-.
"I gave large amounts for elections
in 1869, 1870, 1871 and 1872, in the
senatorial and election districts. 1t
was what they said would be neces-
sary to carry. the day, in addition to
the amount forwarded by the COM
mittee. I contributed more or less
to all the districts along the line of
the road. We had to look after four
states-New York, New Jersey, Penn
sylvania aud Ohio. It was the GUS
tom when men received nominations
to come to me for contributions, and
l made them, and I considered them
paying investments for the company.
In Republican districts was a strong
Republican-in Democratic districts
l was Democrat-and in a doubtful
district I was doubtful. In politics,
l was an Erie railroad man all the
time.'' i. .ti ss-r
On this point the argument is
ended. If I have not said and read
enough, to demonstrate that not only
vigorous but exceedingly prompt
action by Congress is demanded to
protect labor, even the Government
itself, against such enemies, then
nothing further would do so.
THE TARIFF.
Labor is cheaper in England and
in continental Europe than here.
There much is pauper labor and costs
next to nothing. Raw material is
also much cheaper than here for OBJ
vious reasons,-costs of transporta-
ton there, in comparison with ours,
is but a bagatelle, because regulated
by government,-and so across the
ocean to our markets, for reasons
heretofore given, it is exceedingly
cheap, the result of all which is and
must be, that European labor car
put its production in our markets, fol
less money and sell it for less sun
than the first cost of like production
Of American labor. This it will be seer
at once must be to the great injury
of American labor, and if no relief
could be had, would, in certain
branches, destroy it.
Congress, in the exercise of its
power to levy and collect duties ant
imports, has the right to and should
levy such sum of money as duty OIL
imports, upon such foreign produc
ton when landed in our markets, a
will make it equal in cost with lik,
American production, and thus Civ
each, a fair start and an equal race il
our own markets.
The sums so paid, as duties ol
imports upon foreign production o
labor, goes into the Federal Treasury
out of which to pay the current ex
penses or Indebtedness of the genera
government. This in outline is tn
tariff. To this scheme some object
because by it the costs of the com
modify is increased to the consumer
but the answer to this is, the consum
Ter has to bear in any event his shar
1 of the expense of the Federal Gov
eminent, and If he does not do 80 b
the payment Of duties, he must do S
by direct taxation, and the forme
4 is much more equitable and the ca.
est way. '#.'.' .'." '. -
/ This system of Legislative and 60,
ernment aid and protection is M
only due to labor, but the wise prt
visions of the constitution, whic
!. makes the system possible and Law
full, fully demonstrating the trutl
of those wonderful words of Pres
dent Lincoln at Gettysburg, that on
sis government Of the people, /
the people, and for the people"
'-- s.4sts"G EDCCATIOS.
n But there is a cognate questio
Labor has darling interests i
and vital connection with publ
/ Or popular education.
The status OF labor and education In
government, either State or Nation
| marks and measures the civilization Of tn
] government. Labor must be intelligel